Isaiah 41:22

Isaiah 41:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
• New International Version (NIV)“Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come.

Context of Isaiah 41:22

20I will do this so that people see it happen. They will watch carefully and they will understand. They will know that the Lord's power has caused it to happen. They will know that the Holy God of Israel has created it.’ 21The Lord, Israel's King, says, ‘Come and show me what you can do! Tell me clearly what power you have! Bring your idols into court. Let them tell us what will happen in future years. Let them tell us what happened in the past. Then we can think about those things. We will understand what happened in the end. Or ask them to tell us about future events! 23If they can tell us what will happen in future years, we will know that they really are gods. Tell them to do something, a good thing or a bad thing. That would really surprise us, or even frighten us! 24But no! Your idols are useless. There is nothing that they can do. Anybody who chooses to worship them has turned against God!

Isaiah 41:22 word by word

יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔נוּ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת׀ מָ֣ה הֵ֗נָּה הַגִּ֜ידוּ וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְנֵדְעָ֣ה אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן א֥וֹ הַבָּא֖וֹת הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• forthנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: bringH5066
• and shewנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• us what shall happenקָרָהqârâh · to meetH7136
• the former thingsרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• that we may considerלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• that we may considerשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: considerH7760
• them, and knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the latter endאַחֲרִית'achărîyth · endH319
• of them; or declareשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: proclaimH8085
• us things for to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935

Cross-references for Isaiah 41:22

• Isaiah 42:9Everything that I promised in the past has happened as I said that it would happen. Now I will tell you about new things. Before they start to happen, I will tell you about them.’
• Isaiah 43:9Tell the people of all nations to come together. Did any of their gods tell us what would happen? If anyone heard them speak the truth, they should bring those people to this court. Then they can tell us that they were right. People could say, “They spoke the truth.” ’
• Isaiah 45:21Now decide together what you will say in court! Tell me what you think! Who said a long time ago what would happen? Who spoke about it long before it happened? It was I, the Lord! There is nobody else like me. There is no other God, except me. I am a righteous God and I save my people. There is no other God.
• Isaiah 48:14All of you, come together and listen to me. Not one of your idols has said what will happen now. I, the Lord, have chosen a friend to attack Babylon. He will do what I want. He will have the power to punish the Babylonians.
• John 13:19I am telling you this now, before it happens. So then, when it does happen, you will believe me. You will believe that “I am who I am”.
• John 16:14He will take my message and he will tell it to you. In that way, he will give me honour.

Commentaries on Isaiah 41:22

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Let them bring them forth - Let the idols, or the worshippers of idols, bring forth the evidences of their divine nature and power. Or more probably it means, let them draw near or approach.‘ And show us what shall happen - None but the true God can discern the future, and predict what is to occur. To be able to do this, is therefore a proof of divinity to which God often appeals as a demonstration of his own divine character (see Isaiah 44:7-8; Isaiah…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. 2222. what shall happen--"Let them bring near and declare future contingencies" [Horsley]. former things ... the latter end of them--show what former predictions the idols have given, that we may compare the event ("latter end") with them; or give new prophecies ("declare things to come") (Is 42:9), [Maurer]. Barnes explains it more reconditely, "Let them foretell the entire series of events, showing, in their order, the things which shall first occur, as…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 41:22

• Condescension of God

In the dictionaries

• Produce
• Bring
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge
• Foretell; Foretold
• Gods
• Happen
• Isaiah
• Mind
• Omniscience
• 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