Isaiah 46 8

Isaiah 46:8 kjv

Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Isaiah 46:8 nkjv

"Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors.

Isaiah 46:8 niv

"Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.

Isaiah 46:8 esv

"Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,

Isaiah 46:8 nlt

"Do not forget this! Keep it in mind!
Remember this, you guilty ones.

Isaiah 46 verses

Isaiah 46 8 Meaning

Isaiah 46:8 is a forceful call to spiritual remembrance, intellectual honesty, and moral reckoning, primarily directed at those within Israel who have strayed from the Lord. It commands the people to actively recall God's unique identity, power, and providential care, which He has just demonstrated by contrasting Himself with the powerless idols of Babylon. The phrase "show yourselves men" urges them to move beyond childish folly and thoughtless idolatry, instead acting with mature understanding and discerning resolve to recognize the one true God. The address to "transgressors" underscores that this message is particularly aimed at those who have wilfully rebelled against God's covenant and law, challenging them to bring their minds and hearts back to divine truth.

Isaiah 46 8 Context

Isaiah chapter 46 is part of a larger section (chapters 40-48) within the book of Isaiah, often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah." This segment addresses the exiles in Babylon, reassuring them of God's sovereignty and His ultimate plan for their restoration. The immediate context of Isaiah 46 involves a stark and compelling contrast between the living God of Israel and the powerless idols of Babylon. Verses 1-2 describe the major Babylonian deities, Bel and Nebo, being carried away as burdens, unable to save themselves or their worshippers from impending destruction. They are depicted as objects of wood and metal, lifeless and utterly dependent on human effort to be moved. Verses 3-7 present a counter-narrative where God affirms that He, the Lord, carries His people, not the other way around. From their birth to their old age, He has upheld them, is able to save, and promises to continue to deliver. He is the Creator and Sustainer, active in history, unlike the manufactured, passive idols that are carved, adorned, and must be carried about by their devotees. Verse 8, therefore, functions as a powerful command arising directly from this comparison, challenging the audience to internalize the demonstrated difference between the true God and false gods, especially as they lived amidst a culture deeply devoted to idolatry. The original audience, tempted by the seemingly powerful deities of their captors, was being called back to their foundational faith and to remember their covenant with a God who is entirely unique. This served as a polemic against the polytheism and image worship prevalent in Mesopotamia, asserting Yahweh's exclusive deity and active omnipotence.

Isaiah 46 8 Word analysis

• Remember (זִכְרוּ - zikhrū): This is a plural imperative form of the Hebrew verb zakar, meaning "to remember" or "to recall." It implies an active, intentional, and internal engagement with past events or declarations. It is not merely a passive recollection but a call to consciously bring something to mind, to acknowledge its significance, and often, to act accordingly. In the Bible, remembering God's deeds or words is frequently a foundational call to faith and obedience, warning against forgetting that leads to apostasy.
• this (זֹאת - zōʾt): A demonstrative pronoun, referring to the preceding context, specifically God's explicit declarations about His unparalleled nature, His control over history, and His care for Israel as demonstrated in Isa 46:1-7. It points to the conclusive evidence of God's distinctiveness from idols.
• and show yourselves men (וְהִתְאֹשָׁשׁוּ - vəhitʾoshāšū): This Hithpolel form of the verb āshaš (אָשַׁשׁ) is rare and powerful. The root means "to be strong," "to solidify," or "to become firm." In the Hithpolel, it translates to "show yourselves strong," "prove yourselves men," or "become courageous/resolute." It’s not simply about physical strength or gender but signifies spiritual and intellectual maturity. It’s a call to cast off foolishness, indecision, or effeminate weakness in character, urging them to exhibit mature discernment, strength of conviction, and moral fortitude appropriate for covenant people. It's about acting with sound judgment and resolution, as opposed to succumbing to the folly of idol worship which Isaiah presents as irrational.
• recall it to mind (הַשִּׁיבוּ לִבְחַת - hashshīvū ləvv): Literally, "bring back to heart." The verb shuv (הַשִּׁיבוּ) means "to return" or "to bring back." "Heart" (לֵב - lev) in Hebrew anthropology encompasses not just emotions, but intellect, will, and conscience – the totality of the inner being. So, "recall it to mind" is a powerful idiom commanding deep and comprehensive contemplation, a serious introspection where they fully engage their intellect, will, and affections in considering the truth. It signifies a profound process of reconsideration and re-orientation of one's entire inner life toward the divine truth.
• you transgressors (פֹּשְׁעִים - pōšəʿīm): This is a plural participle from the verb pashaʿ (פָּשַׁע), meaning "to rebel," "to transgress," "to sin wilfully." It refers to those who have actively and consciously violated God's covenant and law, departing from His way. It denotes deliberate disloyalty and rebellion against legitimate authority, not merely accidental wrongdoings. By addressing them as "transgressors," God directly confronts their moral state and emphasizes the urgency of their repentance and return. This particular audience is not just forgetful but actively defiant, making the preceding calls to remembrance and maturity even more crucial for their restoration.

Isaiah 46 8 Bonus section

The historical-critical understanding of this verse situates it within Second Isaiah, emphasizing its message of hope and redemption for the exiled community. This divine call to remembrance serves not only as a theological assertion of God's supremacy but also as a powerful psychological and communal affirmation for a people whose national and religious identity was deeply fractured. By commanding them to remember this—the distinct actions and character of God just presented—and to "act like men," it aimed to rekindle their sense of covenant responsibility and spiritual fortitude, crucial for their survival and eventual return to Jerusalem. The repetitive nature of "remember" and "recall to mind" reflects a pedagogical strategy designed to ingrain these truths deeply, ensuring that the people did not succumb to the persuasive power of Babylonian polytheistic culture but re-anchored their faith in the Lord. This command has profound implications for understanding spiritual health as deeply intertwined with intentional recollection and mature understanding of divine truth, a principle that echoes throughout biblical theology for all believers.

Isaiah 46 8 Commentary

Isaiah 46:8 is a profound and urgent summons from God, demanding a fundamental shift in perception and allegiance. It is an immediate and pointed application of the preceding divine discourse, which starkly contrasts the majestic, provident God of Israel with the utterly impotent idols of Babylon. The double imperative, "Remember this" and "recall it to mind," highlights the gravity of cognitive and spiritual amnesia, particularly for those referred to as "transgressors" – a label underscoring their willful departure from covenant fidelity. "Remembering" (zikhrū) is an active, ongoing spiritual discipline in the Bible, foundational to acknowledging God's identity and works. "Show yourselves men" (vəhitʾoshāšū) calls for a spiritual and intellectual maturity that rises above the childish folly of idolatry and irrational choices. It's a demand for courage and solid moral reasoning in a world riddled with spiritual falsehood. "Recall it to mind" (hashshīvū ləvv, literally "bring back to heart") speaks to a deeper, more comprehensive form of reflection, where the 'heart'—the core of human intellect, will, and emotion—is fully engaged in reassessing loyalties. The command to "transgressors" serves as a direct indictment and an invitation to repentance, urging those who have wilfully defied God to turn back by intelligently considering His supreme reality. The entire verse forms a divine challenge to Israel to re-establish their identity and hope in their unique, saving God amidst the temptations and despair of exile. Practically, it means actively discerning between truth and falsehood, cultivating spiritual strength, and engaging in profound introspection that leads to turning away from sinful patterns towards God.