Isaiah 46:2 kjv
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
Isaiah 46:2 nkjv
They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity.
Isaiah 46:2 niv
They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.
Isaiah 46:2 esv
They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
Isaiah 46:2 nlt
Both the idols and their owners are bowed down.
The gods cannot protect the people,
and the people cannot protect the gods.
They go off into captivity together.
Isaiah 46 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 45:20 | "...they have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idols and pray to a god that cannot save." | Shows idols' inability to save. |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | "Like scarecrows in a cucumber field, they cannot speak; they must be carried, for they cannot walk..." | Compares idols to useless objects. |
| Jeremiah 51:44 | "And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will pluck what he swallows out of his mouth; and the nations shall not flow anymore to him; the wall of Babylon shall fall." | Foretells judgment on Bel. |
| Psalm 96:5 | "For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens." | Contrasts God with idols. |
| Isaiah 44:10 | "Who fashions a god or casts an idol to no advantage?" | Questions the creation of idols. |
| Isaiah 41:23 | "Declare what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good or bring disaster, that we may behold it at the same time and derive hope from it." | Challenges idols to predict future. |
| Acts 19:35 | "And when the town clerk had appeased the crowds, he said, 'Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that this city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great goddess Artemis and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?'" | Example of devotion to an idol. |
| Isaiah 2:18 | "The idols will completely vanish." | Predicts the disappearance of idols. |
| Jeremiah 50:2 | "Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up banners; proclaim, and do not conceal; say, 'Babylon is captured, Bel is shamed, Merodach is broken in pieces; their images are shamed, their idols are broken in pieces.'" | Identifies idols by name. |
| Psalm 115:4-7 | "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear; they have noses, but do not smell; they have hands, but do not feel; they have feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throat." | Describes idols' lifelessness. |
| Isaiah 19:3 | "The spirit of Egypt will be troubled within her, and I will make her take counsel, and they will seek me, and mutter and take refuge in their spirit, and say to their kings, 'To what king shall we go?'" | Similar pronouncements of helplessness. |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | "No, I will say that what they sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons." | Connects idol worship with demonic activity. |
| Deuteronomy 4:28 | "And there you will serve gods, the work of human hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell." | Similar description of idols. |
| Isaiah 40:19-20 | "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?" | God's mighty power vs. idols. |
| Romans 1:23 | "and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." | Sinful exchange of God's glory for idols. |
| 1 Samuel 15:23 | "For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is the sin of idolatry." | Links idolatry to rebellion. |
| Joshua 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." | Exhortation to forsake idols. |
| Jeremiah 43:13 | "He will break down the obelisks of the house of the sun that are in the land of Egypt, and he will burn the houses of the gods of Egypt with fire." | Judgment on Egyptian idols. |
| 1 Kings 18:27 | "And as it approached noon, Elijah mocked them, saying, 'Cry aloud, for he is a god! Either he is deep in thought, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.'" | Derision of Baal on Mount Carmel. |
| Zechariah 11:17 | "Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be totally withered, his right eye utterly blinded!" | Woe pronounced on those who abandon God. |
Isaiah 46 verses
Isaiah 46 2 Meaning
Bel and Nebo bow down; their idols are a burden to the weary beasts. The images are placed, but they cannot deliver their worshippers. The divine power is contrasted with the powerless idols of Babylon, highlighting their futility and the heavy burden they represent for those who rely on them.
Isaiah 46 2 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy against Babylon, specifically during a time when the city and its gods were vaunted as supreme. The chapter contrasts the powerless idols of Babylon with the almighty Creator God. Isaiah is addressing the Babylonian gods, particularly Bel (also known as Marduk) and Nebo (Nabu), which were central to their pantheon and royal ideology. The surrounding verses continue this theme by emphasizing God's power to carry His people, in contrast to the burden represented by the idols of the nations. This chapter provides a stark polemic against polytheism, asserting the sovereignty and salvific power of Yahweh alone, especially in anticipation of Israel's exilic period and subsequent deliverance.
Isaiah 46 2 Word Analysis
- Bel: (Hebrew: בֶּל, Bel) - A title for Marduk, the chief god of Babylon. It means "lord" or "master."
- Nebo: (Hebrew: נְבוֹ, Nevo) - The Babylonian god of wisdom, writing, and the planet Mercury. He was considered the son of Marduk.
- bow down: (Hebrew: נָפְּלוּ, nap·pə·lū) - A Piel perfect, third person plural verb, meaning "to fall," "to prostrate oneself." This indicates a state of being cast down or forced into submission, not an act of worship.
- their idols: (Hebrew: עֲצַבִּים, ă·tsa·bîm) - Plural noun, meaning "images," "idols," "statues," referring to the graven images of the Babylonian gods.
- are: (Hebrew: הָיוּ, hā·yū) - Third person plural perfect verb from the root היה (hā·yâ), "to be." Indicates a state or existence.
- a burden: (Hebrew: מַשָּׂא, maś·śā') - Noun meaning "burden," "load," "that which is carried."
- to the weary: (Hebrew: לְעֲמַלִּים, lə·‘ă·māl·lîm) - Preposition "to" or "for" with the plural noun עָמֵל (’ā·mēl) meaning "toil," "labor," "weariness." It refers to those who are exhausted from carrying.
- beasts: (Hebrew: חַיָּה, ḥay·yâ) - Noun, meaning "living thing," "animal," "beast." It can refer to domestic animals used for labor.
- They are: (Hebrew: הֵמָּה, hēm·mâ) - Pronoun, "they."
- placed/loaded: (Hebrew: שׁוּתוּ, šū·tū) - This word is less common in this exact form. Some scholars suggest it's a passive form or related to the root שִׁית (šîyt) meaning "to put," "to lay." The sense here is of something being loaded or positioned.
- and borne: (Hebrew: וְנִשְׂאוּ, wə·niś·śə·’ū) - Conjunction "and" with a Niphal passive perfect, third person plural verb from נָשָׂא (nā·śā’), "to carry." Signifies being carried or lifted.
- cannot deliver: (Hebrew: לֹא־יוֹשִׁיעוּ, lō’-yō·šî·‘ū) - Negative particle "not" with a Hiphil imperfect, third person plural verb from יָשַׁע (yā·ša‘), "to save," "to deliver." Emphasizes their inability to provide salvation or rescue.
- their worshippers: (Hebrew: סָפִּיקֵיהֶם, sā·pî·qê·hem) - Possessive form of a noun that is somewhat debated, potentially related to the root סָפַק (sā·paq) "to clap," suggesting hands of worship, or possibly relating to their devotees.
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- "Bel and Nebo bow down" signifies the utter collapse and devaluation of Babylonian gods in contrast to the God of Israel. It implies their shame and impotence.
- "their idols are a burden to the weary beasts" illustrates the uselessness and negative impact of these idols. The idols themselves must be transported, placing a strain on animals, symbolizing the futile and heavy efforts of their worshippers.
- "they are placed, and borne" reinforces their nature as inanimate objects dependent on others for movement, highlighting their helplessness and inability to act on behalf of their devotees.
- "cannot deliver their worshippers" is a direct indictment of idolatry, stating that these manufactured deities offer no genuine salvation or help.
Isaiah 46 2 Bonus Section
The naming of Bel and Nebo is significant because these were arguably the two most important deities in the Babylonian pantheon at the time of Isaiah's prophecies. Marduk (Bel) was the king of the gods, and Nabu (Nebo) was his son, associated with writing and intellect. Isaiah's pronouncement directly challenged Babylon's claim to divine favor and absolute power. The reference to idols as a "burden to the weary beasts" might also allude to processions or military campaigns where idols were carried. The verse speaks to the reality of divine judgment not just on nations, but on their very means of spiritual and political support. This theological point—that God's true power is shown in His ability to save and carry His people, while idols are mere objects requiring help—is a recurring theme throughout Scripture.
Isaiah 46 2 Commentary
This verse vividly portrays the abject failure and inherent worthlessness of the idols of Babylon. The gods Bel and Nebo, highly revered in Mesopotamian culture, are depicted as being literally cast down or prostrate, indicating their shame and utter lack of power. The imagery extends to their idols being heavy loads for animals, emphasizing that reliance on such deities is a fruitless and exhausting endeavor for their followers. These idols, meant to protect or provide for their worshippers, require constant human effort to be moved, underscoring their passive and powerless nature. The central message is a polemic against idolatry, contrasting the vibrant, life-giving power of the LORD, who carries His people, with the dead weight and deceptive emptiness of man-made gods.