Isaiah 46:1-13 - Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

The Contrast between Jehovah and the Deities of Babylon

1, 2. The idols of Babylon will be borne away by the conquerors amongst the spoil, the gods being powerless to save their images. i. Bel] the chief Babylonian deity (Jeremiah 50:2).

Boweth.. stoopeth] before the conqueror.

Nebo] son of Bel, the Babylonian Mercury. The name means 'revealer.' Your carriages, etc.] RV 'the things that ye carried about in processions are made a load,' of spoil for the conquerors: see on Isaiah 10:28.

3, 4. So far from being thus ignominiously carried about, Jehovah, on the other hand, carries His people.

5-7. The argument against idolatry renewed (Isaiah 40:18.; Isaiah 44:9).

8f. These vv. are addressed to those amongst the Jews who were inclined to object to God's manner of deliverance (cp. Isaiah 45:9); they are bidden to remember the things He has done for His people in the past (Isaiah 46:9), and how He has shown by prophecy that He orders events according to His purpose (Isaiah 46:10); they may accordingly rely on the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning Cyrus (Isaiah 46:11).

Related Commentaries of Isaiah 46:1

Isaiah 46:1-13

1 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.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselvesa are gone into captivity.

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 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.

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

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.