Isaiah 44:10 kjv
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
Isaiah 44:10 nkjv
Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing?
Isaiah 44:10 niv
Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?
Isaiah 44:10 esv
Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
Isaiah 44:10 nlt
Who but a fool would make his own god ?
an idol that cannot help him one bit?
Isaiah 44 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Futility of Idols | ||
| Psa 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of menās handsā¦ They have mouths, but do not speakā¦ | Idols are lifeless and cannot act or help. |
| Psa 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human handsā¦ | Further reiteration of idols' ineffectiveness. |
| Jer 10:3-5 | The customs of the peoples are vanityā¦ with axes cut a tree from the forestā¦ | Idols are just crafted wood, powerless objects. |
| Hab 2:18-19 | "What profit is an idolā¦ that a carver has carved it? It is only a molten imageā¦" | Direct question on idol's profitability and agency. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | ā¦we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." | Theological affirmation of idol's non-existence. |
| 1 Cor 10:19-20 | What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anythingā¦ they sacrifice to demonsā¦ | Idols are nothing, but behind them are demons. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | ā¦they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkenedā¦ exchanged the glory of the immortal God for imagesā¦ | Human folly in turning from God to lifeless images. |
| Isa 40:18-20 | To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?ā¦ A carver encourages the goldsmithā¦ | Comparing God to idols highlights their insignificance. |
| Isa 41:7 | The craftsman encourages the goldsmithā¦ He fastens it with nails so that it cannot topple. | Demonstrates the human effort required to make/secure idols. |
| Isa 46:1-2 | Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestockā¦ They cannot save the bearerā¦ | Idols cannot save even themselves, must be carried. |
| Isa 46:6-7 | Those who lavish gold from the purseā¦ and hire a goldsmith to make a god, then bow downā¦ | Irony of spending wealth on something that must be carried. |
| 2 Ki 19:18 | indeed, they have cast their gods into the fire, for they were no gods, but the work of menās handsā¦ | Human origin of idols contrasted with true deity. |
| 2 Chr 32:19 | They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of menās hands. | Comparing Yahweh to idols as mere human crafts. |
| Jon 2:8 | Those who pay regard to worthless idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. | Worshipping idols leads to spiritual loss and emptiness. |
| Psa 96:5 | For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. | Sharp contrast between impotent idols and the Creator God. |
| Command against Idolatry | ||
| Exo 20:4-5 | "You shall not make for yourself a carved imageā¦ You shall not bow down to them or serve themā¦" | Direct command against making and serving idols. |
| Lev 19:4 | "Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal; I am the LORD your God." | God's absolute prohibition of idols in all forms. |
| Deut 4:28 | And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. | Warns of consequences of idolatry; idols lack senses. |
| God's Sovereignty & Uniqueness | ||
| Isa 45:5 | I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no Godā¦ | Yahweh's exclusive deity, contrasting with idols. |
| Isa 43:10 | ā¦before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. | God's eternal nature and pre-existence, unlike idols. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I the LORD do not changeā¦ | God's unchanging nature vs. human-made idols that can be changed or broken. |
| Jer 10:10-16 | But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting Kingā¦ The portion of Jacob is not like theseā¦ | The Living God versus dead idols. |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 10 Meaning
Isaiah 44:10 poses a rhetorical question, challenging the very premise of idolatry: "Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?" This verse sets the stage for a strong polemic against the folly of worshipping man-made objects. It fundamentally questions the rationality, wisdom, and utility of creating deities with human hands, asserting their absolute uselessness and inability to provide any genuine benefit or salvation. The rhetorical "Who?" implies that such an act is senseless and brings no advantage whatsoever.
Isaiah 44 10 Context
Isaiah 44:10 is embedded within Isaiah's "Book of Consolation" (chapters 40-55), a powerful message of comfort and assurance for Israel concerning their restoration from Babylonian exile. A major theme in these chapters is the absolute sovereignty and uniqueness of Yahweh, contrasted sharply with the utter futility and powerlessness of pagan idols. Chapter 44 specifically focuses on highlighting God's faithfulness to Israel as His chosen people, promising salvation, and then systematically dismantling the credibility of idol worship. Verses 9-20 present a vivid and sarcastic depiction of idol manufacturers and their creations, emphasizing the absurdity of a human creating a "god" and then worshipping it. Historically, the people of Judah frequently succumbed to the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, making Isaiah's strong denunciation of idols highly relevant and necessary for his audience to remember the true identity and power of the God who saves.
Isaiah 44 10 Word analysis
- ×Ö“× (miy) - "Who": This is a rhetorical question, characteristic of prophetic discourse in Isaiah (cf. Isa 40:18, 40:25, 46:5). It is not seeking an answer, but rather compelling the listener to acknowledge the absurdity and ultimate meaninglessness of the act described. The implied answer is "no one sensible" or "why would anyone?" It directly challenges the logic of idol worshipers.
- ×Öøצַ×Ø (yatsar) - "fashions": This Hebrew verb means to form, mold, or create, often implying artistic or skilled craftsmanship. It is the same word used in Gen 2:7 for God "forming" man from dust. Here, it ironically highlights human hands forming a deity, inverting the creation narrative where God forms, not is formed. This emphasizes the finite, creaturely origin of the supposed god.
- ×Öµ× (el) - "a god": A general Hebrew term for "god" or "deity." In this context, it's used broadly to refer to any conceived divine being, distinct from the singular, proper name YHWH (the LORD). Isaiah uses it specifically for the pagan deities to emphasize their status as human inventions rather than divine realities.
- ×Ö¼×¤Ö¶×”Ö¶× (u-pesel) - "or casts an idol" (or "and an idol"):
- ×Ö¼ (u-): Conjunction "and" or "or," connecting the two types of idol creation.
- ×¤Ö¶×”Ö¶× (pesel): Means "carved image," "graven image," or "idol." It refers to objects fashioned by carving wood or stone, or by forming metal. While it primarily means carved, in the broader context of manufacturing deities, it represents any artificial likeness for worship.
- × Öø×”Ö·×Ö° (nasakh): "Casts" or "poured." This verb refers specifically to the process of melting metal and pouring it into a mold to create a molten image. Thus, "×Ö¼×¤Ö¶×”Ö¶× × Öø×”Öø×Ö°" together describes an idol that is manufactured by casting metal, contrasting slightly with "yatsar el" which might refer to more general forming or carving. It explicitly includes all common methods of idol-making.
- ×Ö°×Ö“×Ö°×ŖÖ¼Ö“× ××Ö¹×¢Ö“×× (l'bilti ho'il) - "that is profitable for nothing": This is the core of the polemic.
- ×Ö°×Ö“×Ö°×ŖÖ¼Ö“× (l'bilti): An emphatic negative particle, meaning "for nothing," "to no purpose," "without."
- ××Ö¹×¢Ö“×× (ho'il): The Hiphil form of the verb "to benefit," "to profit," "to be useful."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Who fashions a god": This phrase highlights the absurdity of human agency in creating a divine being. A creature cannot create its Creator; hence, anything so fashioned is inherently subordinate and not genuinely divine. It lays bare the manufactured nature of the "god."
- "or casts an idol": This expands the scope, addressing different manufacturing techniques for religious objects. Whether carved from wood, shaped from clay, or cast from metal, the origin remains human. The method of creation does not imbue the object with divine power, thus unifying all forms of idolatry under the same verdict of futility.
- "that is profitable for nothing": This conclusive phrase serves as the unequivocal judgment against all idol creation. It directly addresses the idolater's expectation of gain, blessing, or divine intervention. Isaiah argues that all such hopes are baseless because the object cannot provide any help, protection, or spiritual benefit, underscoring its utter powerlessness.
Isaiah 44 10 Bonus section
The rhetorical question in Isa 44:10 serves as a deliberate literary device, often employed by the prophets to provoke thought and highlight undeniable truth, even for those with hardened hearts. This kind of polemic (a strong attack against someone or something) was crucial in ancient Israel to counter syncretism, where elements of Yahweh worship were combined with local pagan practices. By focusing on the sheer unprofitability (economic and spiritual) of idol-making, Isaiah appeals to a basic human sense of pragmatism, compelling the audience to consider the sheer waste involved in worshipping something inert. Furthermore, the term "profitable" (××Ö¹×¢Ö“×× - ho'il) often carries the connotation of spiritual benefit and ultimate salvation in prophetic literature, underscoring that idols are devoid of saving power, a characteristic exclusively reserved for Yahweh. This foundational statement then allows for the subsequent detailed arguments showing why idolaters are senseless and why the Lord alone is God.
Isaiah 44 10 Commentary
Isaiah 44:10 acts as a sharp, rhetorical challenge, laying bare the profound illogic and wastefulness inherent in idolatry. The prophet confronts the reader with the absurdity of investing time, effort, and precious materials into creating something to be worshipped, only for it to be utterly useless. By asking "Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?", Isaiah highlights the direct contradiction in terms: a "god" should be a source of profit and benefit (salvation, protection, guidance), but if it is made by human hands, it is by definition powerless. The verse exposes the foundational flaw of all idol worship: a self-made deity cannot surpass its maker in power, knowledge, or help. It serves as a precursor to the vivid, satirical description of idol making in the subsequent verses, proving the incomparable sovereignty of Yahweh, who alone creates, saves, and acts, while idols are merely the inert works of human hands. It urges a shift from vain pursuits to the true God who provides true profitāsalvation and everlasting faithfulness.