Isaiah 44:9 kjv
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Isaiah 44:9 nkjv
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
Isaiah 44:9 niv
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.
Isaiah 44:9 esv
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
Isaiah 44:9 nlt
How foolish are those who manufacture idols.
These prized objects are really worthless.
The people who worship idols don't know this,
so they are all put to shame.
Isaiah 44 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:10 | Who fashions a god or casts an image that will be profitable for nothing? | Polemic against idols |
| Isaiah 45:16 | They are put to shame and humbled, all of them; the makers of idols will be | Futility of idol makers |
| Psalm 115:4 | But the idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. | Description of idols |
| Psalm 115:7 | They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see. | Powerlessness of idols |
| Psalm 115:8 | Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. | Shared futility of idol worshipers |
| Jeremiah 10:3 | For the customs of the peoples are vanity. | Nations' reliance on idols |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they must be carried, for they cannot walk. | Idols need to be carried by men |
| Jeremiah 10:14 | Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. | Goldsmiths shamed by their idols |
| Jeremiah 50:2 | Babylon is overthrown, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is broken in pieces. | Destruction of idols and gods |
| 1 Corinthians 12:2 | You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols. | Warning against pagan practices |
| 1 John 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Apostolic exhortation to avoid idols |
| Isaiah 41:24 | Behold, you are worse than even a nothing; your deeds are less than a | Comparing man's works to nothing |
| Isaiah 2:8 | Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is also filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. | Pride in material wealth and idols |
| Isaiah 44:17 | And the rest he makes a god, his idol, and falls down to it; he worships it and prays to it. | The act of idol worship |
| Isaiah 19:1 | The oracle concerning Egypt. | Oracles against nations |
| Hosea 2:8 | For she did not know that I gave her grain, wine, and oil, and that I | Unacknowledged divine provision |
| Nahum 3:4 | Because of the many prostitutions of the harlot, the beautiful and | Judgement on idol-worshipping cities |
| Habakkuk 2:18 | What profit is an idol from its maker, when he has carved it? or a metal | The question of profit from idols |
| Wisdom of Solomon 13:10 | For to be so ignorant of the source of all things, or to | Ignorance of God as the source |
| Romans 1:23 | And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things. | Idolaters exchanging God's glory |
| Acts 19:26 | Besides, you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a | The impact of Silas on the Ephesians |
| Deut 4:15 | So you must be careful, for you saw no form on the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from out of the fire. | Command against making visible idols |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 9 Meaning
This verse speaks about the utter futility and foolishness of idol worship. It highlights that those who create idols and rely on them for salvation are fundamentally misguided. These idols are ultimately powerless, as they are the product of human hands, and therefore incapable of true divine action or rescue. The verse pronounces a judgment of worthlessness on all who champion these inanimate objects.
Isaiah 44 9 Context
This verse is found in Isaiah chapter 44, a passage strongly characterized by a polemic against idolatry and a triumphant affirmation of Yahweh's unique sovereignty and power as the one true God. The immediate context highlights God's gracious promises to His people, assuring them of His care and redemption. Against this backdrop of divine faithfulness, the prophet Isaiah confronts the folly of the people who turn to idols, emphasizing their helplessness and the emptiness of their worship. The chapter as a whole contrasts God's creative and redemptive acts with the inanimate, lifeless nature of manufactured gods, underscoring the absurdity of trusting in anything other than the Creator.
Isaiah 44 9 Word analysis
- Woe (Hebrew: הוֹי - hoy) - An exclamation expressing grief, distress, or lamentation. It sets a tone of divine pronouncement and warning.
- to him - Refers to the individual who engages in the described action.
- that - Introduces the clause specifying the reason for the "woe."
- formeth (Hebrew: יוֹצֵר - yotzer) - To shape, fashion, create, or form. Implies deliberate design and production.
- a god (Hebrew: אֱלֹהַּ - eloah) - A god, deity, or god-like being. Used here to refer to an idol.
- or - Connects two alternatives for making an idol.
- moldeth (Hebrew: יוֹצֵר - yotzer) - Same Hebrew word as "formeth," emphasizing the act of shaping and bringing into being.
- an image (Hebrew: פֶּסֶל - pesel) - An idol, graven image, or sculpted image. Specifically refers to a three-dimensional representation, often carved.
- that - Introduces the clause describing the nature or intended function of the idol.
- shall be - Indicates future state or capability.
- profitable (Hebrew: לְמוֹעִיל - lemo'il) - To be of use, gain, advantage, or benefit.
- for nothing (Hebrew: לְמִבְלָּע - lemivla) - Literally "for a swallowing" or "to swallow," often translated as "for nothing" or "in vain." It signifies utter worthlessness or incapability.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "that formeth a god or moldeth an image": This phrase collectively highlights the human act of creation in relation to religious objects. It underscores that these deities are manufactured, not inherent, revealing their non-divine origin. The repetition of the verb "to form/shape" emphasizes the laborious and deliberate effort involved in creating these objects, a process that stands in stark contrast to God's effortless and sovereign creation.
- "that shall be profitable for nothing": This idiom powerfully declares the complete uselessness and inability of these idols. They offer no real help, no true salvation, and no divine insight. They are depicted as incapable of performing any beneficial act, ultimately serving no meaningful purpose in the lives of those who rely on them.
Isaiah 44 9 Bonus section
The concept of "profitability" in the context of idols touches upon a fundamental misunderstanding of spiritual power and sustenance. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the primary purpose of worshipping a deity, especially through idols, was to secure its favor and aid, often for material benefit, protection, or success in endeavors. This verse debunks that very premise by declaring these idols incapable of delivering any such advantage. This echoes throughout Scripture the assertion that true spiritual benefit, blessing, and salvation come solely from the living God, who requires no intermediaries crafted by human hands. The creation of idols is also tied to human pride and self-sufficiency, where humanity tries to create a god in its own image and likeness, a reflection of its own limitations rather than God's infinite power. This contrasts sharply with the Christian understanding of God initiating relationship through revelation and grace.
Isaiah 44 9 Commentary
This verse serves as a stern warning against the creation and worship of idols. It underscores the paradox that humans expend great effort to fashion objects they believe possess divine power, yet these very objects are utterly devoid of any real capability or benefit. The emphasis is on the complete disconnect between the human intention and the idol's reality: created by man, yet presumed to represent divine power. The verse's forceful pronouncement, "Woe to him," immediately establishes the dire consequences of such misplaced faith. It asserts that the idols are not only ineffective but also profoundly misleading, leading their adherents into spiritual and practical futility. The creation of idols is presented as an act of supreme foolishness because what man makes can have no true power that the Maker (God) does not grant, and man’s creation serves only to glorify himself and mock God’s true power.