Isaiah 46 7

Isaiah 46:7 kjv

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Isaiah 46:7 nkjv

They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.

Isaiah 46:7 niv

They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

Isaiah 46:7 esv

They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.

Isaiah 46:7 nlt

They carry it around on their shoulders,
and when they set it down, it stays there.
It can't even move!
And when someone prays to it, there is no answer.
It can't rescue anyone from trouble.

Isaiah 46 verses

Isaiah 46 7 Meaning

Isaiah 46:7 describes the utter futility of idol worship. It portrays how man-made gods require physical transportation, are placed by human effort, and remain immobile, utterly dependent on their creators. Crucially, these idols are deaf to human pleas and powerless to offer any form of salvation or assistance in times of trouble. This stands in stark contrast to the living God, Yahweh, who actively carries and delivers His people.

Isaiah 46 7 Context

Isaiah chapter 46 is part of a larger section (chapters 40-55) known as "Second Isaiah," primarily addressing the exiles in Babylon. This particular chapter continues the grand theme of Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty and predictive power, directly challenging the impotent deities of Babylon, Bel and Nebo, who were revered as gods of wisdom and vegetation, respectively. The verse directly follows a dramatic scene where Bel and Nebo themselves are depicted as heavy burdens, carried off by animals, foreshadowing Babylon's downfall. Isaiah 46:7 contrasts this helplessness with Yahweh's promise in verses 3-4 to carry Israel through its history, from birth to old age. The immediate historical context is the approaching Persian conquest of Babylon, which will demonstrate the weakness of the Babylonian gods and the mighty power of Yahweh to deliver His people. Literarily, the chapter is a powerful polemic against idolatry, highlighting the absurdity and spiritual emptiness of worshipping human-made objects in the face of the all-sufficient, living God.

Isaiah 46 7 Word analysis

• They lift it upon the shoulder (וַיִּשְׂאֻהוּ עַל־כָּתֵף, vayyis'uhu al-katef):
  • They lift it (vayyis'uhu): This plural verb emphasizes human agency and effort. The idol requires man to initiate its movement. It's a heavy burden, a literal weight, not a self-moving entity. This directly contrasts with God who lifts and carries His people (Isa 46:3).
  • upon the shoulder (al-katef): The 'shoulder' (כָּתֵף) is a primary carrying point, signifying effort and the idol's substantial, cumbersome nature. It highlights the physical toil required to transport these gods, in stark opposition to Yahweh, who effortlessly upholds and sustains.
• they carry it (יִשָּׂאֻהוּ, yissa'uhu):
  • they carry it: Reinforces the idol's absolute passivity. It has no legs or inherent ability to move itself; it is a dependent object. It further stresses the ongoing human service required by the idol, rather than the idol serving its worshipper.
• and set it in its place (וְיַנִּיחֻהוּ תַּחְתָּיו, veyannikhuhu tachtav):
  • and set it: Humans decide its location and secure it. It cannot choose where it stands.
  • in its place: Refers to a specific, perhaps revered or designated, spot where the idol is supposed to reside permanently. This implies immobility and a static nature once positioned.
• and it stands (וְיַעֲמֹד, vey'amod):
  • it stands: A direct consequence of human action, not an inherent power of the idol. It's a verb of passive being, emphasizing its lack of life or volition. It does not stand on its own strength or initiative.
• from its place it shall not move (מִמְּקוֹמוֹ לֹא יָמִישׁ, mim'qomo lo yamish):
  • from its place: The location where it was fixed by human hands.
  • it shall not move (lo yamish): An absolute statement of incapacity. It literally "cannot remove itself" or "depart." This underscores its complete lack of agency and dynamic power, trapping it in inertness. The idol cannot go to its worshipper, nor can it escape danger on its own.
• Yea, though one cries out to it (גַּם־כִּי־יִצְעַק אֵלָיו, gam-ki-yits'aq elav):
  • cries out (yits'aq): This Hebrew word (צָעַק) implies an urgent, often desperate plea for help or attention, like a cry in distress or for justice. This signifies a moment of critical need from the worshipper.
  • to it: Directing the desperate plea towards the idol.
• yet it cannot answer (לֹא יַעֲנֶה, lo ya'aneh):
  • cannot answer (lo ya'aneh): Complete lack of response. It is deaf, silent, and without consciousness. There's no voice, no counsel, no reassurance. This starkly contrasts with Yahweh, who "answers" prayers and calls.
• nor save him from his trouble (מִצָּרָתוֹ לֹא יוֹשִׁיעֶנּוּ, mitsarato lo yoshi'enu):
  • save him (lo yoshi'enu): The core purpose of seeking a deity is salvation or deliverance (יָשַׁע). The idol utterly fails at this fundamental requirement.
  • from his trouble (mitsarato): Referring to any form of distress, difficulty, or predicament (צָרָה). This includes personal afflictions, national crises, or any life challenges where divine intervention might be sought. The idol offers no recourse.

Isaiah 46 7 Bonus section

The polemic in Isaiah 46:7 resonates deeply with ancient Near Eastern religious practices, particularly those in Babylon. While Yahweh actively communicates through prophets and orchestrates historical events, Babylonian gods required elaborate rituals, processionals (as referenced by the 'carrying' of idols), and specific temple cults to be "activated" or 'fed'. The concept of gods being lifted and moved by human hands was a common feature of religious festivals and wartime evacuations in Mesopotamia, vividly seen in the initial verses of the chapter where Bel and Nebo themselves become spoil. The text emphasizes that even these grand deities, revered across empires, are ultimately reducible to objects requiring human assistance. This contrasts not only with Yahweh's independence from human aid but also with His personal involvement and deep relationship with His people, even to the point of "carrying" them like a parent. This verse highlights the profound difference between a god made in man's image, requiring human strength and service, and the true God, in whose image man is made, and who sustains and serves His creation.

Isaiah 46 7 Commentary

Isaiah 46:7 provides a vivid and satirical exposé of the emptiness of idolatry, constructing a clear theological contrast between the manufactured gods of man and the sovereign, living God of Israel. The detailed description of lifting, carrying, and placing the idol meticulously highlights the sheer physical effort required by the worshipper, making the idol a passive burden rather than an active divine agent. This imagery deliberately dismantles any notion of the idol possessing intrinsic power or volition. Once fixed in its place by human hands, it is static and immobile, completely at the mercy of its creators and external circumstances.

The latter part of the verse deals a fatal blow to the functional value of idols: despite desperate human cries, they are deaf, unresponsive, and utterly powerless to save from trouble. This is not merely an observational critique but a profound theological statement. True deity is characterized by a living presence, active communication, and redemptive power. Yahweh is the God who initiates action, speaks, hears the cries of His people, and powerfully delivers them from distress, even carrying them through life (Isa 46:3-4). The idols, in contrast, cannot even carry themselves, let alone those who worship them. This verse serves as a crucial reminder that worship misplaced leads only to disappointment and leaves one vulnerable and unaided in times of genuine need. It underscores that dependency should only be placed on the God who both can and does act.

Examples:

• A person relying on superstitious charms instead of praying to God when facing an illness.
• Societies putting their faith in economic systems or political leaders as ultimate saviors instead of acknowledging divine providence.
• Individuals seeking guidance from horoscopes or humanistic philosophies when biblical wisdom is available and powerful.