EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Isaiah 41:23
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!
Isaiah 41:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together.
Context of Isaiah 41:23
21The Lord, Israel's King, says, ‘Come and show me what you can do! Tell me clearly what power you have! 22Bring 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! If 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! 25I have woken up a ruler, who is coming with his army from the north. He comes from a land in the east, where the sun rises, and he will use my name to call to me. He will walk over rulers of other nations as if they are mud. He will push them down with his feet, like a potter who prepares his clay.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 41:23 word by word
הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת לְאָח֔וֹר וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה כִּ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אַף־תֵּיטִ֣יבוּ וְתָרֵ֔עוּ וְנִשְׁתָּ֖עָה וְנִרְאֶ֥ה יַחְדָּֽו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Shewנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- the things that are to comeאָתָה'âthâh 'âthâ' · to comeH857
- hereafterאָחוֹר'âchôr 'âchôr · backH268
- that we may knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- godsאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- yea, do goodיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
- or do evilרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
- that we may be dismayedשָׁעָהshâ‛âh · to gazeH8159
- and beholdרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seerH7200
- togetherיָחְדָּוyachad · togetherH3162
Cross-references for Isaiah 41:23
- 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 44:7Is there anyone like me? If there is, he should say so! He must tell me why he thinks he is so great. Long ago I made my people become a nation. Let him say what he has done since then! Let him tell us what will happen in future years!
- Isaiah 45:8Let justice pour down from the sky like rain! Let the earth be ready to receive it! Then salvation and righteousness will grow together, like strong plants. I am the Lord, and I will cause it to happen.’
- Isaiah 46:9Remember all the things that I did a long time ago. I am God. There is nobody else like me. There is no other God, except me.
- 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”.
- Acts 15:18Long ago I caused people to know all these things.” ’
- Isaiah 45:7I make light and I also make darkness. I make peace as well as trouble. I am the Lord. I do all these things.
- Isaiah 46:7They lift the idol onto their shoulders and they carry it home. They put it in its place and it stands there. It cannot move anywhere else. If someone calls out to it for help, it does not answer. It cannot save anyone from their trouble.
- Jeremiah 10:5Those idols cannot speak. They are like scarecrows that a farmer puts in his field of vegetables. The idols cannot walk, so people have to carry them. So do not be afraid of them. They cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.’
Commentaries on Isaiah 41:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23That we may be dismayed, and behold it together "Then shall we be struck at once with admiration and terror" - The word ונרא venere is written imperfectly in the Hebrew text; the Masoretes supply ה he at the end; and so it is read in twenty-two MSS. and four editions; that is, ונראה venireh, and we shall see. But the true reading seems to be ונירא venira, and we shall fear, with י yod supplied, from ירא yara .Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23That we may know that ye are gods - The prediction of future events is the highest evidence of omniscience, and of course of divinity. In this passage it is admitted that if they could do it, it would prove that they were worthy of adoration; and it is demanded, that if they were gods they should be able to make such a prediction as would demonstrate that they were invested with a divine nature. Yea, do good, or do evil - Do something; show that you have…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. 2323. do good ... evil--give any proof at all of your power, either to reward your friends or punish your enemies (Psa 115:2-8). that we may be dismayed, and behold it together--Maurer translates, "That we (Jehovah and the idols) may look one another in the face (that is, encounter one another, 2Ki 14:8, 11), and see" our respective powers by a trial. Horsley translates, "Then the moment we behold, we shall be dismayed." "We" thus, and in English Version…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 41:23
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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