Bible/Isaiah/44

Isaiah 44:9

44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. God; I: Heb. rock, etc
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. delectable: Heb. desirable

KJV

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Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

44:10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

What does Isaiah 44:9 mean?

Isaiah 44:9 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include יָצַר (yâtsar), פֶּסֶל (peçel), תֹּהוּ (tôhûw). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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They
that
makeיָצַרyâtsar/yaw-tsar'/H3335to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
a
graven
imageפֶּסֶלpeçel/peh'-sel/H6459an idol
are
all
of
them
vanity;תֹּהוּtôhûw/to'-hoo/H8414a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain
and
their
delectable
thingsחָמַדchâmad/khaw-mad'/H2530to delight in
shall
not
profit;יַעַלyaʻal/yaw-al'/H3276properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively; useful, subjectively; benefited)
and
they
are
their
own
witnesses;עֵדʻêd/ayd/H5707concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince
they
seeרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
not,
nor
know;יָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
that
they
may
be
ashamed.בּוּשׁbûwsh/boosh/H954properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
delectable:
Heb.
desirable

Commentary on Isaiah 44:9

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 44:9
we have, 1. The sins threatened—bearing false witness in judgment and speaking lies in common conversation. Men could not arrive at such a pitch of impiety as to bear false witness (where to the guilt of a lie is added that of perjury and injury) if they had not advanced to it by allowing themselves to speak untruths in jest and banter, or under pretence of doing good. Thus men teach their tongues to speak lies, Jer. ix. 5 . Those that will take a liberty to tell lies in discourse are in a fair way to be guilty of the greater wickedness of false-witness-bearing, whenever they are tempted to it, though they seemed to detest it. Those that can swallow a false word debauch their consciences, so that a false oath will not choke them. 2. The threatening itself: They shall not go unpunished; they shall not escape. This intimates that that which emboldens them in the sin is the hope of impunity, it being a sin which commonly escapes punishment from men, though the law is strict, Deut. xix. 18, 19 . But it shall not escape the righteous judgment of God, who is jealous, and will not suffer his name to be profaned; we know where all liars will have their everlasting portion. 6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Psalms 38:11

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. sore: Heb. stroke my kinsmen: or, my neighbours

Ecclesiastes 9:15

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Isaiah 14:20

Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

Isaiah 21:13

The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

Isaiah 44:4

And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

Luke 18:38

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

James 2:6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

James 2:15

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

James 2:16

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

1 John 3:17

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Topics

CarvingIdolIdolatryVanity

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 44:9.

Habakkuk 2:18

What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? maker of: Heb. fashioner of his fashion

Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. no: or, nothing formed of God

Isaiah 44:10

Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

1 Samuel 12:21

And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

Isaiah 45:20

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 44:9 say?

Isaiah 44:9 (King James Version) reads: "They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. delectable: Heb. desirable"

Is Isaiah 44:9 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 44:9 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 44:9, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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