Isaiah 44:20

44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? considereth: Heb. setteth to his heart the stock: Heb. that which comes of a tree?

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

KJV

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He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? ¶

44:21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

What does Isaiah 44:20 mean?

Isaiah 44:20 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include רָעָה (râʻâh), אֵפֶר (ʼêpher), הָתַל (hâthal). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

feedethרָעָהrâʻâh/raw-aw'/H7462to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)

ashes:אֵפֶרʼêpher/ay'-fer/H665ashes

deceivedהָתַלhâthal/haw-thal'/H2048to deride; by implication, to cheat

heartלֵבlêb/labe/H3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything

hath

turned

him

aside,נָטָהnâṭâh/naw-taw'/H5186to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application

that

cannot

deliverנָצַלnâtsal/naw-tsal'/H5337to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

his

soul,נֶפֶשׁnephesh/neh'-fesh/H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

nor

say,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

there

not

lieשֶׁקֶרsheqer/sheh'-ker/H8267an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

right

hand?יָמִיןyâmîyn/yaw-meen'/H3225the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south

Commentary on Isaiah 44:20

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 44:20

" Here is, 1. The happiness of those that walk circumspectly. Those that make conscience of keeping the commandment in every thing, that live by rule, as becomes servants and patients, keep their own souls; they secure their present peace and future bliss, and provide every way well for themselves. If we keep God's word, God's word will keep us from every thing really hurtful. 2. The misery of those that live at large and never mind what they do: Those that despair their ways shall die, shall perish eternally; they are in the high road to ruin. With respect to those that are careless about the end of their ways, and never consider whither they are going, and about the rule of their ways, that will walk in the way of their hearts and after the course of the world ( Eccl. xi. 9 ), that never consider what they have done nor what they are concerned to do, but walk at all adventures ( Lev. xxvi. 21 ), right or wrong, it is all one to them—what can come of this but the greatest mischief? 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord ; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Isaiah 22:15

Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,

Isaiah 23:13

Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

Isaiah 23:14

Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.

Isaiah 29:15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Isaiah 29:17

Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

Hebrews 12:7

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Topics

Idolatry

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 44:20.

Exodus 2:19

And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

Exodus 6:6

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:24

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 32:30

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Peniel: that is, The face of God

Genesis 34:3

And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. kindly: Heb. to the heart of the damsel

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 44:20 say?

Isaiah 44:20 (King James Version) reads: "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Is Isaiah 44:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 44:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 44:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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