Isaiah 45 16

Isaiah 45:16 kjv

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

Isaiah 45:16 nkjv

They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols.

Isaiah 45:16 niv

All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced; they will go off into disgrace together.

Isaiah 45:16 esv

All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.

Isaiah 45:16 nlt

All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated.
They will all be disgraced together.

Isaiah 45 16 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isa 45:23"By Myself I have sworn... Every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall swear."Fulfillment of the promise
Ps 72:11"Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him."Universal dominion proclaimed
Ps 86:9"All nations whom thou hast made Shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And shall glorify thy name."Prophecy of universal worship
Dan 3:6Nebuchadnezzar’s decree: all bow to golden image.Earthly rulers demanding worship
Dan 3:7"Therefore at that time, when all peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, and zither, all peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."Universal forced worship shown
Dan 3:28Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow.Witness to true allegiance
Dan 6:26Daniel's testimony: "He is a living God, enduring forever; His kingdom shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall be everlasting."Divine kingdom confirmed
Rom 11:4Elijah's testimony of 7,000 who did not bow to Baal.Faithfulness amidst apostasy
Rom 14:10-12"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God."Future accountability assured
1 Cor 15:25"For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet."Christ's reign and subjugation
Phil 2:9-11"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."New Testament fulfillment (Jesus)
Heb 1:6"let all the angels of God worship him."Angels' worship
Heb 12:23"to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to God the Judge of all, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant..."Heavenly assembly
Rev 4:10-11Elders worship God: "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power..."Heavenly worship
Rev 5:13"And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'"Universal praise declared
Rev 15:4"Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed."Nations giving glory to God
Zech 8:22-23"Yea, many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities shall come, and some shall go to live here... in those days ten men from the languages of all the nations shall take hold, yes, they shall take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"Inclusion of gentiles
John 3:16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."God's universal love offered
Deut 6:13"It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear."Singular devotion commanded
Josh 24:14"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."Covenant command for service

Isaiah 45 verses

Isaiah 45 16 Meaning

This verse signifies that all beings, human and perhaps even cosmic forces, will ultimately bow and confess their allegiance to God. It speaks to God's supreme sovereignty and the inevitable recognition of His absolute power and authority by all creation. This confession is not necessarily a joyous embrace of faith, but a forced acknowledgment of truth and power.

Isaiah 45 16 Context

Isaiah chapter 45 focuses on God's absolute sovereignty and His choice of Cyrus the Great to be His instrument in restoring Jerusalem and the people of Israel. The chapter contrasts God's power with the futility of idols and other nations' gods. Verse 16 follows this theme, asserting that all nations and their idols are ultimately powerless and deceived. God, through Isaiah, declares His sole possession of salvation and truth. This declaration serves as a powerful assurance to the exiled Israelites of God's unique and ultimate authority in history and in their salvation. The prophecy against idols and false gods directly challenges the religious practices of surrounding nations, including Babylon, from which the Israelites were being liberated.

Isaiah 45 16 Word analysis

  • kōl (כֹּל): all, every. This word emphasizes totality and universality.
  • mîmməṯū qōwł yôṣĕrîm: shall be put to shame together. This is a strong image of complete disgrace and defeat.
    • mîmməṯū: from "muwth" (מוּת), to die, or figuratively, to be ashamed, perish, waste away. Here it conveys the idea of being brought to naught or ruin.
    • qōwł: noise, voice, sound; here, possibly interpreted as "company" or "collective," referring to those who produce the "noise" of idols or false claims.
    • yôṣĕrîm: moulders, formers, shapers; referring to idol makers or creators of false deities.
  • yāḵāḏ (יַחַד): together, unitedly. Reinforces the communal nature of their shame.
  • kî-hū' îllîm: because he is godless, empty, foolish, silly. This points to the inherent lack of true substance and intelligence in idols.
    • kî-hū': for He is. Introduces the reason for their shame.
    • illîm: from "e'il" (אֱלִיל), an idol, a god. Denotes that which is worthless, null, or empty.
  • lammāh: why? This rhetorical question implies the utter senselessness and futility of relying on or worshipping idols.
  • šāʾū (שָׁאוּ): from "sha'ah" (שָׁאָה), to go astray, be laid waste, perish; here meaning "to be astray" or "deceived." It suggests being led into error.
  • bammāqom hū': in their place. Atoning for "the place" of the idols, emphasizing their inability to function or provide.
  • wə‘attâ (וְעַתָּה): and now. A strong marker of transition to God's present action or declaration.
  • môšī‘ (מוֹשִׁיעַ): Savior, deliverer. God's self-designation, highlighting His unique role.
  • wa-yiqqaš (וּלְקָח): and is taken. The people will be taken by God as His own redeemed possession.
    • yiqqaš: from "laqach" (לָקַח), to take, seize, carry away. Implies God taking them for Himself.

Group Analysis:The phrase "all that form idols will be put to shame and brought to naught together" (kōl-mîmməṯū qōwł yôṣĕrîm yāḵāḏ) highlights the ultimate defeat of those who create and rely on false gods. The subsequent rhetorical questions "Why?" and "because they are null and void" (lammâ, kî-hū' îllîm) expose the inherent irrationality of idolatry. The concluding statement "but Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame nor be confounded forever" (wə‘attâ mōšī‘ ‘aḵ bəyəhvâ yəšû‘â ‘ōlām šənnî šəmmā‘û wəšənî tîḥbônālû ‘ōlām) establishes God's distinct and eternal deliverance for His people.

Isaiah 45 16 Bonus section

The concept of idols being "put to shame" resonates with the ongoing spiritual battle between true worship and idolatry, a theme pervasive throughout Scripture. The word "illîm" (godless, null, empty) used for idols in this verse starkly contrasts with the description of God as "elyon" (Most High) or "El Shaddai" (Almighty God). The ultimate victory described in this verse anticipates the final consummation of God's kingdom, where all deception and falsehood will be permanently vanquished, and His reign will be universally acknowledged. The inclusion of the promise of "everlasting salvation" (yəšû‘â ‘ōlām) for Israel is a testament to God's covenant faithfulness, extending even beyond the immediate historical context of the Babylonian exile.

Isaiah 45 16 Commentary

This verse underscores God's absolute uniqueness as the only true Savior. It pronounces a future judgment upon all false gods and their makers, resulting in their shame and utter invalidity. In contrast, God promises an eternal salvation for Israel, assuring them they will never be confounded or disgraced when they trust in Him. This eternal salvation is a salvation from sin, judgment, and all forms of spiritual and political oppression, originating from God alone and lasting forever. The New Testament understands this ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, where every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord.