Isaiah 44:16 kjv
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
Isaiah 44:16 nkjv
He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire."
Isaiah 44:16 niv
Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."
Isaiah 44:16 esv
Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!"
Isaiah 44:16 nlt
He burns part of the tree to roast his meat
and to keep himself warm.
He says, "Ah, that fire feels good."
Isaiah 44 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:15 | He takes a log and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. | Isa 40:19, Jer 10:3, Isa 46:6 |
| Isaiah 44:17 | and the rest he makes into a god, his idol. and he falls down to it! | Isa 45:20, Psa 115:4-7, Isa 46:7 |
| Isaiah 44:19 | I made this to keep me warm. Did I not? Or should I make a god. | Psa 135:15-18, Hab 2:18-19, Jer 10:14-15 |
| Psalm 115:8 | Those who make them become like them, so do those who trust in them. | Psa 135:18, Prov 14:12, Isa 45:9 |
| Jeremiah 10:3 | For the customs of the peoples are false; it is a tree from the forest. | Jer 10:8, Deut 4:28, Isa 40:19 |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | They are upright like a palm tree, but speak not. They must be carried. | Jer 10:14, Isa 45:20, Hab 2:18 |
| Jeremiah 10:14 | Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. | Jer 51:17, Psa 97:7, Isa 40:19 |
| Isaiah 45:20 | Assemble yourselves and come; draw near, you remnant of the nations! | Isa 44:11, Isa 43:9, Jer 10:11 |
| Isaiah 45:20 | They who carry about their wooden idols and pray to a god that cannot save. | Psa 115:4-8, Isa 46:7, Hab 2:18 |
| Acts 19:26 | It is clear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people. | 1 Kings 18:27, Isa 44:17, Jer 10:5 |
| Romans 1:22 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, | 1 Cor 1:20, Rom 12:16, Eph 4:17 |
| Romans 1:23 | and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. | Psa 106:20, Jer 2:11, Ezek 8:10 |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? | 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16, Eph 2:21 |
| 1 John 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | 1 John 5:20, Acts 15:20, 1 Cor 10:14 |
| Deuteronomy 4:19 | lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, should be led astray to worship them and serve them. | Deut 12:2, Deut 17:3, Rom 1:25 |
| Deuteronomy 4:28 | And there you will serve other gods, made of wood and stone, the work of human hands. | Isa 44:9-11, Jer 10:3, Rev 9:20 |
| Psalm 135:15 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. | Psa 115:4, Isa 40:19, Hab 2:19 |
| Psalm 135:16 | They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; | Psa 115:5-6, Isa 46:7, Jer 10:5 |
| Psalm 135:18 | Those who make them become like them, so do those who trust in them. | Psa 115:8, Prov 28:9, Isa 45:20 |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | What profit is an idol? For a man makes it, but it is a worthless teacher of nothing. | Isa 40:19, Isa 45:20, Jer 10:14 |
| Revelation 9:20 | The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshipping demons and idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. | Deut 29:17, Psa 135:15, Isa 44:10 |
| Wisdom 13:11 | He does not consider it a sin to follow the ways of the heathens. | Wis 13:1-10, Rom 1:21-23, 1 Cor 8:4 |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 16 Meaning
The verse describes the creation and use of an idol, highlighting the utter futility and absurdity of making a god from wood, fire, and metal. The resulting object is used for self-gratification (warming oneself) and display (bowing down to it), showcasing the craftsman's deception and the worshiper's foolishness.
Isaiah 44 16 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 44, a section of prophetic oracles dealing with Israel's restoration and God's sovereignty over all nations. The preceding verses (Isaiah 44:9-20) engage in a powerful polemic against idolatry, particularly the manufacturing and worship of idols. The prophet details the process of an idol-maker, starting from taking a tree. This specific verse, Isaiah 44:16, focuses on the use of half of that tree: one part is used to warm the craftsman and cook food, while the other is fashioned into an idol. The context is a vivid illustration of human folly and spiritual bankruptcy, contrasting the functional, albeit limited, use of wood with the utterly nonsensical worship of an object made from it. This passage aims to expose the worthlessness of idols and reinforce the uniqueness and power of the one true God.
Isaiah 44 16 Word Analysis
he (וְעָשָׂה - wə·ʿā·śâ): And he made. The conjunctive "vav" connects this action to the previous one. "Asah" (to make, do) highlights the active role of the craftsman.
half (חֲצִי - ḥă·ṣî): A precise division, emphasizing the material is mundane and readily available, yet treated divinely.
it (מִמֶּנּוּ - mim·mē·nū): From it, referring to the wood or tree mentioned earlier.
of (מִן - min): A preposition indicating origin or separation.
the tree (הָעֵץ - hā·ʿēṣ): The tree. "Ha" is the definite article. This is the same material from which he gets fire.
And (וְהֵסִּיק - wə·hê·sîq): And he warmed himself. "Hesik" (to be warm, to warm) points to a practical, physical comfort derived from the wood.
he (בּוֹ - bōw): By it/with it.
warmed (בּוֹ - bōw): He is warmed. The action of using the wood for its intended purpose – fire.
himself (וְהֵסִּיק - wə·hê·sîq): Himself. This act of warming is a personal benefit.
Yea (כִּי - kî): Indeed, truly, for. An emphatic particle reinforcing the preceding statement.
he (אָפָה - ’ā·p̄â): He baked. Another practical use of the fire.
kindleth (בּוֹ - bōw): Therewith, by it. Continuing the use of the fire.
a fire (וַאֲפָה - wa·’ă·p̄â): And baked. This connects directly to the food preparation.
bread (לָחֶם - lā·ḥem): Bread. A staple food, again demonstrating mundane utility.
and (וְאֹכֶל - wə·’ō·ḵel): And eat. The result of the baking.
the residue (וְאֹכֶל - wə·’ō·ḵel): And he ate. Consuming the food.
thereof (כָּל־ - kāl): All, the entirety. Referring to the remaining portion.
make thereof (וְאַחַר - wə·’a·ḥar): And afterward. Transitioning to the next action.
an idol (כָּל־ - kāl): All, entire. The entirety of the remainder.
even (אֱלֹהָיו - ’ĕ·lō·hāw): His god. The word for God ('Elohim') here emphasizes it is presented as a god.
a graven (וְאֶתְשַׁחוּ - wə·’eṯ·šə·ḥū): And they bowed down. The common verb for prostration or bowing.
image (נָפְלוּ־ - nāp̄·lū-: They fell down. Similar to bowing, indicating submission.
yea (לוֹ - lōw): To it. Indicating the object of worship.
he (לְבֵצֶר - lə·ḇē·ṣer): A craftsman, smith. The one who fashioned the idol.
boweth himself (קָדוֹשׁ - qā·ḏōš): Holy. This word is used ironically here, highlighting the desecration of any concept of holiness.
unto it (יְלָמוֹר - yə·la·mō·r): To him who is bowed. Refers back to the idol as the recipient of worship.
Group of words analysis (Idol making and worship): The entire sequence, from taking the tree to baking bread and then bowing to an idol made from the same source, forms a narrative of absurdity. The craftsman gets warmth and sustenance from half the wood, then crafts the other half into an object of worship. This highlights the complete lack of discernment: that which provides physical sustenance is simultaneously rendered an object of spiritual devotion, while the true sustainer is ignored.
Isaiah 44 16 Bonus Section
The psychological aspect of idolatry is implicitly shown here. The craftsman feels a sense of accomplishment and control in fashioning his god, deriving personal benefit (warmth, food) from the material used in its creation. This manufactured deity offers a sense of security and appeasement without the demands of a truly holy God. The worship is directed towards an object reflecting the craftsman's own skill and limitations, a mirrored futility. The phrase "a god, even a graven image" highlights the self-deception involved, as the object is clearly a human fabrication ("graven image") yet elevated to divine status.
Isaiah 44 16 Commentary
This verse exposes the stark contrast between practical human needs and spiritual delusion. The same log that provides the idol maker with warmth and food – basic necessities – is divided. Half serves his immediate physical comfort; the other half, crafted into an idol, serves his spiritual deception. It is a powerful illustration of how people often engage in the motions of worship, creating objects and rituals to satisfy a perceived need for the divine, yet these creations are inherently worthless and cannot provide true sustenance or salvation. The irony lies in worshipping a being made from the very material that serves more immediate and tangible purposes. True worship belongs to the Creator, not the created.