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 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 44:26 | That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers... | Continues the thought, emphasizing God's action |
| Jer 29:8-9 | For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you... | Warning against false prophets |
| Jer 50:9 | For, lo, I will raise and bring up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country... | God raising nations against false gods |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | God making worldly wisdom foolish |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. | Discernment from false prophets |
| Psa 33:10-11 | The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the devices of his heart to all generations. | God's counsel vs. human devices |
| Gal 1:8-9 | But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. | Warning against false gospel |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies... | Warning against false teachers |
| Acts 5:38-39 | And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it... | Gamaliel's counsel on discerning God's work |
| Mic 3:6-7 | Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine... | Judgment on false prophets |
| Prov 21:30 | There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. | Inherent futility of opposing God |
| Eph 5:6 | Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. | Warning against deception |
| Jer 23:21, 32 | I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied... Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider the end of them; The LORD hath spoken, he hath rebuked them. | God rebuking prophets |
| Zech 1:6 | But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servant the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways and according to our doings, so hath he done unto us. | God's words having effect |
| Matt 24:24 | For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. | Future false prophets and signs |
| Acts 2:22 | Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know... | God confirming Jesus through signs |
| Psa 2:1-4 | Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. | God's contempt for opposition |
| 1 Kings 18:40 | And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down unto the brook Kishon, and slew them there. | Elijah confronting false prophets |
| Isa 8:10 | Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not proceed: for God is with us. | God's presence thwarting plans |
| Rom 11:34 | For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? | God's inscrutable wisdom |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 25 Meaning
This verse declares God's power to invalidate and frustrate the pronouncements and actions of false prophets and wise counselors, rendering their deceptive predictions and plans futile. It highlights God's unique ability to establish and fulfill His own word.
Isaiah 44 25 Context
Chapter 44 of Isaiah continues the prophetic message to Israel during a time when they were vulnerable and surrounded by pagan nations practicing idolatry. This specific verse falls within a section (Isaiah 44:9-20) that powerfully critiques idol worship, contrasting the impotence of idols with the unique power of the LORD. It follows descriptions of the creation and sovereign control of the God of Israel over all things, including human affairs and even the actions of pagan kings like Cyrus. The verse is a direct polemic against the claims of false prophets and diviners who would offer deceptive prophecies or advise in opposition to God’s declared will for His people, particularly concerning their exile and eventual restoration.
Isaiah 44 25 Word Analysis
"He": Refers to the LORD God, the subject of the previous verses and the preceding prophecies.
"frustrateth": (Hebrew: ma'ar) - To make void, to nullify, to make empty, to render of no effect. This word implies actively making something cease to be, canceling it out. It signifies that God's power actively negates the pronouncements of these false sources.
"the tokens": (Hebrew: ot) - A sign, an omen, a miraculous sign, an indication. In this context, it refers to the supposed prophetic signs or manifestations that false prophets used to support their claims or predict future events. These were seen as divine confirmations of their message.
"of the liars": (Hebrew: kazab) - Falsehood, a lie, untruth. It characterizes the source of the "tokens," marking them as deceptive and without divine backing. It speaks to the inherent dishonesty of those who claim prophetic authority falsely.
"and maketh": Introduces a second action God performs against false prophecy.
"the diviners": (Hebrew: ken`iyl) - A conjurer, a sorcerer, a wise man or prophet who uses divination. This term broadly covers various forms of occult or pseudo-prophetic practices.
"mad": (Hebrew: shachath) - To destroy, to spoil, to make mad, to deal foolishly, to do corruptly. Here it implies rendering foolish, driving to madness or senselessness, demonstrating their lack of true insight by making their pronouncements seem irrational or absurd in retrospect.
"counselors": (Hebrew: `atstsam) - A counselor, advisor, secret plan. This refers to those who gave strategic or prophetic advice, particularly those who offered guidance contrary to God’s will.
Group Analysis: The verse highlights a duality of God’s action against falsehood: He "frustrateth the tokens of the liars" (nullifying their signs and omens) and "maketh their diviners mad" (rendering their advisors foolish and their counsel useless). This shows God’s active opposition not just to the deceptive message but also to the deceptive practitioners and their methods. The combined action shows a comprehensive undoing of false prophetic activity.
Isaiah 44 25 Bonus Section
This verse directly confronts the practice of divination and reliance on supposed supernatural signs contrary to God's revelation. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, divination was pervasive, with various methods employed to discern the future or understand divine will. Isaiah's message here is a sharp contrast to those practices, affirming that the God of Israel alone controls history and reveals His purposes. The phrase "maketh their diviners mad" speaks to the utter collapse of their authority and wisdom when God intervenes, rendering their pronouncements nonsensical and their practitioners disgraced. This echoes prophetic judgment against false prophets throughout scripture, such as in Jeremiah and Micah, who warned of coming desolation for those who led the people astray with lying visions. The ultimate fulfillment of God's word and the failure of all opposition is a constant theme, assuring those who trust Him.
Isaiah 44 25 Commentary
Isaiah 44:25 underscores God’s absolute sovereignty over truth and knowledge. While false prophets might appear to possess special insights or abilities, their "tokens" and "counsel" are ultimately empty and voided by God. He actively makes them appear foolish, revealing the inherent emptiness of their pronouncements. This verse serves as a vital reminder in a world filled with competing messages and alleged revelations that only God's Word and His approved spokesmen are reliable. The spiritual battle involves discerning true prophecy from false, and God guarantees that deception will not ultimately stand. The folly of idolaters and false prophets is a recurring theme in Isaiah, contrasting their manufactured wisdom with the living God's revealed will. This power to expose and nullify false prophecies assures believers that God's plan will prevail.
- Practical Application: When facing confusing advice or seemingly authoritative predictions that contradict scripture, remember God’s power to "frustrate" them. Trust in God’s revealed word as the ultimate source of truth, and pray for discernment against spiritual deception.