God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 2:20
20On that day people will throw to the moles and the bats the silver and gold idols that they made for themselves to worship.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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,
- 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,
Context of Isaiah 2:20
18Then idols will disappear completely. 19People will go into caves in the rocks and into holes in the ground because of the Lord’s terrifying presence and the honor of his majesty when he rises to terrify the earth. On that day people will throw to the moles and the bats the silver and gold idols that they made for themselves to worship. 21They will go into caves in the rocks and into cracks in the cliffs because of the Lord’s terrifying presence and the honor of his majesty when he rises to terrify the earth. 22Stop trusting people. Their life is in their nostrils. How can they be worth anything?
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 dishonor your silver-plated idols and your gold-covered statues. You will throw them away like clothing ruined by stains. You will say to them, “Get out!”
- Isaiah 31:7When that day comes, all of you will reject the silver and gold idols that your sinful hands have made.
- Isaiah 46:1The god Bel bows down; the god Nebo stoops low. Their statues are seated on animals and cattle. The gods that you carry are burdens, a load for weary people.
- Hosea 14:8“The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols. I will answer them and take care of them. I am like a growing pine tree. Their fruit comes from me.”
- Philippians 3:7These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ.
- Isaiah 46:6People pour gold out of their bags and weigh silver on scales. They hire a goldsmith. He makes it into a god. They bow down and worship it.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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