Isaiah 44

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:10

10. Who . . . ?—Sarcastic question: "How debased the man must be who forms a god!" It is a contradiction in terms. A made god, worshipped by its maker (1 Corinthians 8:4)! read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:11

11. his fellows—the associates of him who makes an idol; or of the idol (see Deuteronomy 7:26; Psalms 115:8; Hosea 4:17). they are of men—They are mortal men themselves; what better, then, can the idol be than its maker? gathered together . . . stand up—as in a court of justice, to try the issue between God and them (see on Isaiah 44:4; Isaiah 44:4- :). yet—wrongly inserted in English Version. The issue of the trial shall be, "they shall fear," &c. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:12

12. tongs—rather, "prepareth (to be supplied) an axe," namely, with which to cut down the tree designed as the material of the idol. The "smith" (Hebrew, "workman in iron") here answers to the "carpenter" (Hebrew, "workman in wood"). "He worketh it (the axe, not the idol, which was wood, not metal) in the coals," &c. The axe was wrought, not cast. The smith makes the axe for the carpenter. hungry . . . drinketh no water—so eager is he to expedite his work while the iron is hot. If the god... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:13

13. After the smith's work in preparing the instruments comes the carpenter's work in forming the idol. rule—rather, "line" [BARNES]. with a line—rather, a "pencil," [HORSLEY]. Literally, "red ochre," which he uses to mark on the wood the outline of the figure [LOWTH]. Or best, the stylus or graver, with which the incision of the outline is made [GESENIUS]. planes—rather, "chisels" or "carving tools," for a plane would not answer for carving. compass—from a Hebrew root, "to make a circle"; by... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:14

14. Description of the material out of which the idol is formed. cypress—rather, from Hebrew root, "to be hard," the holm oak," an evergreen abundant in Palestine [GESENIUS]. strengtheneth—literally, "and he getteth strength to himself in the trees of the forest;" that is, he layeth in a great store of timber [LOWTH]. Or, "chooseth," as "madest strong for thyself," that is, hast chosen (Psalms 80:15; Psalms 80:17) [GESENIUS]. But English Version gives a good sense: "strengtheneth"; that is,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:15

15. The same tree that furnishes the material for the god is in part used as fuel for a fire to cook his meals and warm himself! thereto—rather, "he falleth down before them," that is, such images [MAURER]. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:16

16. part . . . part—not distinct parts, but the same part of the wood (compare :-). eateth—that is, cooks so as to eat (Isaiah 44:19). I have seen—I feel its power. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:18

18. he, c.—God hath given them over to judicial blindness not His direct physical, but His providential agency in administering His moral government, is meant (Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 6:10). "Shut," literally, "daubed," plastered up; it is an Eastern custom in some cases to seal up the eyes of offenders. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:19

19. considereth—literally, "layeth it to heart," (Isaiah 42:25; Jeremiah 12:11). abomination—the scriptural term for an idol, not merely abominable, but the essence of what is so, in the eyes of a jealous God (1 Kings 11:5; 1 Kings 11:7). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:20

20. feedeth on ashes—figuratively, for the idolater delights in what is vain (Proverbs 15:14; Hosea 12:1). "Feedeth on wind." There is an allusion, perhaps, also, to the god being made of a tree, the half of which was reduced to ashes by fire (Isaiah 44:15-17); the idol, it is implied, was no better, and could, and ought, to have been reduced to ashes like the other half. deceived heart—The heart and will first go astray, then the intellect and life (Romans 1:28; Ephesians 4:18). lie in . . .... read more

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:10

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:11

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:12

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:13

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:14

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:15

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:16

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:18

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:19

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 44:20

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