English Standard Version
Isaiah 2:20
20In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
Isaiah 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
- New International Version (NIV)In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats,
- New Living Translation (NLT)On that day of judgment they will abandon the gold and silver idols they made for themselves to worship. They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats,
Context of Isaiah 2:20
18And the idols shall utterly pass away. 19And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, 21to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. 22Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
Read all of Isaiah 2Isaiah 2:20 word by word
בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ הָאָדָ֔ם אֵ֚ת אֱלִילֵ֣י כַסְפּ֔וֹ וְאֵ֖ת אֱלִילֵ֣י זְהָב֑וֹ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָֽשׂוּ־לוֹ֙ לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֔ת לַחְפֹּ֥ר פֵּר֖וֹת וְלָעֲטַלֵּפִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- In that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- a manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- shall castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
- his idolsאֱלִיל'ĕlîyl · idolH457
- of silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- of goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
- for himselfעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- to worshipשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
- to the molesפֵּרָהpêrâh · moleH6512
- to the molesחֲפֹרchăphôr chapharpêrâh · moleH2661
- and to the batsעֲטַלֵּף‛ăţallêph · batH5847
Cross-references for Isaiah 2:20
- Isaiah 30:22Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, "Be gone!"
- Isaiah 31:7For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.
- Isaiah 46:1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.
- Hosea 14:8O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.
- Philippians 3:7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
- Isaiah 46:6Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
Commentaries on Isaiah 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Which they made each one for himself to worship "Which they have made to worship" - The word לו lo, for himself, is omitted by two ancient MSS., and is unnecessary. It does not appear that any copy of the Septuagint has it, except MS. Pachom, and MS. 1. D. II., and they have ̔, להם lahem, to themselves. To the moles - They shall carry their idols with them into the dark caverns, old ruins, or desolate places, to which they shall flee for refuge; and so…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20In that day - That is, in the time when God would come forth to inflict punishment. Probably the day to which the prophet refers here was the time of the captivity at Babylon. A man shall cast - That is, “all” who have idols, or who have been trusting in them. Valuable as they may be - made of gold and silver; and much as he may “now” rely on them or worship them, yet he shall then see their vanity, and shall cast them into dark, obscure places, or…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 The taking of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans seems first meant here, when idolatry among the Jews was done away; but our thoughts are led forward to the destruction of all the enemies of Christ. It is folly for those who are pursued by the wrath of God, to think to hide or shelter themselves from it. The shaking of the earth will be terrible to those who set their affections on things of the earth. Men's haughtiness will be brought down, either…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Animals such as rodents and bats live in dark, underground places. They avoid the light and stay hidden. In the same way, those who worship idols will try to hide from the Lord’s judgment. They will seek dark places instead of turning to God in repentance.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. moles--Others translate "mice." The sense is, under ground, in darkness. bats--unclean birds (Le 11:19), living amidst tenantless ruins (Re 11:13).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 2:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 2
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries