Isaiah 41 28

Isaiah 41:28 kjv

For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isaiah 41:28 nkjv

For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isaiah 41:28 niv

I look but there is no one? no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.

Isaiah 41:28 esv

But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.

Isaiah 41:28 nlt

Not one of your idols told you this.
Not one gave any answer when I asked.

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 28 Meaning

Isaiah 41:28 presents God's rhetorical conclusion after challenging the idol-worshipping nations and their deities. God declares He searched among them for someone—any god or human—who could provide true counsel, predict future events, or even respond with a sensible word, but found absolutely none. The verse underscores the complete inability, silence, and emptiness of false gods, affirming Yahweh as the sole omniscient and all-powerful deity, the only true source of foreknowledge and guidance.

Isaiah 41 28 Context

Isaiah 41:28 concludes a significant section (verses 21-29) of a broader passage (chapters 40-48) where God presents a divine court case. This passage follows God's declarations of comfort and assurance for Israel, reminding them of His unique power and sovereignty. Here, God explicitly challenges the "gods" of the nations to present their case and demonstrate their deity by accurately predicting future events or providing a legitimate response to His questions. The challenge is specifically against their ability to "declare the former things, or tell us things to come." The historical context involves Israel's coming exile and the rise of Cyrus, a powerful king God would use for their deliverance—events only God could truly foresee and control. This verse serves as the definitive verdict against the false gods, revealing their utter impotence, silence, and inability to offer any counsel or foreknowledge, thus solidifying Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy.

Isaiah 41 28 Word analysis

• וָאֶרְאֶה (`Va'ereh`): "And I looked/saw."
  • Hebrew root `ra'ah` (ראה) means to see, observe, perceive.
  • The `Vav` (ו) prefixed acts as a waw-consecutive, implying a sequence of action: "And I looked," setting up God's active investigation.
  • This isn't a passive observation but an active searching by God, emphasizing a thorough examination of all contenders. It frames the scene as a deliberate divine inquest.
• וְאֵין־אִישׁ (`v'ein-'ish`): "and no man/person."
  • `Ein` (אין) is a negative particle signifying absence, "there is no," or "not any." It declares an absolute lack.
  • `Ish` (איש) means man, husband, or person. Here, it signifies any individual, particularly one of counsel or authority.
  • The phrase underlines a complete lack of any qualified being, whether human representative or divine idol, capable of responding to God's challenge. It's a statement of absolute emptiness.
• מִכָּל־אֵלֶּה (`mikol-'elleh`): "from all these."
  • `Mi` (מ) means "from."
  • `Kol` (כל) means "all" or "every."
  • `'Elleh` (אלה) is a demonstrative pronoun, "these." It refers collectively to the idols, the nations, and their wise men who were previously challenged by God in this passage.
  • This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's search; He examined every single one, and every single one failed. There were no exceptions.
• וּמִיּוֹעֵץ (`u'miyyo'ets`): "and a counselor."
  • `U` (ו) means "and."
  • `Miyyo'ets` (יועץ) comes from the root `ya'ats` (יעץ), meaning to counsel, advise, or plan. A `yo'ets` is specifically a counselor.
  • This specifies the particular role God was seeking: someone to provide insightful, accurate counsel regarding the future. It directly contrasts with God's own attribute as the Divine Counselor (Isa 9:6).
• וְאֵין עֹנֶה (`v'ein 'oneh`): "and there is no one answering."
  • `Ein` (אין) again, indicates complete absence.
  • `'Oneh` (עונה) is the participle of `'anah` (ענה), meaning to answer, respond, or reply.
  • This points to the profound silence and inability of the false gods and their adherents to offer any substantive reply. They are utterly mute in the face of God's inquiry.
• דָּבָר (`davar`): "a word" or "thing."
  • `Davar` (דבר) is a rich Hebrew word, meaning word, speech, matter, or thing.
  • In this context, it emphasizes the complete lack of any meaningful or truthful response. Not even a single `davar` (word, fact, prophecy) could be offered.
• אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁאָלֵם (`asher esh'alem`): "that I asked them."
  • `'Asher` (אשר) is a relative pronoun, "that" or "which."
  • `'Esh'al` (אשאל) is the first person singular imperfect of `sha'al` (שאל), meaning to ask or inquire.
  • `Hem` (הם) is the suffix pronoun "them."
  • This clarifies that God had indeed posed questions and challenges (as seen in earlier verses like Isa 41:21-23), making their silence not merely a lack of speaking but a failure to respond to a direct divine interrogation.

Isaiah 41 28 Bonus section

The concept presented in Isaiah 41:28, that God looked and found "no one," can also echo within the biblical narrative when a specific quality or action is desperately needed from humanity, and a divine "void" is perceived. For instance, in Isa 59:16, God "saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede." Here, the absence isn't of an opposing deity but of righteous human action and intercession, leading God Himself to intervene. This demonstrates a recurring theme of God actively surveying creation, observing human behavior or the claims of false gods, and drawing conclusions about worthiness or competence. The silence of the idols in Isa 41:28 directly contrasts with God's voice, which throughout Isaiah proclaims, judges, comforts, and guides, reinforcing that divine communication and counsel emanate solely from Him.

Isaiah 41 28 Commentary

Isaiah 41:28 encapsulates the core message of the larger theological debate within the book of Isaiah, specifically the superiority of Yahweh over all rival deities. The verse describes God's deliberate search among the nations and their idols for someone—anyone—who could foretell the future or offer genuine counsel, and the subsequent declaration that none could be found. This rhetorical device vividly exposes the absolute futility and powerlessness of false gods. They are inert, devoid of knowledge, and utterly silent when challenged, demonstrating a complete inability to engage in divine activity or guide their worshippers. In contrast, God, through this decisive pronouncement, establishes His sole claim to omniscient prophecy and omnipotent governance. The verse serves to strengthen Israel's faith by clearly distinguishing the living, active, and true God from lifeless idols, reaffirming that ultimate reliance must be placed only on Him, who alone speaks and acts with sovereign purpose.