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 verses

Isaiah 45 16 Meaning

Isaiah 45:16 declares the ultimate outcome for idolaters: profound shame, confusion, and disgrace. It prophesies a universal judgment that will fall upon all those who manufacture and worship idols, emphasizing the futility and dishonor associated with turning away from the one true God, who alone possesses the power to create, sustain, and deliver.

Isaiah 45 16 Context

Isaiah chapter 45 unfolds a powerful declaration of God's unique sovereignty, not only over Israel but over all nations and history. God reveals Himself as the one and only Creator and Controller, purposefully raising Cyrus, a pagan king, to execute His plan for Israel's liberation. This serves as undeniable proof that only the Lord is God, there is no other, and He works through unexpected means. The chapter explicitly contrasts God's purposeful action and redemptive plan with the futility of pagan worship and the absurdity of idolatry. Verse 16, therefore, stands as a sharp pronouncement of divine judgment and scorn against the practice of creating and bowing before human-made images, placing the shame of their makers in direct opposition to the glory and saving power of the Lord (Isaiah 45:15, 17, 22). Historically, Israel lived amidst cultures steeped in polytheism and idol worship, making this a polemic against the surrounding pagan beliefs and a strong reaffirmation for God's chosen people.

Isaiah 45 16 Word analysis

• They shall be ashamed (יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ - yevōshū): Derived from the root בוש (bôš), signifying a deep, inner feeling of shame, embarrassment, or humiliation. This is not merely an external feeling but an internal realization of the foolishness or wrongness of one's actions. It implies a sense of personal failure or disgrace. In biblical usage, it often relates to a hope or expectation that is not realized, leading to disappointment and public disgrace, especially when trusting in something that proves powerless.

• and also confounded, (יִֽחְפְּר֥וּ - yiḥperū): From the root חָפַר (ḥāfar), meaning to be confounded, put to shame, or disappointed. This often implies an external, visible form of shame or confusion, an utter disorientation when one's established worldview or source of confidence collapses. It frequently appears alongside bôš to intensify the notion of utter disgrace, signifying a complete loss of composure or direction.

• all of them; (כֻּלָּם֙ - kullām): This emphasizes the universality of the impending judgment. There will be no exceptions among the idolaters; every single one involved will experience this shame and confusion. It leaves no room for escape or excuse, highlighting the totality of divine displeasure against idolatry.

• they shall go out (יֵלֵ֖כוּ - yêlēḵū): From הָלַךְ (hālak), "to walk, to go." The imagery suggests movement, progression, or continuing existence characterized by the state described. It’s not just a momentary experience but their ongoing state or destination. The "going out" could imply public exposure, expulsion, or their continued life journey defined by their confusion.

• with confusion (חֶרְפָּה - ḥerpāh): This is a noun meaning reproach, disgrace, shame, ignominy. It’s a powerful term for public scorn and derision. Unlike bôš which can be internal, ḥerpāh distinctly signifies public dishonor and a cause for taunt from others. The preposition 'with' indicates that confusion/reproach will be their companion or condition.

• together (יַחְדָּ֖ו - yaḥdāw): Reinforces the unity of their shared fate. They collectively face this disgrace, linking their actions and consequences. It's a collective downfall. This could imply a shared public spectacle of their failure, rather than isolated instances.

• who are makers (חָרָשֵׁ֣י - ḥārāšê): From the root חָרַשׁ (ḥāraš), a craftsman, artisan, or fabricator. This term precisely identifies the objects of judgment: those who actively create the idols. It underscores the human agency in originating the objects of false worship.

• of idols (צִירִ֑ים - tsīrīm): This specific term for idols can mean "form" or "image." While ʾelilim is a more common pejorative term for "no-gods," and pesel means "carved image," tsirim emphasizes the sculpted, formed nature of the images, those that are 'squeezed' or 'shaped'. It brings into focus the labor and deliberate creation that goes into these lifeless objects, making the folly of worshipping them even more stark. It subtly links to the meaning of adversary, in that by making these, they are in fact, adversaries to the one true God.

Words-group analysis:

• "They shall be ashamed and also confounded, all of them;": This phrase highlights the profound psychological and public degradation awaiting idolaters. The dual terms for shame amplify the depth and universality of this experience – an internal humiliation (yevōshū) and an external, disoriented disgrace (yiḥperū) that will envelop every individual involved in idolatry. It contrasts sharply with the salvation promised to those who seek the Lord (Isa 45:17, 22).

• "they shall go out with confusion together": This points to a public, collective experience of utter disorientation and disrepute. "Going out" implies an active state, a continuous condition, not a transient moment. Their life or exit will be defined by their shame. The togetherness underlines the shared fate of their rebellion against the true God, signifying their inability to find a path, wisdom, or relief. This stands against the clear path and righteousness provided by God (Isa 45:13, 23).

• "who are makers of idols.": This specifies the precise targets of God's judgment, emphasizing their agency in creating the objects of their false worship. It is a direct polemic against the craftsmanship and artistic efforts invested in constructing lifeless figures, asserting the futility of such endeavors and the foolishness of revering one's own handiwork as deity, in contrast to God as the sole creator and sustainer of all (Isa 45:7-12).

Isaiah 45 16 Bonus section

The specific choice of the Hebrew term צִירִים (tsirim) for "idols" in this verse, rather than more common terms like elilim (worthless ones) or pesel (carved image), could carry a subtle added layer of meaning. While typically translated as "images" or "idols" here, tsir can also relate to "pain" or "adversary" (though less directly in this specific context). However, when seen as "formed images," it particularly highlights the deliberate, human labor involved in their creation. This intensifies the contrast with God, who declares "I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God" (Isa 45:5). The fact that "makers" (חָרָשֵׁ֣י - ḥārāšê) are specifically called out underlines the agency and misguided effort involved. They put their energy into creating what offers no help, protection, or wisdom, contrasting with God's effortless, spoken creation and active involvement in human history. The shame arises from the stark reality that their handcrafted gods are revealed as utterly impotent, especially when compared to the demonstrable power of Yahweh.

Isaiah 45 16 Commentary

Isaiah 45:16 serves as a definitive divine indictment and prophetic judgment against the widespread idolatry prevalent in Isaiah's time and beyond. Following a robust declaration of God's unparalleled power as the one who created light and darkness, peace and disaster, and orchestrated Cyrus's rise, this verse highlights the utter worthlessness of rival deities. The core message is the ultimate shame and confusion awaiting those who invest their time, skill, and worship into "makers of idols" (whether they be the crafters or the adherents). This isn't just about disappointment; it's a complete intellectual, spiritual, and social downfall. The terms for "ashamed" and "confounded" convey both an internal sense of regret and an external, public disgrace—a disorientation and a realization of folly when their handmade gods fail to deliver on promises, offer help, or demonstrate any power compared to the Living God. This public humiliation, emphasized by "all of them" and "together," signifies the complete collapse of their worldview and faith system. It is a powerful theological polemic, setting God's self-revelation as the exclusive sovereign Creator against the impotent, fabricated gods of human imagination, affirming that trusting anything but the Lord inevitably leads to profound dishonor.