Isaiah 42:17 kjv
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
Isaiah 42:17 nkjv
They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.'
Isaiah 42:17 niv
But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame.
Isaiah 42:17 esv
They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, "You are our gods."
Isaiah 42:17 nlt
But those who trust in idols,
who say, 'You are our gods,'
will be turned away in shame.
Isaiah 42 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 41:24 | "But no god at all is your choice, and none can help." | Clarifies dependence on worthless things. |
| Isaiah 44:9-11 | "All who make idols are nothing, and their precious things are of no value." | Reinforces the worthlessness of idols. |
| Isaiah 45:16 | "All who fashion idols will be put to shame and confounded." | Echoes the shame of idol worshipers. |
| Psalm 97:7 | "Confounded be all who serve graven images..." | A parallel sentiment of shame. |
| Psalm 115:4-8 | "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands...Those who make them become like them..." | Describes the nature of idols and their worshippers. |
| Jeremiah 10:14 | "Everyone is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his images..." | Direct comparison of craftsman and creation. |
| Jeremiah 50:2 | "Bel the temples are shamed, Merodach is broken in pieces..." | Prophecy against Babylonian idols. |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | "What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it...? It cannot even give instruction." | Questions the utility of idols. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 | "...what can I say that what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?" | New Testament understanding of idols. |
| 1 John 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | A direct admonition in the New Testament. |
| Deuteronomy 32:21 | "They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their abominations." | God's response to idolatry. |
| Joshua 24:20 | "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm..." | Warning against serving other gods. |
| Psalm 135:15-18 | "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands... Those who make them become like them..." | Another instance of idol description. |
| Isaiah 19:1-3 | "The oracle concerning Egypt... The Egyptians I will put into confusion, and they will seek refuge in me..." | Prophecy against Egyptian idols. |
| Romans 1:22-23 | "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man..." | Explains the root of idolatry. |
| Isaiah 2:8 | "Their land is also full of horses, and there is no end to their chariots. Their land is also full of steeds..." | Contrast of military might with divine reliance. |
| Isaiah 41:2-7 | Describes nations raising up their idols. | Setting the stage for the rejection of idols. |
| Isaiah 46:5-7 | "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and to whom will you compare me, that we may be alike?" | God asserts His unique incomparability. |
Isaiah 42 verses
Isaiah 42 17 Meaning
Those who trust in idols are utterly ashamed, those who say to images, 'You are our gods.'
Isaiah 42 17 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 42, a section often referred to as the "Songs of the Servant." The broader context of Isaiah 40-55 is a message of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites. God, through the prophet Isaiah, declares His power and sovereignty, contrasting it with the impotence of idols and the nations that worship them. Specifically, Isaiah 42:17 speaks after God has proclaimed the enablement of His Servant (often interpreted as Israel, or a future Messiah) to bring forth justice. This verse highlights the folly and ultimate defeat of those who rely on man-made deities, serving as a polemic against surrounding idolatrous cultures.
Isaiah 42 17 Word Analysis
- Wo-həyū (והיו): "And they shall be" or "and they shall have been." Indicates a future state of being or possession.
- Bošōṯ (בֹּשֹׁת): "Shame" or "shamefulness." Refers to embarrassment, disgrace, and humiliation. It signifies being confounded and put to open shame.
- Ḥəp̄ōrê (חֹפְרֵי): "Diggers" or "those who dig." This unusual word is often translated as "gravers," "carvers," or "fashioners." It emphasizes the labor and art involved in creating idols. It suggests craftsmen who shape and mold objects.
- Šəqaqîm (שְׁקוּקִים): "Worshipped" or "longed for." Derived from a root meaning "to long for" or "to drink," in the Piel it means "to cause to worship." It implies an intense desire and devotion directed towards an object.
- Ṯəmûrowṯ (תְּמוּרוֹת): "Images" or "substitutes." This term implies something that is exchanged or put in place of another, referring to idols as a false substitute for the true God. It can also mean "exchanges" or "valuables."
- Ṯəmûnôṯ (תְּמוּנוֹת): "Forms" or "likenesses." It refers to the shapes and resemblances created by sculptors and artisans, emphasizing the manufactured nature of idols. It's the visual representation that humans bow to.
Word-group Analysis
- "Wo-həyū bošōṯ ḥəp̄ōrê šəqaqîm": This phrase powerfully links the action of idol making ("ḥəp̄ōrê šəqaqîm" - fashioners who cause to be worshipped) with the consequence of shame ("bošōṯ"). The artisans themselves, and by extension all who engage in their practice, will be subjected to utter disgrace. It suggests that the very act of creating and venerating these "images" will lead to profound embarrassment.
- "Ṯəmûrowṯ ləḵem Ṯəmûnôṯ ēlōhêḵem": This contrasts "your substitutes" ("Ṯəmûrowṯ ləḵem") with "the likenesses of your gods" ("Ṯəmûnôṯ ēlōhêḵem"). It's a rhetorical device, highlighting the emptiness and inadequacy of what they choose as their divine. Their idols are mere exchanges for the true God and mere representations devoid of deity.
Isaiah 42 17 Bonus Section
The word "ḥəp̄ōrê" (fashioners/diggers) can be seen as an ironic descriptor. Just as a miner digs for precious metals, these idol makers "dig" and labor to create their gods. However, their effort yields nothing of true value or salvific power. This contrasts with the spiritual "digging" of seeking God's truth, which yields eternal reward. The repetition of words related to "image" or "likeness" ("Ṯəmûrowṯ" and "Ṯəmûnôṯ") underscores the inherent superficiality and deception of idol worship. Scholars have noted how ancient Near Eastern religions were replete with diverse cult images, and Isaiah is directly addressing the peoples of his day, including Judah, who were susceptible to or engaged in such practices. The "shame" spoken of is not just emotional discomfort but a complete lack of efficacy, a total failure to deliver when needed, leading to ultimate defeat and exposure.
Isaiah 42 17 Commentary
Isaiah 42:17 delivers a stark pronouncement against idolatry. It declares that those who fashion idols, meticulously shaping and carving them, and those who bow down to and worship these fabricated images, will ultimately be met with extreme shame and utter confusion. The verse emphasizes that idols, no matter how elaborately made or ardently revered, are ultimately worthless and incapable of providing salvation or help. They are poor substitutes and mere likenesses, inherently empty of divine power. This shame will be public and complete, contrasting sharply with the salvation promised through the true God. The verse serves as a warning, rooted in the understanding of God's exclusive claims and the absolute impotence of any other entity to save or sustain. It underscores that true security and righteousness are found solely in faithfulness to the Lord.