Isaiah 41:28

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 has declared this from the beginning, so that we may know, and from times past, so that we may say: ‘He was right’? No one announced it, no one foretold it, no one heard your words. 27I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news. When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say. 29See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.

Isaiah 41:28 word by word

וְאֵ֙רֶא֙ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֵ֣ין יוֹעֵ֑ץ וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם וְיָשִׁ֥יבוּ דָבָֽר׃Read the interlinear

• When I lookרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• there is noאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
• oneאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• counselorיָעַץyâ‛ats · to adviseH3289
• among themאֵ֫לֶּה'êlleh · theseH428
• when I ask themשָׁאַלshâ'al shâ'êl · to askH7592
• they have nothing to sayשׁוּבshûb · to return: replyH7725
• they have nothing to sayדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697

Cross-references for Isaiah 41:28

• Isaiah 63:5I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted. So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me.
• Daniel 2:10The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.
• Daniel 4:7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
• Daniel 5:8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

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

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Produce
• Gods
• Isaiah
• Philosophy

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