Isaiah 42 17

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 verses

Isaiah 42 17 Meaning

Isaiah 42:17 declares the ultimate fate of those who rely on false deities: profound humiliation and disgraceful retreat. It reveals that individuals and nations who place their confidence in idols, crafted by human hands, and acknowledge these inanimate objects as their gods, will be exposed as utterly mistaken. Their false trust will result in utter shame when confronted by the power and reality of the one true God, as He prepares to act and reveal His might.

Isaiah 42 17 Context

Isaiah 42 marks the beginning of the "Servant Songs," a key prophetic section within the book of Isaiah. In verses 1-9, God introduces His chosen Servant, who will bring justice to the nations and open the eyes of the blind. Following this divine mission statement, verses 10-12 call for joyful praise for God's coming triumph. Verses 13-16 then portray Yahweh as a powerful warrior who will actively intervene, breaking down opposition, leading His blind people (Israel) by an unknown way, and not forsaking them. Isaiah 42:17 serves as a direct, strong contrast to this promise. While God demonstrates His irresistible power to save His chosen, those who trust in impotent idols will face inevitable defeat and humiliation. Historically, the verse addresses the prevailing idolatry in Israel (despite their covenant) and the surrounding Mesopotamian cultures (like Assyria and Babylon) where various gods were worshipped. It is a sharp polemic asserting Yahweh's singular power against the utter weakness and vanity of all man-made deities.

Isaiah 42 17 Word analysis

• They shall be turned back (יִסְגוּ אָחוֹר - yisgu achor):
  • יִסְגוּ (yisgu): From the root סָגַר (sagar), which means "to close," "to shut," "to withdraw," or "to turn back." Here, it carries the sense of retreat, falling back, or even moral defection. It signifies a movement away, often due to defeat or disloyalty.
  • אָחוֹר (achor): Means "backward," "behind," or "rear." Together, it vividly depicts a retreat, a turning away in disgrace, or a moral turning from the path of righteousness. It conveys an image of being put to flight or withdrawing in defeat.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the immediate and definitive nature of their defeat and humiliation. They don't just stand still; they are forced to retreat from their positions of trust and perceived strength.
• they shall be greatly ashamed (יֵבוֹשׁוּ בוֹשׁ - yevoshu bosh):
  • יֵבוֹשׁוּ (yevoshu): From the root בּוֹשׁ (bosh), meaning "to be ashamed," "disappointed," "confounded." It implies a deep sense of embarrassment and dishonor.
  • בוֹשׁ (bosh): The infinitive absolute of the same root, placed after the finite verb for emphasis, creating an intensive construction. It means "to be put to utter shame," "to be totally confounded," "deeply humiliated."
  • Significance: This is not mere embarrassment but profound, comprehensive humiliation. Their hopes placed in idols will be utterly shattered, leading to bitter disappointment and public disgrace when their "gods" prove powerless. This "great shame" is a common prophetic motif for the fate of idolaters and enemies of God.
• that trust in (הַבֹּטְחִים - habbōṭ'ḥîm):
  • From the root בָּטַח (bataḥ), meaning "to trust," "rely upon," "feel secure." It denotes confidence and unwavering dependence.
  • Significance: The verse identifies the core issue as misdirected trust. Idolatry is not just worshipping the wrong thing; it's placing one's ultimate security and hope in something ultimately unable to provide. The active participle ("those who trust") describes an ongoing, habitual state of reliance.
• graven images (בַּפְּסִילִים - bappsîlîm):
  • From the root פָּסַל (pasal), meaning "to hew" or "to carve." A pesel (singular) is an idol carved from wood or stone.
  • Significance: Represents one primary method of idol making. These are stationary, inert objects formed by human effort, devoid of life or power.
• that say to the molten images (לְמַסֵּכוֹת אָמְר֖וּ - ləmassēkhōth ameru):
  • לְמַסֵּכוֹת (ləmassēkhōth): From the root נָסַךְ (nasak), meaning "to pour" or "to cast." A massekah (singular) is an idol cast from metal (e.g., gold, silver, bronze).
  • אָמְר֖וּ (ameru): "They said" or "they say."
  • Significance: This covers the other major form of idol creation. It specifies not just internal trust but an explicit, verbal declaration of allegiance, signifying full commitment and dependence.
• ‘You are our gods’ (אֱלֹהֵינוּ אַתֶּם - ĕlōhênū attem):
  • אֱלֹהֵינוּ (ĕlōhênū): "Our gods." Plural noun Elohim (gods) with the first person plural possessive suffix.
  • אַתֶּם (attem): "You (plural)."
  • Significance: This is the pinnacle of idolatry—an explicit confession of deity directed towards created, inanimate objects. It's a statement of ultimate loyalty and a fundamental denial of the sovereignty of the true God. The plural form highlights the multiplicity of gods in polytheistic worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed": This paired phrase sets out the double consequence of misplaced trust: a physical or figurative retreat (defeat, loss of standing) combined with deep internal and public humiliation. It paints a picture of utter failure and disgrace for those who defy the true God.
• "that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, ‘You are our gods.’": This clause precisely defines the objects of divine judgment. It identifies both the internal attitude ("trust in graven images") and the external declaration ("say to the molten images, ‘You are our gods.’"). By specifying both "graven" (carved) and "molten" (cast) images, Isaiah encompasses the full spectrum of idol construction, leaving no room for alternative forms of idolatry to escape the pronouncement. The direct address to the idols "You are our gods" underscores the misplaced ultimate allegiance that leads to their downfall.

Isaiah 42 17 Bonus section

This verse functions as a profound prophetic judgment, contrasting not only the true God with false idols, but also true faith (trust in Yahweh) with false faith (trust in human creations). The intensity of the "great shame" is magnified because the idolaters’ failure will be public, undermining their perceived wisdom and confidence. In a broader sense, this also relates to any created thing that usurps God's rightful place in one's life. The principle is that anything or anyone declared "our god" besides the Living God will ultimately lead to disappointment and shame because it cannot deliver on its implied promises of security, provision, or meaning. This serves as a warning not only against physical idols but against any form of misplaced ultimate reliance or devotion that takes priority over the Creator.

Isaiah 42 17 Commentary

Isaiah 42:17 serves as a powerful and direct warning, vividly contrasting the active, all-powerful Yahweh, described in the preceding verses as a divine warrior bringing justice and liberation, with the inert, powerless nature of idols. Those who persist in their idolatry—both in their reliance and their declaration of false deity—are promised an inevitable and comprehensive downfall. The prophetic language emphasizes total humiliation and retreat, symbolizing the complete shattering of their trust and the futility of their devotion when confronted by the manifest power of the true God. The shame is not merely embarrassment, but a profound experience of broken hope and exposed folly. It's a foundational theological statement affirming God's unique sovereignty and the utter bankruptcy of any rival object of worship or ultimate trust.

Practical examples might include:

• A person who trusts solely in wealth or career for security and meaning, finding those foundations collapse when facing financial loss or professional failure.
• Someone whose identity is entirely tied to physical appearance or social status, experiencing profound shame when those temporary things fade or are challenged.