Isaiah 46:5

Isaiah 46:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
• New International Version (NIV)“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
• English Standard Version (ESV)"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
• New King James Version (NKJV)“To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?

Context of Isaiah 46:5

3“Listen to Me,” [says the Lord], “O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been carried by Me from your birth And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb, 4Even to your old age I am He, And even to your advanced old age I will carry you! I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you. “To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we may be alike? 6Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh out silver on the scales Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it. 7They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it; They set it in its place and there it remains standing. It cannot move from its place. Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer; It cannot save him from his distress.

Isaiah 46:5 word by word

לְמִ֥י תְדַמְי֖וּנִי וְתַשְׁו֑וּ וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• To whom will ye likenדָּמָהdâmâh · to resembleH1819
• equalשָׁוָהshâvâh · be likeH7737
• and compareמָשַׁלmâshal · to likenH4911

Cross-references for Isaiah 46:5

• Isaiah 40:18To whom then will you liken God? Or with what likeness will you compare Him?
• Exodus 15:11Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders?
• Psalms 86:8There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, Nor are there any works [of wonder and majesty] like Yours.
• Psalms 89:6For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the divine beings is like the Lord,
• Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high,
• Jeremiah 10:6There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your mighty and powerful name.
• Philippians 2:6who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it];
• Colossians 1:15He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
• Hebrews 1:3The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence, and upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal]. When He [Himself and no other] had [by offering Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for sin] accomplished purification from sins and established our freedom from guilt, He sat down [revealing His completed work] at the right hand of the Majesty on high [revealing His Divine authority],

Commentaries on Isaiah 46:5

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5To whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of trusting in idols. This is a subject that the prophet often dwells on. The argument here is derived from the fact that the idols of Babylon were unable to defend the city, and were themselves carried away in triumph Isaiah 46:1-2. If so, how vain was it to rely on them! how foolish to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-13Verses 5-13 Here the folly of those who made idols, and then prayed to them, is exposed. How does the profuseness of idolaters shame the niggardliness of many who call themselves God's servants, but are for a religion which costs them nothing! The service of sin always costs a great deal. God puts it to them what senseless, helpless things idols are. Let, then, the Jews show themselves men, avoiding such abominations. Many Scripture prophecies, delivered…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. (Is 40:18, 25).Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 46:5

• God Continued...

In the dictionaries

• Pleasure
• Purpose
• Bear; Borne
• Compare
• God
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Saviour

Commentaries on Isaiah 46

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings