Isaiah 41:23 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Do good, or do evil - give any proof at all of your power, either to reward your friends or punish your enemies (Psalms 115:2-8).

That we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Maurer translates, 'that we (Yahweh and the idols) may look one another in the face (i:e., encounter one another: 2 Kings 14:8; 2 Kings 14:11) and see' our respective powers by a trial. I prefer, with the English version, taking the same Hebrew as in Isaiah 41:10, "be dismayed;" 'look at one another in dismay.' Thus, in the clause "that we may be dismayed," we refers to Yahweh and His worshippers.

Isaiah 41:23

23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.