God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 46:5
5To whom will you compare me and make me equal? To whom will you compare me so that we can be alike?
Isaiah 46:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
- New International Version (NIV)“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?
Context of Isaiah 46:5
3Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, the few people left of the nation of Israel. I’ve carried you since your birth. I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born. 4Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you. To whom will you compare me and make me equal? To whom will you compare me so that we can be alike? 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. 7They lift it on their shoulders and carry it. They set the idol in its place, and it stands there. It doesn’t move from its place. If they cry to it for help, it can’t answer. It can’t rescue them from their distress.
Read all of Isaiah 46Isaiah 46:5 word by word
לְמִ֥י תְדַמְי֖וּנִי וְתַשְׁו֑וּ וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 46:5
- Isaiah 40:18To whom, then, can you compare God? To what statue can you compare him?
- Exodus 15:11“Who is like you among the gods, O Lord? Who is like you? You are glorious because of your holiness and awe-inspiring because of your splendor. You perform miracles.
- Psalms 86:8No god is like you, O Lord. No one can do what you do.
- Psalms 89:6Who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?
- Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God? He is seated on his high throne.
- Jeremiah 10:6No one is like you, O Lord. You are great. Your name is powerful.
- Philippians 2:6Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality.
- Colossians 1:15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- Hebrews 1:3His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he now holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne.
Commentaries on Isaiah 46:5
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5To whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of trusting in idols. This is a subject that the prophet often dwells on. The argument here is derived from the fact that the idols of Babylon were unable to defend the city, and were themselves carried away in triumph Isaiah 46:1-2. If so, how vain was it to rely on them! how foolish to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-13Verses 5-13 Here the folly of those who made idols, and then prayed to them, is exposed. How does the profuseness of idolaters shame the niggardliness of many who call themselves God's servants, but are for a religion which costs them nothing! The service of sin always costs a great deal. God puts it to them what senseless, helpless things idols are. Let, then, the Jews show themselves men, avoiding such abominations. Many Scripture prophecies, delivered…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. (Is 40:18, 25).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 46:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 46
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries