Isaiah 2:18 kjv
And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
Isaiah 2:18 nkjv
But the idols He shall utterly abolish.
Isaiah 2:18 niv
and the idols will totally disappear.
Isaiah 2:18 esv
And the idols shall utterly pass away.
Isaiah 2:18 nlt
Idols will completely disappear.
Isaiah 2 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zech 13:2 | "On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land..." | Future abolition of idol worship |
| Ezek 6:4-6 | "...your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken... I will cast down your slain before your idols." | Judgment leading to idol destruction |
| Mic 5:13 | "And I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall no more worship the work of your hands." | God's action against idols |
| Hos 14:8 | "Ephraim, what more has he to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after him..." | Renunciation of idols in favor of God |
| 2 Chr 34:3-7 | Josiah's cleansing, where he "cleared Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, and the carved and the cast images." | Historical precedent of idol removal |
| Isa 31:7 | "For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you." | People voluntarily casting off idols |
| Ps 115:4-8 | "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them." | The futility and vanity of idols |
| Ps 135:15-18 | "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them..." | Idols are lifeless and powerless |
| Jer 10:3-16 | "For the customs of the peoples are vanity... a delusion... but the Lord is the true God..." | Exposing the worthlessness of idols |
| Hab 2:18-19 | "What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it...? Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, ‘Awake!' to a silent stone, ‘Arise!'" | Mockery of silent, lifeless idols |
| Isa 44:9-20 | Detailed critique of idol making: "No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment enough to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire... And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?'" | Irony and folly of idol construction |
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | The unique oneness of God |
| Isa 45:5-6 | "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no God... that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me..." | God's absolute uniqueness and supremacy |
| Isa 46:9-10 | "I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me..." | No equal to God |
| Deut 32:39 | "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me..." | God is without rival |
| Isa 2:19-21 | The verses immediately following: "They will go into the caves of the rocks... from before the terror of the Lord... when he rises to terrify the earth." | Direct context: the "Day of the Lord" judgment |
| Joel 1:15 | "Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near..." | "Day of the Lord" theme of judgment |
| 1 Thess 5:2 | "For you yourselves know full well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." | Suddenness of the "Day of the Lord" |
| 2 Pet 3:10 | "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief... and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." | Consummation of all things, exposing sin |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." | New Testament command against idolatry |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | Clear NT admonition against idol worship |
| Col 3:5 | "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." | Broadened concept of idolatry (spiritual) |
| Rev 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their portion will be in the lake that burns..." | Final judgment for idolaters |
| Rev 22:15 | "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." | Excluded from the Holy City due to idolatry |
Isaiah 2 verses
Isaiah 2 18 Meaning
Isaiah 2:18 proclaims the Lord God's definitive action to eradicate all forms of idolatry. It signifies the absolute cessation of false worship, declaring that God Himself will utterly cause all idols to vanish, emphasizing His sole sovereignty and the futility of relying on anything other than Him. This declaration points towards a future wherein God's unique glory will be fully manifested, and anything detracting from His rightful place will be removed.
Isaiah 2 18 Context
Isaiah chapter 2 begins with a glorious vision of Zion as the spiritual center for all nations in the latter days (Isa 2:1-5). This idyllic future contrasts sharply with the present reality described in verses 6-22, which portray Judah's rampant sin, particularly pride and idolatry, leading to God's impending judgment—the "Day of the Lord." Verse 18 is situated firmly within this prophetic warning. The people had become filled with foreign practices, superstition, and, most prominently, idols of their own making and those adopted from surrounding cultures (such as Canaanite gods like Baal and Asherah). They trusted in their wealth, military might, and the works of their hands, effectively elevating these things above the true God. The prophet Isaiah confronts this deep-seated spiritual apostasy directly. The declaration that idols will be "utterly abolish(ed)" is a powerful polemic against the supposed power, reality, or permanence of these false gods, asserting the ultimate, supreme sovereignty of Yahweh and His decisive action against all rivals.
Isaiah 2 18 Word analysis
And (וְ, ve): Connects this pronouncement of God's action to the preceding descriptions of judgment on pride and human self-sufficiency. It signifies a consequence of or parallel action to the Day of the Lord's terrifying presence.
the idols (הָאֱלִילִים, ha'elilim): From the Hebrew
elil, meaning "nothingness," "worthless," "vanity," "impotent ones," or "non-gods." The plural denotes the myriad forms and objects of false worship prevalent in Isaiah's time. This term inherently diminishes their supposed power or existence. It refers not merely to physical statues but to any object, concept, or practice that diverts worship, trust, or devotion from the One True God.He (implied): The subject of the verb is the Lord, Yahweh, emphasizing that this is a divine, sovereign act, not human endeavor. It is God Himself who will bring this about.
shall utterly abolish (כָּלִיל יַחְלֹף, kalil yachlōf): This powerful Hebrew phrase combines an adverbial intensification with the verb.
- utterly (כָּלִיל, kalil): An adverb derived from a root meaning "complete," "whole," "perfect." Here it intensifies the action, meaning "completely," "entirely," or "to perfection." It conveys the totality and decisiveness of the abolition.
- abolish (יַחְלֹף, yachlōf): From the root
ḥālāp̄(חָלַף), which means "to pass away," "to vanish," "to replace," "to perish." In this context, it carries the strong sense of causing to disappear, bringing to an end, or annihilating. It signifies that idols will not merely be hidden or neglected but actively made non-existent in terms of their worship or influence.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the idols He shall utterly abolish": This complete phrase highlights God's unique authority and purpose. It declares the end of any competition for God's glory. It is a pronouncement of total victory over all rival worship systems and their physical manifestations. The utter and complete nature of this abolition means that there will be no residue, no lingering power, and no future resurrection of idolatry once God's judgment and purification are complete.
Isaiah 2 18 Bonus section
The profound significance of Isaiah 2:18 extends to the very core of God's character as a "jealous God" (Exod 20:5, Deut 4:24). This verse aligns perfectly with the first two commandments of the Decalogue: "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not make for yourself a carved image" (Exod 20:3-4). The phrase ha'elilim not only refers to crafted images but fundamentally denotes the emptiness and spiritual nullity of all human attempts to worship anything other than the Creator. The Day of the Lord, which encompasses this abolition, is portrayed as a time when all human self-exaltation, pride, and their sinful expressions—foremost among them idolatry—will be brought low, and "the Lord alone will be exalted" (Isa 2:11, 17). This future purification ensures an era of unhindered, singular devotion to the true God, finding its ultimate fulfillment in the spiritual reality of Christ's kingdom where the church is called to abstain from all forms of idolatry, visible or hidden in the heart.
Isaiah 2 18 Commentary
Isaiah 2:18 is a core declaration within a section focused on the Day of the Lord and its consequences for a proud and idolatrous people. It underscores that at the consummation of His purposes, God will tolerate no rivals. The "idols" are not merely inert objects; they represent a fundamental betrayal of God's covenant and an expression of humanity's turning from their Creator to human constructs or spiritual forces behind those constructs. The prophecy's strength lies in its assertion of divine action: it is He who will make them vanish, decisively and completely. This speaks to a future purification of the earth, leading to a state where Yahweh alone is exalted. The promise of utterly abolishing idols extends beyond the physical statues to every false object of worship, demonstrating God's supreme jealousy for His own glory and His unyielding commitment to righteous worship. It serves as both a stern warning against the sin of idolatry and a comforting promise of ultimate deliverance for those who truly worship God alone.
Example: Just as a blacksmith would melt down worthless scrap metal to render it non-existent in its prior form, so too will God utterly cause idols—physical or conceptual—to vanish from His realm of influence, revealing His unrivaled and unique dominion.