Isaiah 44 20

Isaiah 44:20 kjv

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Isaiah 44:20 nkjv

He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Isaiah 44:20 niv

Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

Isaiah 44:20 esv

He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Isaiah 44:20 nlt

The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.
He trusts something that can't help him at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,
"Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?"

Isaiah 44 verses

Isaiah 44 20 Meaning

Isaiah 44:20 profoundly depicts the utter spiritual blindness and self-deception of an idol worshiper. It illustrates that someone who dedicates their life and effort to idols effectively "feeds on ashes"—consuming that which offers no true nourishment or value. Their heart, led astray by this deceit, renders them incapable of recognizing the futility of their chosen object of worship, and thus they cannot deliver themselves from this delusion nor admit the blatant falsehood held firmly in their grasp.

Isaiah 44 20 Context

Isaiah 44 is part of a larger prophetic section (chapters 40-55), often called the "Book of Comfort" or the "Second Isaiah," primarily addressed to Israel during or preceding their Babylonian exile. The overarching theme is the incomparability and sovereignty of Yahweh, the one true God, as contrasted with the impotence and absurdity of the idols worshipped by surrounding nations and tragically, at times, by Israel itself.

This specific chapter powerfully asserts God's unique attributes: He is the first and the last, the only Creator, who knows and declares the future. He actively brings salvation to His chosen people, Israel. Following this declaration, Isaiah launches into a satirical and devastating polemic against idolatry. From verses 9 through 20, he mocks the process of idol-making—a craftsman uses wood for fire and the remainder for a god, then bows down to it, expecting it to save. Verse 20 functions as the culmination of this ridicule, highlighting the ultimate self-deception and tragic irony of the idol worshiper. They put their trust and labor into something worthless, a "lie," yet are too spiritually blind to recognize it.

Isaiah 44 20 Word analysis

• He feeds on ashes;

  • He feeds on (רֹעֶה, ro'eh): From the root meaning "to shepherd" or "to pasture." Here, it signifies actively sustaining oneself, or nourishing. The imagery implies a person choosing ashes as their source of sustenance, likening their spiritual "diet" to something utterly barren and unproductive. It’s more than just eating; it's what they depend on for spiritual vitality, which in this case, is non-existent.
  • ashes (אֵפֶר, epher): A strong symbol of worthlessness, waste, futility, and desolation in the Bible (e.g., Job 13:12; Mal 4:3). For an idol worshiper to "feed on ashes" means they are deriving spiritual sustenance from that which is spiritually dead and brings no life, health, or true comfort. It also highlights the ironic result of idolatry: instead of divine glory, one consumes decay.

• a deceived heart has turned him aside,

  • a deceived heart (לֵב נִטָּה, leiv nittah): The heart (lev) in Hebrew thought is not merely the seat of emotions but also the center of intellect, will, and conscience. Nittah implies "turned aside," "bent," or "swerved," often used in a negative sense of going astray. Thus, it's not just ignorance, but an active, willful departure from truth. The heart itself, the core of one's being, is deluded, not just superficially fooled. This deception originates from within, perhaps aided by external lies, but rooted in internal choice.
  • turned him aside: This verb further emphasizes the self-imposed nature of the spiritual disorientation. The individual's own misguided internal state has led them astray.

• and he cannot deliver his soul,

  • cannot deliver (לֹא יַצִּיל, lo yatzil): Yatzil means "to save," "rescue," or "deliver." The negation (lo) stresses utter powerlessness.
  • his soul (נַפְשׁוֹ, nafsho): Refers to his life, his very self, his spiritual essence. The idol worshiper, due to their deceived state, is unable to rescue themselves from their predicament, their false belief, or the destructive consequences that await them. Idols cannot save (Isa 45:20), and the one who relies on them cannot save themselves.

• or say, ‘Is there not a lie in my right hand?’

  • or say (וְלֹא יֹאמַר, velo yomar): The inability to even utter this critical question signifies the profound depth of their spiritual blindness and delusion. The truth is so self-evident, yet they are prevented from even conceptualizing it.
  • a lie (שֶׁקֶר, sheker): Meaning falsehood, deceit, emptiness, or vanity. It's not merely an error, but an active deception. The idol is a lie personified because it promises power and salvation it cannot deliver.
  • in my right hand (בִּימִינוֹ, biyimino): The right hand traditionally symbolizes strength, power, activity, and what one holds dear or controls (Psa 89:13). The worshiper holds the idol—the lie—in the very place of power and possession, signifying their firm grip on their delusion. The idol is their chosen support, their trusted companion. The irony is poignant: what should be a source of strength is a source of falsehood.

Isaiah 44 20 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing for "feeds on ashes" (רֹעֶה אֵפֶר, ro'eh epher) could also be translated as "shepherds ashes," further emphasizing the absurd care and devotion given to something utterly valueless. The idolater tends to, manages, and finds sustenance from nothingness, akin to a shepherd guiding his flock to a barren wasteland. This reinforces the active commitment to futility. The prophet's intense scorn in this chapter, culminating in this verse, is designed to shake his audience out of their spiritual apathy and expose the intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of turning away from the living God. It's a stark reminder that rejection of the Creator inevitably leads to embracing a destructive falsehood, a point echoed in the New Testament concerning the darkness and futility of those who reject God's revelation (Rom 1:21-23).

Isaiah 44 20 Commentary

Isaiah 44:20 serves as a powerful and sarcastic indictment of idolatry, laying bare its fundamental irrationality and devastating spiritual consequences. The core message revolves around profound spiritual blindness and self-deception. To "feed on ashes" is a vivid metaphor for seeking spiritual nourishment and ultimate meaning in things that are utterly worthless, unable to provide life, comfort, or truth. It exposes the futility of investing one's life, energy, and hope in anything other than the one true God.

The phrase "a deceived heart has turned him aside" highlights that the root of idolatry lies within the human heart—it is not merely an external act but a profound internal spiritual condition. The will and intellect become twisted, leading to a state where the individual becomes incapable of recognizing clear truth, even when it stares them in the face. This internal deception makes them unable to "deliver their soul," meaning they are powerless to rescue themselves from their deluded state or its eventual spiritual death.

The ultimate tragedy is expressed in their inability to even ask the question, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" This suggests a deep, self-imposed blindness, a willful ignorance of the obvious. The very object of their devotion, held firm in the hand of their supposed strength, is a proven falsehood, yet they cannot even consider the possibility of its deception. This timeless verse speaks not only to the worship of physical idols but also to any modern "idols"—material possessions, power, self, ideologies, or even relationships—that occupy the place reserved for God in our lives, promising satisfaction but ultimately delivering only ashes.