Isaiah 44:9-20 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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