Isaiah 44 17

Isaiah 44:17 kjv

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

Isaiah 44:17 nkjv

And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"

Isaiah 44:17 niv

From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me! You are my god!"

Isaiah 44:17 esv

And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"

Isaiah 44:17 nlt

Then he takes what's left
and makes his god: a carved idol!
He falls down in front of it,
worshiping and praying to it.
"Rescue me!" he says.
"You are my god!"

Isaiah 44 verses

Isaiah 44 17 Meaning

Isaiah 44:17 describes the illogical and tragic endpoint of idol crafting: a piece of wood, after being used for mundane tasks like fueling a fire, is transformed into an object of worship. The craftsman bows before his own creation, adoring it, praying for deliverance, and proclaiming it to be his god. The verse powerfully exposes the absurdity of human agency creating its own deity, only to then supplicate to this lifeless object for help, illustrating a profound spiritual blindness and misdirection of faith.

Isaiah 44 17 Context

Isaiah 44:17 is embedded within a powerful discourse (chapters 40-48) that asserts Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty, His unique power as the sole Creator and Redeemer, and His foreknowledge. The specific passage from verses 9-20 forms a scathing satire against idol manufacturing and worship. Isaiah contrasts the living, acting God of Israel with the lifeless, impotent gods fashioned by human hands. He details the absurd process: a man cuts down a tree, uses half for fire to cook food and keep warm, and fashions the other half into an object of worship. This immediate context exposes the ultimate folly and logical contradiction of attributing divine power to something a man has made and for which another part served such a base function. Historically, this prophecy likely addresses the spiritual temptations faced by the people of Judah, either in pre-exilic times or looking ahead to the Babylonian exile where they would be surrounded by pervasive idol worship.

Isaiah 44 17 Word analysis

• And the rest of it (וּשְׁאֵרִיתוֹ, u'sh'erito): "Its remnant." This directly links to the preceding verses (15-16) where a portion of the same wood was used for burning to provide warmth and cook food. The use of "remnant" underscores the idol's common, ignoble origin, not distinct or special in itself.
• he makes (יַעֲשֶׂה, ya'aseh): An active verb highlighting the human creator. The "god" is not self-existent or eternal; it is a product of human labor, not divine intervention.
• into a god (לְאֵל, l'el): אֵל (El) is a general Semitic term for a deity, but here applied to an inanimate object, mocking its divine claim. The preposition לְ (le) denotes "for" or "into," indicating transformation from mere wood to a proclaimed god.
• his carved image (לְפִסְלוֹ, l'fislo): פֶּסֶל (pesel) refers specifically to a carved or graven image, often from wood or stone. The possessive suffix לוֹ (lo, "his") ironically shows ownership by the creator, not the other way around. It emphasizes the idol as a human construct.
• He bows down (יִשְׁתַּחֵו, yishtachaveh): A strong verb for physical prostration, demonstrating worship, submission, and reverence. It denotes a solemn act of adoration.
• and worships it (וְיִסְגֹּד, v'yisgod): Often paired with יִשְׁתַּחֵו, this verb further emphasizes profound homage, veneration, and cultic devotion. It highlights a complete submission of the heart.
• he prays to it (וּמִתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו, u'mitpallel elav): מִתְפַּלֵּל (mitpallel) signifies an act of entreaty or intercession. אֵלָיו (elav, "to it") indicates a direct communication or appeal to the inanimate idol, a spiritual act misdirected.
• and says (וְאֹמֵר, v'omer): This introduces the idolater's verbal supplication, revealing his deepest beliefs and hopes placed in the false god.
• 'Deliver me! (הַצִּילֵנִי, hatzileni): An imperative verb meaning "rescue," "save," or "snatch away." This is the ultimate cry for help, showing the idolater's desperate need for salvation from danger or trouble. It underscores the practical expectation placed upon the idol.
• for (כִּי, ki): Introduces the reason or justification for the prayer, highlighting the core belief of the idolater.
• you are my god! (אֵלִי אָתָּה, eli attah): אֵלִי (eli) is "my god," a personal declaration of allegiance and reliance. אָתָּה (attah) is the direct second-person singular pronoun "you." This statement completes the profound irony: the worshiper proclaims his own creation to be his divine protector, capable of salvation.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image": This phrase sharply juxtaposes the commonness of the wood (the rest of it) with the profound claim (makes into a god) and its physical manifestation (his carved image). It is a clear act of human manufacture of the divine.
• "He bows down to it and worships it": This pair of verbs describes the complete physical and spiritual posture of veneration, illustrating the depth of the misplaced devotion. It signifies ritualistic and heartfelt adoration directed towards the created object.
• "He prays to it and says, 'Deliver me, for you are my god!'": This passage is the culmination of the idolater's folly. It depicts the core religious act of prayer—supplication for salvation—being tragically misdirected towards an inert object. The declaration "you are my god" reveals the ultimate deception and inversion of reality: the creation is acknowledged as the Creator, the weak is sought for strength, and the silent for an answer.

Isaiah 44 17 Bonus section

The intense irony in Isaiah 44:17 also underscores the deep spiritual vacuum within humanity that longs to worship something. Even when reason is twisted and logic is discarded, the innate impulse to bow down and seek help from a higher power remains. This longing, when not directed to the living God, invariably settles upon something finite, often something fashioned by one's own hands or chosen by one's own will. This speaks to humanity's need for the Creator and His revelation to truly understand and properly direct their worship, lest they create "gods" in their own image.

Isaiah 44 17 Commentary

Isaiah 44:17 forms the devastating climax of the prophet's exposé on idolatry, illustrating its inherent absurdity and tragic consequences. It moves from the utilitarian act of gathering wood for survival (fuel and cooking) to the profound spiritual deception of elevating a mere piece of wood to the status of a god. The passage is not merely a critique of specific pagan practices but a profound theological statement on the nature of God versus human invention.

The key points of the commentary:

1. Satire of Creation: Isaiah uses satire to strip idols of their perceived majesty. The same raw material, crafted by human hands, is used for warmth and food, yet also deified. This underscores that the "god" has no inherent divine quality, power, or existence beyond human intention and effort. It challenges the intellect and the heart.
2. Spiritual Blindness: The idolater's fervent prayer for deliverance ("Deliver me!") directed to his own creation highlights a profound spiritual blindness and moral perversion. It shows the fundamental human need for salvation and security, tragically misplaced. They fail to perceive the living, self-sufficient God, turning instead to something dependent on themselves.
3. Inversion of Order: The verse vividly depicts an inversion of the natural order of worship. Instead of the created worshiping the Creator, the creator worships his own creation. The one who makes seeks deliverance from the one that is made. This exposes the core lie of idolatry: it substitutes God with something fashioned by humanity's hands, intellect, or desires, thus elevating self or creation above the true Sovereign.

This verse serves as a timeless warning that any ultimate object of devotion, hope, or salvation that is not the true God, regardless of its form—be it a material image, a philosophy, wealth, power, or self—is a futile and impotent idol, incapable of providing true deliverance.