Isaiah 46:8

8 “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, you guilty ones.

Isaiah 46:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 46:8

Remember this
Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God: and show yourselves men;
and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" F17; so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or "burn ye" F18 or "be ye inflamed", so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "be ye confounded" F19; or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired F20 with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors;
of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (wvvath) "roborat vos", Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word.
F18 Ardete, "comburite vos", some in Vatablus.
F19 "Confundamini", V. L. "et erubescite", Calvin.
F20 "Incendimini sive corripimini zelo", Vitringa.

Isaiah 46:8 In-Context

6 Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it!
7 They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.
8 “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, you guilty ones.
9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
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