Isaiah 46

Berean Standard Bible

Chapter summary

Isaiah 46 describes the Babylonian idols Bel and Nebo crouching and going into captivity, burdensome to the animals carrying them because they cannot rescue themselves. In contrast, the God of Israel declares to the house of Jacob that He has carried and sustained His people from birth into their old age. He contrasts Himself with manufactured idols that men pay goldsmiths to fashion from gold and silver, which must be lifted and carried on shoulders and cannot move or answer cries for help. God calls upon transgressors and stubborn people to remember past events, asserting that He alone is God, declares the end from the beginning, and accomplishes His purposes. Finally, He announces that He is bringing His righteousness and salvation near to Zion, promising to adorn Israel with His splendor.

Summary automatically generated from the Bible text.

Words of Jesus in red

¹Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. ²The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity. ³“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. ⁴Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you. ⁵To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? ⁶They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. ⁷They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. ⁸Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! ⁹Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. ¹⁰I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ ¹¹I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it. ¹²Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness: ¹³I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.

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Louis Segond 1910 and Berean Standard Bible: public domain. Cross references: open-cross-ref, Creative Commons BY 4.0.