Isaiah 46 1

Isaiah 46:1 kjv

Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

Isaiah 46:1 nkjv

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, A burden to the weary beast.

Isaiah 46:1 niv

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary.

Isaiah 46:1 esv

Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.

Isaiah 46:1 nlt

Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,
bow as they are lowered to the ground.
They are being hauled away on ox carts.
The poor beasts stagger under the weight.

Isaiah 46 verses

Isaiah 46 1 Meaning

Bel bows down; Nebo stoops. Their idols are on beasts and livestock—things you carry are a burden, a heavy load for the weary.

Isaiah 46 1 Context

This verse opens chapter 46 of Isaiah, which directly addresses the impending fall of Babylon. The prophet contrasts the impotence of Babylonian gods, Bel and Nebo, with the sovereignty of the LORD. This is within the larger context of Isaiah's prophecies concerning God's judgment on Gentile nations and His deliverance of His people, Israel. Historically, Babylon was a powerful empire known for its elaborate religious system and idol worship. Isaiah is speaking to an audience familiar with these practices and the gods of neighboring empires, including Babylon. The verse likely carries a polemical edge, exposing the folly and weakness of idols compared to the omnipresent and omnipotent God of Israel, a common theme throughout the Old Testament, especially in response to surrounding pagan nations.

Isaiah 46 1 Word analysis

• Bel:

  • Transliteration: Bēl
  • Meaning: "Lord" or "Master".
  • Significance: Title of Marduk, the chief god of Babylon.

• bows down:

  • Hebrew: Dālâ (דָּלָה)
  • Meaning: To droop, to be weak, to decline, to fall down.
  • Significance: Indicates utter defeat and helplessness, emphasizing the idol's lack of power.

• Nebo:

  • Transliteration: Nabū
  • Meaning: "to announce" or "to prophesy".
  • Significance: Name of the Babylonian god of wisdom and writing.

• stoops:

  • Hebrew: Kārāʿ (כָּרַע)
  • Meaning: To bend, to stoop, to bow.
  • Significance: Reinforces the imagery of helplessness and collapse, describing a physical posture of defeat.

• Their idols:

  • Hebrew: Maṣṣēḇâ (מַצֵּבָה) / Šěqûṣîm (שְׁקֻצִים)
  • Meaning: "idols," "abominations," "detestable things."
  • Significance: Highlights that these are manufactured objects of worship, not divine beings. The plurals imply the multiplicity of their idols and their detestable nature to God.

• on beasts:

  • Hebrew: Běhēmâ (בְּהֵמָה)
  • Meaning: Beasts, cattle, large animals.
  • Significance: Refers to the literal practice of carrying large idol statues on litters, carts, or even animals during religious processions or when relocating them due to conquest or disaster.

• and livestock:

  • Hebrew: Miskînôṯ (מִסְכֵּנוֹת)
  • Meaning: Carrying place, burden-bearers, or potentially referring to lesser beasts of burden.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the idols themselves require significant human and animal effort to be moved, underscoring their material, non-divine nature.

• things you carry:

  • Hebrew: Šělûmêḵem (שְׁלֻמֵיכֶם)
  • Meaning: "your burden," "your loads," "that which is carried."
  • Significance: Connects the imagery of carrying idols directly to the personal responsibility and effort of the idol worshippers.

• burden:

  • Hebrew: Maśśāʾ (מַשָּׂא)
  • Meaning: A burden, a load, something carried.
  • Significance: Further emphasizes the weight and difficulty associated with their false worship.

• heavy load:

  • Hebrew: Měʿûṯâ (מְעוּתָה)
  • Meaning: Weariness, faintness, distress.
  • Significance: Depicts the ultimate outcome of adhering to idols – exhaustion and defeat for the worshipper.

• Idolatrous gods and their carriers:

  • Analysis: The verse powerfully juxtaposes the supposed deities of Babylon (Bel and Nebo) with their literal status as carried burdens. Bel, the supreme god, and Nebo, the god of wisdom, are presented as objects needing transport. The language "bows down" and "stoops" conveys not reverence towards them, but their physical collapse and helplessness. The idols are described as burdens upon beasts and livestock, revealing them to be mere cargo. The final phrase emphasizes that what the people carry—their own man-made deities—becomes a wearisome, heavy load, symbolizing the spiritual and practical exhaustion of idolatry.

Isaiah 46 1 Bonus section

The depiction of Bel and Nebo being carried on animals is consistent with historical accounts of Babylonian religious processions and their vulnerability during military campaigns. When cities fell, their deities' statues were often looted or transported away, underscoring their earthly limitations. The chapter continues by contrasting these powerless idols with the LORD's unyielding power to carry His people from birth to old age, providing eternal deliverance and security. This highlights the foundational difference between trusting in God and trusting in idols: God empowers, while idols enslave and exhaust.

Isaiah 46 1 Commentary

Isaiah vividly portrays the collapse of Babylonian idol worship by showing their gods, Bel and Nebo, being carried like heavy, inanimate burdens. This emphasizes their utter powerlessness and the futility of relying on them. The gods themselves are depicted as stooping or bowing under their own weight and the effort of being transported by beasts of burden. For the worshippers, their chosen gods are not sources of strength or salvation, but rather a "burden" and a "heavy load for the weary," highlighting the oppressive and ultimately defeating nature of idolatry. This passage serves as a profound critique of paganism, contrasting it with the effortless strength and comprehensive care provided by the LORD, who carries His people.