Isaiah 44 19

Isaiah 44:19 kjv

And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

Isaiah 44:19 nkjv

And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"

Isaiah 44:19 niv

No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

Isaiah 44:19 esv

No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"

Isaiah 44:19 nlt

The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,
"Why, it's just a block of wood!
I burned half of it for heat
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat.
How can the rest of it be a god?
Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?"

Isaiah 44 verses

Isaiah 44 19 Meaning

Isaiah 44:19 exposes the profound spiritual blindness and irrationality inherent in idol worship. It highlights the logical absurdity of a person using a single piece of wood, consuming half of it for practical needs like cooking and heating, and then considering the remaining portion worthy of divine veneration. The verse questions the lack of foresight, understanding, and self-reflection in idolaters, directly challenging their inability to recognize the distinction between a material object they themselves manipulate and the true Creator. It underscores the spiritual darkness that prevents them from discerning the true nature of God versus the manufactured object of their devotion.

Isaiah 44 19 Context

Isaiah chapter 44 is a powerful declaration of Yahweh's unique identity as the sole God and Creator, contrasted sharply with the utter futility and absurdity of idol worship. Leading up to verse 19, Isaiah mocks the idol makers and their creations, describing the painstaking process of manufacturing an idol from a tree, from felling the tree to shaping the object. He highlights the wood's dual purpose: part is used for mundane activities like heating and cooking, while the other part is fashioned into a god.

Verse 19 specifically encapsulates the climax of this rhetorical exposé. It portrays the craftsman's complete lack of discernment—how can a person warm themselves by a fire made from part of a tree, bake bread, roast meat, satisfy hunger, and then take the remaining portion of that same tree, carve it into an idol, and worship it as divine? The verse belongs to a broader section (Isa 40-55) known as "The Book of Consolation," where God assures Israel of His redemption, His sovereignty over all nations, and His unrivaled power, often proving this by exposing the powerlessness of other gods. Historically, Judah faced surrounding cultures deeply entrenched in idolatry, making this passage a strong polemic against contemporary pagan practices and a call for Israel to remember its unique relationship with the One True God.

Isaiah 44 19 Word analysis

• וְאֵין (və'ên): "And there is not" or "but there is no." This emphasizes a total absence, setting up the logical deficiency.
• מֵשִׁיב (mēshîv): "reflects," "turns back," "considers," "brings back to mind." The root (שׁוּב - shuv) means to turn, return. Here it signifies an internal turning, a deliberate thought process. The idolater lacks this internal pause or contemplation.
• עַל-לִבּוֹ ('al-libbô): "to his heart/mind." The heart (לֵב - lev) in Hebrew thought is not just the seat of emotion but also the center of intellect, will, and moral understanding. So, "reflects to his heart" means considering deeply with one's whole being.
• וְלֹא-דַעַת (vəlō'-da'at): "and not knowledge." Da'at refers to factual understanding, acquaintance, and discernment.
• וְלֹא-תְבוּנָה (vəlō'-tĕvunah): "and not understanding." Tĕvunah signifies insight, discernment, and the ability to connect facts to form a coherent perception, often implying wisdom. The repetition "no knowledge and no understanding" emphasizes the total intellectual and spiritual void regarding their actions.
• לֵאמֹר (lē'mor): "to say" or "saying." This points to the mental conclusion or verbal articulation that should naturally follow logical reflection.
• חֶצְיוֹ (chetsyo): "half of it." Emphasizes that a significant portion was already used for profane, common purposes.
• שָׂרַפְתִּי (śāraptî): "I have burned." A simple, past-tense declaration of an act already performed for practical use.
• בְמוֹ-אֵשׁ (bəmo'-'ēsh): "in/with the fire." The primary utility of the wood for heating.
• אַף ('af): "Indeed," "also," "even." Intensifies the next phrase.
• אָפִיתִי ('afîtî): "I have baked." Another practical application for food preparation.
• עַל-גֶּחָלָיו ('al-gechālāyv): "on its coals." Direct connection to the byproduct of burning the same wood.
• לֶחֶם (lechem): "bread." A staple for sustenance, demonstrating basic needs being met.
• אֶצְלֶה ('etsleh): "I have roasted." Another act of food preparation, demonstrating comfort and survival.
• בָשָׂר (bāśār): "meat." More specific food for consumption.
• וָאֹכֵל (vā'okhēl): "and have eaten." The act of consumption, satisfying hunger.
• וְיִתְרוֹ (vəyitro): "And its remnant" or "and its remainder." The portion left over, which is treated differently.
• לְתוֹעֵבָה (ləto'ēvah): "for an abomination." To'ēvah describes something detestable, disgusting, morally abhorrent, especially to God (e.g., idolatry, perversions). The very thing the wood was becoming was detestable.
• אֶעֱשֶׂה ('e'esheh): "shall I make?" or "I will make?" A rhetorical question highlighting the absurd choice.
• לְבُول-עֵץ (lĕvul-'êts): "to a block/stump of wood." Būl (stump, log, block) implies shapelessness or crude form, emphasizing the raw material's humble origin, making its worship even more preposterous. 'Êts means wood or tree.
• אֶסְגּוֹד ('esgod): "shall I bow down?" or "I will bow down?" To bow down is an act of worship and submission.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "No one reflects upon his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say": This entire phrase indicates a deep-seated spiritual and intellectual deficiency. It's not just a lack of information, but a failure to process and understand the information they already have through their common experiences. This reflects a darkened mind and hardened heart, as depicted in various biblical texts.
• "I have burned half of it in the fire; I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it.": These are all utilitarian actions, demonstrating the common, natural use of the wood for survival and comfort. It starkly contrasts with the spiritual elevation that follows for the other half of the very same material. This group of actions grounds the argument in the everyday reality of the idol maker.
• "Shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?": These two rhetorical questions forcefully reveal the absurdity. The first asks about the nature of the created object (becoming an "abomination" or "detestable thing" in God's eyes), while the second questions the act of worship (bowing to something inanimate and human-made). The "block of wood" emphasizes the raw, undistinguished origin, underscoring the senselessness.

Isaiah 44 19 Bonus section

The Hebrew wordplay in the chapter, especially with the use of the same root for "flesh" (בָּשָׂר – basar) and "good tidings" or "messenger" (בָּשָׂר – basar), which appears in other Isaianic passages (e.g., Isa 40:6, 9) adds an additional layer. While not directly in verse 19, the context emphasizes that all human efforts and idols are mere "flesh"—fading and unreliable—in contrast to the enduring Word and Spirit of God.

Scholars emphasize the ironic sarcasm in Isaiah's portrayal. The detailed step-by-step description of idol creation throughout the chapter, culminating in verse 19's direct address to the idol maker, is intended to elicit shame and self-awareness in the audience. This rhetorical device is common in prophetic literature to highlight human foolishness when contrasted with divine wisdom.

The imagery of burning wood for heat and food speaks to basic human needs and sustenance. The idol is fundamentally unproductive in these essential ways, relying on the same wood that would otherwise fulfill practical human needs. The irony lies in elevating something with no inherent life-giving properties into a source of supposed blessing, while the very raw material it came from literally provided warmth and life-sustaining food. This exposes the deep deception at the heart of idol worship, where essential needs are met by natural processes while spiritual needs are misdirected towards inanimate objects.

Isaiah 44 19 Commentary

Isaiah 44:19 stands as a stark indictment against the irrationality of idolatry, stripped bare of any mystical pretense. The prophet’s argument is deeply rooted in common sense and daily experience, making it profoundly accessible and devastating to its target. The core of the verse is a question of "reflection" (מֵשִׁיב עַל-לִבּוֹ), indicating a failure of introspection, critical thought, and spiritual discernment. The idolater lacks the fundamental mental and spiritual capacity to connect cause and effect, or to compare the practical, material use of wood for sustenance with its subsequent elevation to a deity.

The detailed listing of common activities—burning, baking, roasting, eating—highlights that the idol maker himself treats the wood as a mere resource. He depends on its mundane properties for his survival. To then revere the remainder of the exact same piece of wood as something divine and deserving of worship exposes a profound cognitive dissonance. This is not just a failure of logic, but a spiritual malady; their "heart" (lev), the center of thought and will, is dulled and hardened (cf. Isa 6:9-10).

The polemic suggests that such spiritual blindness is a deliberate choice or a consequence of continued sin, a state where "knowledge and understanding" are utterly absent when it comes to God. The choice to worship a "block of wood" (לְבُول-עֵץ) that has been shaped by human hands and has no inherent life or power, is defined as an "abomination" (לְתוֹעֵבָה) in God's sight. The verse is not merely descriptive; it's prescriptive, challenging listeners to recognize the glaring contradiction in their worship practices and to turn from such empty pursuits to the living God.

For practical application, this verse serves as a powerful reminder to constantly evaluate what we truly revere and devote ourselves to. Any object, achievement, relationship, or ideology that displaces God from His rightful position, becoming the ultimate source of security, hope, or identity, falls into the category of idolatry, regardless of its material form. We must reflect and ask ourselves if we are attributing ultimate value and power to things that are ultimately human-made or transient, failing to acknowledge the true Source of all good.