Amplified Bible
Isaiah 41:28
28But when I look [on the pagan prophets and priests], there is no one [who could predict these events], And there is no counselor among them, Who, if I ask, can give an answer.
Isaiah 41:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
- New International Version (NIV)I look but there is no one— no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Context of Isaiah 41:28
26Who [among the idols] has declared this from the beginning, so that we could know? Or from earlier times, so that we could say, “He is [unquestionably] right!”? In fact, there was no one who declared it, Indeed, there was no one who proclaimed it; There was no one at all who heard you speak [for you pagan gods are speechless]. 27“I was first to say to Zion, ‘Listen carefully, here they are [the Jews who will be restored to their own land].’ And to Jerusalem, ‘I will provide a messenger (Isaiah) to bring the good news [that Cyrus will be stirred up and put into action to save them].’ But when I look [on the pagan prophets and priests], there is no one [who could predict these events], And there is no counselor among them, Who, if I ask, can give an answer. 29In fact, all of these [pagan prophets and priests] are false; Their works are worthless, Their cast images are [merely] wind and emptiness.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 41:28 word by word
וְאֵ֙רֶא֙ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֵ֣ין יוֹעֵ֑ץ וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם וְיָשִׁ֥יבוּ דָבָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 41:28
- Isaiah 63:5I looked, but there was no one to help, And I was amazed and appalled that there was no one to uphold [truth and right]. So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath sustained Me.
- Daniel 2:10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king this matter, for no king, lord or ruler has ever asked such a thing as this of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.
- Daniel 4:7Then the magicians, the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were the master astrologers] and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it and make known its meaning to me.
- Daniel 5:8Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or reveal to the king its interpretation.
Commentaries on Isaiah 41:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Among them "Among the idols" - For ומאלה umeelleh, I read ומאלים umeellim, with the Septuagint, , "and from or among the idols. "See Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 57:5. R. D. Kimchi has many good observations on this chapter. Bishop Lowth follows him in applying it to Abraham, and not to Cyrus; the whole being spoken in the past tense, which is not used, or rarely, in such a case for the future. Almost the whole of the rabbins understand it of Abraham. On Kimchi's…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28For I beheld - I looked upon the pagan world, among all the pretended prophets, and the priests of pagan idolatry. And there was no man - No man among them who could predict these future events. No counselor - No one qualified to give counsel, or that could anticipate by his sagacity what would take place. That, when I asked of them - In the manner referred to in this chapter. There is no one of whom it could be inquired what would take place in future…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the certain knowledge of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-29This trial scene develops the Lord’s case against idolatry. Idols are nothing but a human creation, whereas God is the Creator of all things. Idols cannot speak, act, accomplish anything, or save their worshipers.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. no counsellor--no one of the idolatrous soothsayers who could inform (Nu 24:14) those who consulted them what would take place. Compare "counsel of His messenger" (Is 44:26). when I asked--that is, challenged them, in this chapter.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 41:28
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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