Isaiah 44 25

Isaiah 44:25 kjv

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Isaiah 44:25 nkjv

Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;

Isaiah 44:25 niv

who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense,

Isaiah 44:25 esv

who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,

Isaiah 44:25 nlt

I expose the false prophets as liars
and make fools of fortune-tellers.
I cause the wise to give bad advice,
thus proving them to be fools.

Isaiah 44 verses

Isaiah 44 25 Meaning

Isaiah 44:25 declares the absolute sovereignty of the God of Israel over all forms of human pretense to knowledge and power. He is presented as the One who actively thwarts, makes void, and exposes the emptiness of diviners, soothsayers, and all who claim secret knowledge or wisdom apart from Him. This includes making their signs, predictions, and accumulated understanding futile and foolish, ultimately turning their wisdom back upon itself as folly. This verse serves as a powerful affirmation of Yahweh's unique identity as the only true God who knows and controls the future, in contrast to the false deities and occult practices of the surrounding nations.

Isaiah 44 25 Context

Isaiah 44:25 is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 40-55) known as the Book of Consolation, aimed at encouraging the exiles in Babylon. Specifically, it appears in a passage (44:24-28) that serves as a powerful climax to Isaiah's arguments for Yahweh's singular power, wisdom, and control over history, setting the stage for the announcement of Cyrus (v. 28) as God's instrument for Israel's return.

Chapter Context (Isaiah 44): The chapter strongly emphasizes the uniqueness and supremacy of the God of Israel as the Creator and Redeemer, contrasting Him sharply with the impotence of idols (vv. 9-20). The people are reminded of God's covenant loyalty and His unparalleled ability to predict and accomplish His will. Verse 25, therefore, serves as proof of Yahweh's authority: if He can expose the falsehood of all human and demonic claims to foresight, then His own declarations, including the impending liberation through Cyrus, are utterly reliable.

Historical Context: The exiles in Babylon were surrounded by a culture deeply immersed in various forms of divination, astrology, and omens. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) were renowned for their "wise men," stargazers, and soothsayers (Dan 2:2; 4:7; 5:7), whose advice informed crucial political and personal decisions. Isaiah's words directly confront and ridicule these practices, asserting that the God of Israel renders all such supposed wisdom ineffective and foolish. It is a polemic against the worldview that elevated human-derived or demonically inspired insights above the one true God's revelation.

Isaiah 44 25 Word analysis

• who frustrates (מֵפֵר, mefer): From the verb פּרר (parar), meaning "to break," "annul," "make void," "frustrate." It conveys the idea of God actively invalidating or rendering ineffective something that was intended to stand or accomplish a purpose. God doesn't merely ignore but decisively thwarts. This emphasizes His authoritative opposition.

• the signs (אֹתוֹת, otot): These are marks, tokens, or indicators. While otot can refer to divine signs and wonders, here it pertains to the prognostications, omens, or predictions given by human agents claiming supernatural insight. It highlights the perceived evidence or demonstration of power used by liars to deceive.

• of liars (בַּדִּים, baddim): Refers to "idle talkers," "empty talkers," "impostors," or those who speak without substance. In context, these are likely false prophets or those who engage in fraudulent spiritual claims, lacking any genuine divine source.

• and makes fools (יְהוֹלֵל, yeholel): From the root הָלַל (halal), in this context meaning "to make foolish," "to show as foolish," or "to mock." God actively exposes their foolishness. This isn't just a passive discrediting but an active declaration and demonstration of their absurdity.

• of diviners (וְקֹסְמִים, veqosemim): From the verb קָסַם (qasam), meaning "to practice divination" or "to predict by magic/sorcery." These were individuals engaged in forbidden occult practices like fortune-telling, necromancy, and interpretation of omens. They sought to uncover hidden knowledge or future events through non-divine means.

• who turns (מֵשִׁיב, meshib): From שׁוב (shuv), "to return," "bring back," or "turn back." In a causative sense, it means God causes them to retract or retreat. It implies a reversal of direction or purpose, demonstrating their inability to advance their plans.

• wise men (חֲכָמִים, chakamim): Refers to those esteemed for their intellect, knowledge, or sagacity. In the ancient Near East, this often included court advisors, scribes, philosophers, and even magi (like in Babylon). This term, when contrasted with God, often highlights the limitations of human wisdom.

• back (אָחוֹר, achor): Literally "backward" or "behind." Used with "turns," it indicates that their progress or initiatives are halted and reversed. Their wisdom fails to guide them forward or achieve its aims.

• and makes their knowledge foolish (וְדַעְתָּם סִכְּלָהּ, veda'tam siklāh):

  • their knowledge (דַּעְתָּם, da'tam): Refers to their understanding, insight, acquired information, or technical expertise. This is their intellectual store, upon which they pride themselves.
  • makes foolish (סִכְּלָהּ, siklāh): From the verb סָכַל (sakhal), which means "to be foolish," or in the Piel (causative) form, "to make foolish," "to bring to naught," "to confound." It parallels "makes fools" (yeholel) earlier in the verse, reinforcing God's comprehensive nullification of all such human pretensions.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners": This initial clause focuses on God's direct assault on spiritual falsehood. He actively neutralizes the claims of those who pretend to divine insight, whether through intentional deceit (liars) or occult practices (diviners). Their 'signs' or supposed evidence are rendered void, and their methods shown to be absurd and ineffective.
  • "who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish": This second clause broadens the scope to include purely human wisdom and intellect. God actively thwarts the designs and understanding of even the most esteemed human sages. Their supposed wisdom cannot stand against His plan; it is reversed, confounded, and ultimately exposed as mere folly in the light of His truth. This highlights the boundary of human intellect compared to divine knowledge.

Isaiah 44 25 Bonus section

The active, causative verbs in Isaiah 44:25 — "frustrates," "makes fools," "turns back," "makes foolish" — highlight God's direct involvement. He does not merely permit these things to happen; He actively brings them about. This underscores His ultimate power and contempt for practices that diminish His glory. The repetition of the theme "making foolish" (from halal and sakhal) reinforces the comprehensiveness of His work against both deceptive spiritualists and proud intellectuals. This verse serves not only as an historical pronouncement but also a timeless principle of divine governance over both spiritual and intellectual deceptions. It implicitly warns against reliance on "human spiritism" (seeking spiritual guidance or answers from any source other than the Holy Spirit through Scripture and prayer) and "human rationalism" (exclusively trusting human reason to comprehend divine truths).

Isaiah 44 25 Commentary

Isaiah 44:25 is a resounding declaration of Yahweh's unmatched supremacy and sole claim to sovereign knowledge and power. It operates on two distinct but related fronts. First, it utterly dismisses the validity and efficacy of all forms of pagan divination, sorcery, and false prophecy, which were pervasive in the ancient world, especially in Babylon. God directly intervenes to "frustrate the signs" and "make fools of diviners," implying that such practices, far from tapping into secret truths, are merely empty pretense that He effortlessly exposes. This stands as a powerful polemic against any attempts to bypass or compete with God's singular revelatory authority.

Second, the verse extends God's sovereignty to the realm of human intellect and worldly wisdom. Even the most "wise men" and their accumulated "knowledge" are subject to God's will; He "turns them back" and "makes their knowledge foolish." This is not a blanket condemnation of all human wisdom but specifically the wisdom that opposes God, or claims self-sufficiency, or seeks to predict/control destiny apart from His guidance. It reiterates that human insight, however sophisticated, is inherently limited and ultimately subordinate to divine revelation and purpose.

The overarching theme is God's unwavering control over destiny and knowledge. He is the one who declares the future, not human astrologers or occultists. His power ensures that any schemes or predictions contrary to His will will fail. This provides immense comfort and assurance to His people, particularly the exiles, who might have been tempted to trust in Babylonian soothsayers or be swayed by the apparent wisdom of their oppressors. It redirects their trust entirely to the God who creates, knows, and performs. This verse serves as an essential preamble to the revelation of Cyrus (v. 28), validating God's ability to fulfill even such astonishing prophecies against all odds and against all competing claims to foresight.

Practical usage:

• When facing spiritual claims or predictions outside of God's Word, remember God frustrates the signs of liars.
• When overwhelmed by complex human ideas or worldly "wisdom," recall that God makes the knowledge of the wise foolish.
• Place trust in God's revealed truth and prophetic declarations in Scripture, knowing His word stands unassailable.