Isaiah 17 8

Isaiah 17:8 kjv

And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

Isaiah 17:8 nkjv

He will not look to the altars, The work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.

Isaiah 17:8 niv

They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made.

Isaiah 17:8 esv

He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.

Isaiah 17:8 nlt

They will no longer look to their idols for help
or worship what their own hands have made.
They will never again bow down to their Asherah poles
or worship at the pagan shrines they have built.

Isaiah 17 verses

Isaiah 17 8 meaning

Isaiah 17:8 proclaims that in the "day" of God's judgment, the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria will cease to regard their altars and idols. This abandonment is not born of a repentant heart, but is a forced consequence of the desolation and calamity that will befall them. They will no longer look to the objects and places of worship that their own hands crafted, effectively signifying the end of their idolatrous practices because the means and context for such worship will be destroyed or rendered useless. The specific mention of "Asherim" and "incense altars" highlights the pervasive and offensive nature of their pagan worship that provoked divine wrath.

Isaiah 17 8 Context

Isaiah chapter 17 is a prophecy primarily against Damascus (Syria) and its ally, the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim or Samaria). The prophet announces a future "day" of judgment when both Damascus will cease to be a city and a capital, and Ephraim's fortified cities will lie in ruins, its glory diminished. This divine judgment is a direct consequence of their covenant breaking, particularly their widespread idolatry and reliance on foreign alliances rather than on the Lord, the God of Israel. Verse 8 details one significant outcome of this devastation: the very symbols and instruments of their apostasy—the altars, Asherim, and incense altars—will be abandoned. This abandonment isn't an act of repentance but rather a forced cessation of practice because the judgment will render such worship impossible or irrelevant, removing their capacity and reason to trust in false gods.

Isaiah 17 8 Word analysis

• And he will not look (וְלֹא יִשְׁעֶה - və-lōʾ yišʿeh): The verb root שָׁעָה (shaʿah) means to look at, regard, gaze upon, or pay attention to. In this context, it implies a cessation of giving reverence, attention, or worship. The prefixed waw indicates "and," connecting this outcome to the previous verses describing judgment. The subject "he" refers to the individual inhabitants of the judged lands.

• to the altars (אֶל הַמִּזְבְּחֹת - ʾel hammizbəḥōt): plural of מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbeaḥ), meaning "altar," a place for sacrifice. These are specifically pagan altars, not those dedicated to Yahweh. Their neglect signals the end of idolatrous rituals.

• the work of his hands (מַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו - maʿăśēh yāḏāyw): This phrase underscores the human origin and thus the inherent powerlessness of these idols. They are manufactured, not divine, entities. This is a common polemic against idolatry in prophetic literature (e.g., Psa 115).

• nor will he regard (וְאֶל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָיו לֹא יַבִּיט - vəʾel ʾăšer ʿāśū ʾeṣbəʿōtāw lōʾ yabīṭ): The second phrase reiterates the first, using the verb יַבִּיט (yabīṭ), which also means to look intently, observe, or consider. This emphasizes a complete turning away and disinterest. The specific mention of "his fingers" further personalizes and underlines the human craftsmanship involved.

• either the Asherim (אֲשֵׁרִים - ʾăšērīm): Plural of אֲשֵׁרָה (Asherah). These were cultic wooden poles or trees, often representing the Canaanite mother goddess Asherah, consort of Baal. Worship of Asherah was a major deviation for Israel (e.g., Jdg 3:7; 1 Kgs 15:13; 2 Kgs 23:4). Their abandonment means the rejection of a prominent pagan deity.

• or the incense altars (חַמָּנִים - ḥammānîm): The precise meaning is debated but generally understood as incense altars or cultic sun pillars (often rendered "sun-images" or "pillars"). They were associated with sun worship (Baal or other pagan deities) and were frequently denounced alongside Asherim (e.g., Lev 26:30; 2 Chr 14:5; Eze 6:4).

• Words-group analysis:

  • "he will not look to the altars, the work of his hands": This grouping connects the places of pagan sacrifice with their human origins. It's a forceful assertion that the physical structures dedicated to false worship, being man-made, will ultimately prove worthless and be disregarded. The cessation of looking implies a profound loss of reverence or even the ability to practice worship.
  • "nor will he regard what his fingers have made, either the Asherim or the incense altars": This phrase broadens the scope to specific types of cult objects—the Asherim and incense altars—which represented egregious forms of paganism. The repetition of "made by hands/fingers" emphasizes the impotence of these objects against the might of the Lord, making their abandonment inevitable during judgment. It's a vivid picture of how devastating God's judgment will be that even deeply entrenched religious practices are forced to cease.

Isaiah 17 8 Bonus section

• Polemics against Idolatry: This verse stands as a strong theological argument against idolatry. By emphasizing that idols are "the work of his hands" and "what his fingers have made," Isaiah critiques the very nature of pagan worship. The idea that humanity can create something worthy of worship directly contradicts God's unique status as Creator and only true object of worship (e.g., Isa 44:6-20). The judgment serves as God's definitive statement against such foolishness.
• Ultimate Futility of Reliance on Man-made Solutions: The principle extends beyond physical idols. Any object, system, or philosophy—created or championed by humans—that diverts ultimate trust and devotion from God constitutes a "god" in a spiritual sense. The verse implies that when God brings judgment or difficulty, all such man-made constructs will fail, leaving their adherents without any meaningful recourse. This mirrors the spiritual truth that reliance on anything other than the Almighty God is ultimately vain and leads to desolation.

Isaiah 17 8 Commentary

Isaiah 17:8 delivers a potent message concerning God's judgment on idolatry, particularly aimed at Syria (Damascus) and the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim). The verse describes a crucial element of their impending desolation: the forced cessation of their devotion to false gods. It’s important to understand that this is not an act of repentance; rather, it’s a direct consequence of the catastrophic judgment announced in previous verses. When cities are ruined and people are brought low, their reliance on human-made deities proves utterly futile. They will cease to "look to" or "regard" their altars, Asherim, and incense altars—not because their hearts have changed, but because the context and means of their worship will be annihilated. This demonstrates God's sovereignty; He will, through His judgment, render paganism impotent and irrelevant. The meticulous identification of idols as "the work of his hands" and "what his fingers have made" serves as a powerful polemic against these false gods, highlighting their finite, created nature in stark contrast to the eternal, uncreated God of Israel. It emphasizes that what man makes, man also cannot save when God acts.