Isaiah 46:8

8 mementote istud et fundamini redite praevaricatores ad cor

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 qui confertis aurum de sacculo et argentum statera ponderatis conducentes aurificem ut faciat deum et procidunt et adorant
7 portant illud in umeris gestantes et ponentes in loco suo et stabit ac de loco suo non movebitur sed et cum clamaverint ad eum non audiet de tribulatione non salvabit eos
8 mementote istud et fundamini redite praevaricatores ad cor
9 recordamini prioris saeculi quoniam ego sum Deus et non est ultra Deus nec est similis mei
10 adnuntians ab exordio novissimum et ab initio quae necdum facta sunt dicens consilium meum stabit et omnis voluntas mea fiet
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.