Ésaïe 41:23

23 Annoncez les choses qui arriveront plus tard, et nous saurons que vous êtes des dieux. Faites aussi du bien, ou du mal, et nous l'admirerons, et nous l'observerons ensemble.

Ésaïe 41:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:23

Show the things that are to come hereafter
From henceforward to the consummation of all things: so the Targum,

``show what shall come to the end;''
or at the end, the end of all things; or show wonderful things, which shall be hereafter; so Jarchi interprets the word; a word like this having the signification of signs and wonders: that we may know that ye are gods;
as ye are said to be; that we may own and acknowledge you to be such, there being this clear proof of it, if it can be made out, foretelling things to come, both near and far off. The Targum is,
``that we may know whether ye worship idols, in whom there is any profit;''
as if the words were spoken not to the idols, but to the worshippers of them: "yea, do good, or do evil"; not in a moral, but in a civil sense; do good to your friends, to your worshippers; bestow favours upon them, as I do on mine; or inflict punishment on your enemies, such as despise your deity, and will not worship you, as I do on those that despise me, and will not regard my service and worship: that we may be dismayed, and behold it together:
that when we see your deity, and are convinced of it by the above proofs, we may be amazed and astonished, as not expecting such proof, and be confounded, and have no more to object unto it. The Targum is,
``that we may consider and reason together;''
and bring the matter in controversy to an issue, as it is in the next verse.

Ésaïe 41:23 In-Context

21 Présentez votre cause, dit l'Éternel; exposez vos preuves, dit le roi de Jacob.
22 Qu'ils les exposent! Qu'ils nous déclarent ce qui doit arriver! Vos premières prédictions, quelles furent-elles? Déclarez-nous-le et nous y ferons attention, et nous en saurons l'issue. Ou faites-nous entendre les choses à venir;
23 Annoncez les choses qui arriveront plus tard, et nous saurons que vous êtes des dieux. Faites aussi du bien, ou du mal, et nous l'admirerons, et nous l'observerons ensemble.
24 Voici, vous êtes moins que rien, et ce que vous faites est le néant même; c'est une abomination, que de se complaire en vous.
25 Je l'ai suscité de l'Aquilon, et il est venu; de l'Orient il invoquera mon nom; il marche sur les princes comme sur la boue, comme le potier foule l'argile.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.