Isaiah 44

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:6

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel ,.... The King of the whole world, and Governor among the nations; and in a peculiar manner King of Israel, that nation being a theocracy; and especially King of spiritual Israel, or King of saints, be they of what nation they will: and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts ; who redeemed Israel out of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and would again redeem them from the Babylonish captivity, and the whole Israel of God from sin, Satan, and the law;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:7

And who as I shall call ,.... Which of the idols of the Gentiles can do as the king of Israel, the Lord of hosts has done? call things that are not, as though they were? call all creatures into being? call men by their names before they were born, as Isaac; Josiah, and Cyrus, of whom mention is made in the latter end of this chapter, and call them to service and usefulness in their day and generation? and call whom he pleases by his grace to eternal glory? and shall declare it ; the end... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:8

Fear ye not, neither be afraid ,.... Of the accomplishment of prophecies and promises, and of professing the true God, and of adhering to Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer and Saviour; or of the gods of the Heathens, and of persecuting tyrants, and what they can do against you, and in favour of their idolatrous religion: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it ? what should come to pass, before it did, even everything that has since the appointment of the ancient people;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:9

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity ,.... They show themselves to be vain men, by making such vain things as graven images are; both images, makers, and worshippers of them are all vain, yea vanity itself: and their delectable things shall not profit ; their idols made of gold and silver, or covered with them, and adorned with precious stones, and so delightful and desirable, are of no manner of profit and advantage, unless the matter they are made of, and the ornaments... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:10

Who hath formed a god ,.... Who ever made one? was such a thing ever known? or can that be a god which is made or formed? who so mad, foolish and sottish, as to imagine he has made a god? or is it possible for a creature to be the maker of a god? or any so stupid as to fancy he had made one? yet such there were, so void of understanding and reason, and even common sense: "or molten a graven image": first melted it, and cast it into a mould, and then graved and polished it, and called it a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:11

Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed ,.... Either such who join with them in the worship of the molten graven image, or god formed, when they find it is profitable for nothing; so the Targum, "behold all their worshippers shall be confounded;' or their fellow workmen, who took their several parts in making the image, and so must be conscious of the vanity and unprofitableness of it, and ashamed when upbraided with it: and the workmen they are of men ; or, "of Adam" F2 המה ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:12

The smith with the tongs ,.... Or, "the worker of iron" F3 חרש ברזל "faber ferri", Pagninus, Montanus; "faber ferrarius", V. L. Vitringa. ; the blacksmith, who had a concern in making of idols, for some were made of iron, Daniel 5:4 , or in making plates to cover them, or nails to fasten them with, or instruments which the carpenter made use of in cutting down trees, and fitting the wood for an image; such as the axe or hatchet, or plane, and which some think is here meant, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:13

The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ,.... Or, the worker of trees F5 חרש עצים "faber lignorum", Montanus; "artifex lignarius", V. L. Pagninus; "faber lignarius", Vitringa. ; that works in wood, or makes images of wood; having cut down a tree, he stretches out his rule or line upon it, and takes the dimensions of it, and measures the length and the breadth of it, as much as is for his purpose to make a god of: and then he maketh it out with a line ; coloured with ochre, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:14

He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak ,.... To make gods of, trees both pleasant and durable, but all unfruitful: which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest ; taking a great deal of pains in seeking out such trees as were most fit for his use, and a great deal of care in the growth of them, that they might answer his end, as well as exerting his strength in cutting of them down: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it ; a tree... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:15

Then shall it be for a man to burn ,.... And which indeed is the proper use of it, but not all that this man puts it to; only the boughs, and what he cuts off as useless to his purpose, and the chips he makes, which he commits to the fire: for he will take thereof, and warm himself ; with some part of it he makes a fire in his parlour, and warms himself when it is cold weather: yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread ; he heats his oven with another part of it, and bakes the bread he... read more

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