Isaiah 46 2

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 verses

Isaiah 46 2 Meaning

Isaiah 46:2 describes the humiliation and impotence of pagan idols, specifically those of Babylon, in the face of impending conquest. Far from being saviors, these idols—Bel and Nebo from the preceding verse—are portrayed as heavy, cumbersome burdens that their worshippers or captors must carry. They lack any ability to protect themselves or their devotees from the calamity of war and captivity; instead, both the idols and those who worship them will be taken away as spoils. This verse powerfully contrasts the inertness and helplessness of false gods with the living God who actively carries, sustains, and delivers His people.

Isaiah 46 2 Context

Isaiah chapter 46 is situated within the "Book of Consolation" (chapters 40-55), a section largely dedicated to comforting Judah in their Babylonian exile by emphasizing God's incomparable power, His role as Creator and Sustainer, and His promise of future restoration. Verses 1-2 form a dramatic visual, depicting the downfall of Babylon's chief deities, Bel and Nebo, by personifying their statues. They are not powerful beings delivering their people but heavy loads destined for transport during an enemy invasion. This immediately contrasts with Yahweh, who, in verses 3-4, declares that He is the one who carries His people from birth to old age. The historical context is the approaching end of the Babylonian exile, with Persia, under Cyrus, being God's chosen instrument to overthrow Babylon. The passage directly challenges the pagan belief in the power of their gods, illustrating their helplessness and exposing the folly of relying on them.

Isaiah 46 2 Word analysis

• They stoop (קָרְאוּ - qare'u): Literally "they bent low" or "they crouched." This verb, applied to the heavy idol statues, implies their involuntary submission or collapse under their own weight or the force of capture. It suggests a complete lack of resistance or self-preservation, signifying profound humiliation.
• they bow down together (כָּרְעוּ - kar'u): This word reinforces qare'u with a similar meaning of bowing, kneeling, or falling. The pairing emphasizes a collective and undignified prostration, suggesting a forced submission rather than a respectful bow. For idols, it is a fall into ruin, unlike a worshipful kneel.
• they cannot rescue (לֹא יָכְלוּ - lo yakhlu): A strong declaration of inability and powerlessness. The verb yakhol means "to be able," and its negation here explicitly states that these entities are utterly devoid of power to save, rescue, or protect anyone, including themselves. This directly refutes any claims of their divine efficacy.
• the burden (מַשָּׂא - massa'): A pivotal term, referring to a heavy load, cargo, or burden. It starkly portrays the idols not as potent deities but as mere physical weight that must be carried. This "burden" contrasts sharply with God who is the one who bears His people (v. 3-4). The idol is a passive object, costly to transport, and serves as no divine helper.
• but themselves go into captivity (וְשִׁבְיָה - v'shivyah): "And to captivity," indicating their ultimate destination and fate. This phrase highlights the profound irony: the supposed gods who should offer protection are themselves taken captive, unable to prevent their own capture, and consequently, unable to prevent their worshippers' capture either. The idols and their adherents share the same powerless, doomed fate.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They stoop, they bow down together": This phrase establishes a vivid scene of collapse and subjugation. The double phrasing emphasizes the certainty and totality of their downfall. It signifies not reverence but ruin, depicting inert objects being handled roughly rather than revered deities exerting power.
• "they cannot rescue the burden": This reveals the core absurdity of idolatry: the 'gods' are so powerless they cannot even protect the heavy objects which are themselves. They are a burden, not a bearer. This underlines their utter futility and lack of divine agency.
• "but themselves go into captivity": This final statement seals the idols' and idolaters' fate. It's a statement of inescapable destiny. The ones meant to save are taken as spoils of war, becoming mere chattels for the conqueror, debunking their divinity entirely. It’s an act of profound de-sacralization.

Isaiah 46 2 Bonus section

The Hebrew phrasing of Isaiah 46:1-2 cleverly employs active verbs applied to inanimate objects ("Bel bows," "Nebo stoops") which, while grammatically suggesting action, paradoxically illustrate their complete lack of agency and their physical manipulation by others. This literary device emphasizes their de-sacralization. The visual here, often interpreted through the lens of a historical scene, likely depicts not the gods bowing in worship, but rather their statues collapsing or being forcibly lowered and strapped onto animals by those who are transporting them as spoils of war. This demystification of powerful foreign deities would have been immensely encouraging to the exiled Judeans, confirming their God's supremacy over all others. The use of the term massa' (burden) in this verse, which often carries the double meaning of 'a prophetic burden' or 'oracle', here applies strictly to the physical weight, underscoring the profane, material nature of the idols themselves rather than any spiritual significance.

Isaiah 46 2 Commentary

Isaiah 46:2 is a profound theological statement cloaked in vivid, ironic imagery. It systematically dismantles the illusion of divine power attributed to Babylonian idols like Bel and Nebo. Instead of acting as deliverers, these gods are reduced to cumbersome luggage, forced to stoop and bow, not in reverence, but under the weight of their own lifelessness and the brute force of their captors. The passage underscores the inherent weakness of manufactured deities: they are unable to move, save, or protect. They are the burden, contrasting sharply with the living God, YHWH, who actively bears and sustains His people from the womb to old age, always proving faithful. The irony peaks with the revelation that both the idols and their human devotees share the same fate: captivity. This serves as a powerful polemic against idolatry, highlighting that reliance on anything other than the true God leads to disillusionment, helplessness, and ultimately, judgment. Practically, it calls believers to place their trust solely in God, the only one truly capable of bearing our burdens and delivering us from our circumstances. For instance, in moments of overwhelming difficulty, one might be tempted to seek quick solutions in worldly power or wealth (modern "idols"), only to find these very things become additional burdens and fail to provide lasting security or help.