Isaiah 46

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:5

There is no comparison between the true God and false gods (cf. Isaiah 40:18). read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:6-7

This is Isaiah’s fourth and last exposé of the folly of idol worship (cf. Isaiah 40:19-20; Isaiah 41:6-7; Isaiah 44:9-20). How foolish it is to spend a lot of money and effort to make something that cannot care for itself much less its worshipper. It has no power to respond in any way, much less to save."There are two kinds of gods in this world: the kind you carry and the One who can carry you." [Note: Dyer, in The Old . . ., p. 569.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:8

God admonished the transgressing Israelites to remember what He was about to say, which would summarize the point being made in this section. It would give them confidence whenever they recalled it in the future. Again, remembering is the antidote to unbelief. Israel needed much encouragement, as well as stern warnings, because she was only a small island of monotheists in a sea of polytheists. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:8-13

God as righteous 46:8-13The last segment of this section (Isaiah 45:14 to Isaiah 46:13) returns to the subject of God as the righteous deliverer (cf. Isaiah 45:14-19). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:9

The Israelites needed to remember all that God had done going all the way back to Creation. Only then would they become convinced that Yahweh was unique, the only true God. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:10-11

God had throughout history predicted how history would unfold, including things that had not happened previously. His revelations were in harmony with His purpose to carry out His beneficial will for humankind. Most recently He had predicted Cyrus, who would descend on Babylon like an eagle on a rabbit. His audience could count on this prediction coming to pass, because it was just the latest example of what He had done since the beginning. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:12

God challenged the hard-hearted Israelites, who found it hard to believe that God would deliver them, to pay attention to Him (cf. Isaiah 46:3). They were far short of fulfilling the righteous act of believing God, which constitutes conformity to His will."Those who are far from righteousness are those who are far from being right with God, and so are deep in their own sin and depravity." [Note: Young, 3:229.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:13

God would be faithful to His covenant promises and bring salvation to Zion (cf. Isaiah 44:26-28; Romans 3:21-25; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 1:30). He would soon bring the righteousness that His people lacked. This deliverance would glorify His name. Some have interpreted the "stubborn-minded" in Isaiah 46:12-13 as the Babylonians, rather than the Israelites, but this is a minority view. [Note: E.g., J. Martin, p. 1101.] "This proves to be Isaiah’s final appeal to Israel to accept the Lord’s... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46:1-13

The Contrast between Jehovah and the Deities of Babylon1, 2. The idols of Babylon will be borne away by the conquerors amongst the spoil, the gods being powerless to save their images. i. Bel] the chief Babylonian deity (Jeremiah 50:2).Boweth.. stoopeth] before the conqueror.Nebo] son of Bel, the Babylonian Mercury. The name means ’revealer.’ Your carriages, etc.] RV ’the things that ye carried about in processions are made a load,’ of spoil for the conquerors: see on Isaiah 10:28. 3, 4. So far... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 46:1

XLVI.(1) Bel boweth down, Nebo Stoopeth.—Bel or Belus (“Lord “), is perhaps identical with Marduk or Merôdach, but see Note on Jeremiah 1:2. Nabu (“ the Revealer”) was a kind of Assyrian Hermes. Isaiah sees the idols carried off as spoil, at the command of Cyrus, a heavy burden for the beasts that drag them. An inscription recently deciphered by Sir H. Rawlinson (Journal of Asiatic Society, Jan. 1880, quoted by Cheyne) presents the conduct of the conqueror under a somewhat different aspect. In... read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:6-7

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:8

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:8-13

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:10-11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:12

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 46:13

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46:1-13

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 46:1

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