Isaiah 2:8 kjv

Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

Isaiah 2:8 nkjv

Their land is also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made.

Isaiah 2:8 niv

Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

Isaiah 2:8 esv

Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.

Isaiah 2:8 nlt

Their land is full of idols;
the people worship things they have made
with their own hands.

Isaiah 2 verses

Isaiah 2 8 Meaning

Isaiah 2:8 describes the widespread and pervasive idolatry within the land of Judah, portraying it as being "full of idols." It condemns the people's act of worshipping objects created by their own hands and fingers, emphasizing the absurdity and worthlessness of such devotion. The verse serves as a declaration of Judah's spiritual corruption, directly preceding the prophecy of the "Day of the Lord" which will bring judgment upon all human pride and false worship.

Isaiah 2 8 Context

Isaiah 2:8 is embedded within a prophetic lament and judgment against Judah (Isaiah 2:6-22), contrasting sharply with the opening vision of Zion's future glory (Isaiah 2:1-5). Following verse 6's statement that God has forsaken His people because of their pervasive foreign influences and superstitions, verse 8 specifies one of the key manifestations of their faithlessness: rampant idolatry. This verse builds upon verses 6 and 7, which highlight their pride, foreign customs, and accumulation of military might (horses and chariots) and material wealth (gold and silver). All these aspects — foreign practices, military might, wealth, and especially idolatry — are portrayed as evidence of Judah's deep-seated reliance on human achievements and created things rather than on the Living God. The pervasive nature of this idolatry sets the stage for the coming "Day of the Lord," described in subsequent verses (Isa 2:12-22), which aims to humble all human pride and exalted things.

Historically, ancient Judah was geographically situated among nations that worshipped diverse deities represented by carved images. Despite the covenant with Yahweh and explicit prohibitions against idolatry, the people frequently assimilated practices from their neighbors, leading to syncretism. Idols of Baal, Asherah, and other Canaanite/Mesopotamian deities were common. The verse directly challenges the belief systems of surrounding cultures, which often attributed divine power to such images, asserting them to be nothing more than human constructs.

Isaiah 2 8 Word analysis

• And their land: (וְאַרְצָם, və'artzām) This opening phrase specifies the geographical scope of the problem. It indicates that the sin is not just isolated instances among individuals but is widespread and characteristic of the entire nation, emphasizing the pervasive spiritual corruption within Judah.
• is full: (מְלֵאָה, məle’āh) This Hebrew word denotes a state of being completely filled or saturated. It highlights the extensive nature of idolatry; it was not merely present but abundant and deeply ingrained throughout society.
• of idols: (אֱלִילִים, 'ĕliylîm) This is a crucial Hebrew term. It is a pejorative and contemptuous word for false gods, translating as "worthless ones," "nothings," or "powerless beings." It contrasts sharply with "Elohim" (God) and strips pagan deities of any perceived power or significance, reducing them to emptiness. This term conveys God's disdain for humanly contrived worship objects.
• they worship: (יִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ, yishtachavu) From the root "שָׁחָה" (shachah), meaning to bow down, prostrate oneself, or do obeisance. This term denotes an act of deep reverence, submission, and devotion. It signifies that the people were giving to these lifeless objects the ultimate respect and allegiance due only to God.
• the work of their hands: (לְמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם, ləmaʿaśēh yeḏêhem) This phrase is a powerful polemic. It highlights the absurd irony and profound theological error of worshipping something that humans themselves have fabricated. It underscores the utter powerlessness and creaturely nature of the idols, being a mere product of human labor rather than divine creation.
• that which their fingers have made: (לַאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֶצְבְּעֹתֵיהֶם, la’ăšer ʿaśū ’etsbəʿōṯêhem) This adds a layer of specific detail, emphasizing the meticulous human effort involved in creating these objects. The mention of "fingers" further drives home the point of human craftsmanship and negates any pretense of divine origin for the idols. It compounds the insult to God and highlights the spiritual blindness of the idolaters.

Words-group analysis:

• "And their land is full of idols": This collective phrase establishes the national scope of the sin, emphasizing its pervasive nature throughout Judah, not just isolated instances. It signifies a profound spiritual decay at the heart of the society.
• "they worship the work of their hands, that which their fingers have made": This tandem expression provides a sharp theological indictment. It mocks the futility of human-centered religion and points to the ultimate object of worship – the Creator – in contrast to man-made objects. This repeated emphasis discredits the very notion of such objects having any divine authority or power, underscoring their worthlessness ('eliylim).

Isaiah 2 8 Bonus section

The critique in Isaiah 2:8 extends beyond physical statues to the underlying heart posture. While literally speaking of crafted images, the deeper spiritual issue is reliance on anything other than God. In the biblical understanding, idolatry is ultimately a challenge to God's exclusive sovereignty and the core of the First Commandment ("You shall have no other gods before me"). This verse lays the groundwork for understanding the essence of sin as diverting worship from its rightful object, setting up objects or concepts of human origin as deserving of ultimate devotion. The use of "idols" also often implies a turning away from the source of living water to broken cisterns (Jer 2:13), representing an existential emptiness that cannot be filled by finite, human-made constructs. The prophecy highlights that such widespread spiritual deviation would inevitably lead to divine discipline, a humbling of the exalted and removal of the trust placed in such vain objects.

Isaiah 2 8 Commentary

Isaiah 2:8 offers a succinct yet profound condemnation of Judah's spiritual depravity, centered on pervasive idolatry. The term "idols" ('eliylim) itself, meaning "nothings" or "worthless ones," immediately debases the objects of false worship, demonstrating God's sovereign disdain for human substitutes for His glory. The verse highlights the core folly of idolatry: the creature worshipping creation, specifically creation made by its own hands. This not only demeans the Creator but also the worshipper, who bows to something inferior to themselves, something that cannot see, hear, or save. The extensive nature ("full of") of this sin underscored Judah's utter departure from their covenant with the One True God. It serves as a potent accusation and a clear reason for the coming judgment described as the "Day of the Lord," where all forms of human pride, self-reliance, and self-made "gods" will be brought low before the majesty of Yahweh alone. It speaks to humanity's inherent tendency to trust in created things—whether physical statues, wealth, power, or even self—rather than the unseen Creator, leading to spiritual blindness and ultimate disillusionment.