Isaiah 44:13-2025 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:9-20

Often before, God, by the prophet, had mentioned the folly and strange sottishness of idolaters; but here he enlarges upon that head, and very fully and particularly exposes them to contempt and ridicule. This discourse is intended, 1. To arm the people of Israel against the strong temptation they would be in to worship idols when they were captives in Babylon, in compliance with the custom of the country (they being far from the city of their own solemnities) and to humour those who were now... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:21-28

In these verses we have, I. The duty which Jacob and Israel, now in captivity, were called to, that they might be qualified and prepared for the deliverance designed them. Our first care must be to get good by our afflictions, and then we may hope to get out of them. The duty is expressed in two words: Remember and return, as in the counsel to Ephesus, Rev. 2:4, 5. 1. ?Remember these, O Jacob! Remember what thou hast been told of the folly of idolatry, and let the convictions thou art now... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:16

He burneth part thereof in the fire ,.... To warm himself with, as before: with part thereof he eateth flesh ; that is, with part of it he dresses flesh, and makes it fit to eat; unless the meaning is, with part of it he makes tables and trenchers to eat meat off of; but the former sense seems most likely, and agrees with what follows: he roasteth roast, and is satisfied ; he roasts his meat with it, and eats it when roasted, and is highly pleased and delighted with it, and he eats... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:17

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image ,.... What remains of the tree, that is not consumed by making a fire to warm with, by heating the oven to bake bread with, and by using it in the kitchen to roast meat with, this is made an image of, and being graved and carved, is called a god, and worshipped; though it is of the same matter, and of the same nature, with that which was used for warming, baking, and roasting: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:18

They have not known nor understood ,.... Who the true God is, nor the worship that is due to him alone; they do not know nor understand divine and spiritual things; nay, they have not the knowledge and understanding of men; they want common sense that can do and say such things as before mentioned, both idol makers and idol worshippers: for he hath shut their eyes that they cannot see, and their heart that they cannot understand ; either the devil, as some think, the god of this world,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:19

And none considereth in his heart ,.... Or, "and he does not return it to his heart" F11 ולא ישיב אל לבו "et non reducet ad cor suum", Pagninus, Montanus; "reducit", Piscator. ; he does not come to himself again, or return to his right mind, but lives and dies under the infatuation; never once revolving it in his mind, pondering within himself what he has done, or is doing, whether right or wrong: neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say ; within himself, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:20

He feedeth of ashes ,.... That is, the idolater delights in his idol, pleases himself with seeks comfort and satisfaction from it, fills and feeds himself with hopes and expectations of being helped and delivered by it; but this is all vain hope, a mere delusion; it is as if a man fed on ashes instead of food; it is feeding on that which has no savour nor substance, can yield no nourishment, but, on the contrary, is pernicious and hurtful; and it is like Ephraim's feeding on wind, Hosea... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:9-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:21-28

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:20

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