New American Standard Bible 2020
Isaiah 44
The Blessings of Israel
2ThisH3541isH3541whatH3541the Lordיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559, Hewho madeעֹשֶׂ֛ךָ'o.Se.khaH6213you Andformedוְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335you from the wombמִבֶּ֖טֶןmi.Be.tenH990, whowill helpיַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּya'.ze.Re.kaH5826you: ‘Do not fearתִּירָא֙ti.Ra'H3372,Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290My servantעַבְדִּ֣י'av.DiH5650, AndJeshurunוִישֻׁר֖וּןvi.shu.RunH3484,whom I have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתִּיba.Char.tiH977.
3ForI will pourאֶצָּק־'e.tzok-H3332waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325onthe thirstyצָמֵ֔אtza.Me'H6771landAnd streamsוְנֹזְלִ֖יםve.no.ze.LimH5140on the dryיַבָּשָׁ֑הya.ba.ShahH3004groundH3004; I willpourאֶצֹּ֤ק'e.TzokH3332outH3332My Spiritרוּחִי֙ru.ChiH7307on youroffspringH6631,And My blessingוּבִרְכָתִ֖יu.vir.kha.TiH1293on your descendantsצֶאֱצָאֶֽיךָ׃tze.'e.tza.'Ei.khaH6631;
5ThisH2088oneH2088will sayיֹאמַר֙yo.MarH559, ‘I am the Lord’sלַֽיהוָ֣הla.Yah.wehH3068’;And that oneH2088will callיִקְרָ֣אyik.Ra'H7121on the nameבְשֵֽׁם־ve.shem-H8034of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290;And anotherH2088willwriteיִכְתֹּ֤בyikh.ToH3789onhis handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027, ‘Belonging to the Lordלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,’And will giveH3655himself Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478nameוּבְשֵׁ֥םu.ve.ShemH8034withH3655honorH3655.
6“ThisH3541isH3541whatH3541the Lordיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559, He who is theKingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478and hisRedeemerוְגֹאֲל֖וֹve.go.'a.LoH1350,the Lordיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068of armiesצְבָא֑וֹתtze.va.'otH6635: ‘I am thefirstרִאשׁוֹן֙ri.shOnH7223and I am the lastאַחֲר֔וֹן'a.cha.RonH314,And thereH369isH369noH369Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430besidesוּמִבַּלְעָדַ֖יu.mi.bal.'a.DaiH4480H1107Me.
7Whoוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310is likeכָמ֣וֹנִיkha.Mo.niH3644Me?Let him proclaimיִקְרָ֗אyik.Ra'H7121and declareוְיַגִּידֶ֤הָve.ya.gi.De.haH5046it;And, let him confrontוְיַעְרְכֶ֙הָ֙ve.ya'.re.Khe.haH6186MeBeginning with My establishingמִשּׂוּמִ֖יmi.su.MiH7760of the ancientעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769nationעַם־'am-H5971.Then let them declareיַגִּ֥ידוּya.Gi.duH5046to them the thingsH857that are comingוְאֹתִיּ֛וֹתve.'o.ti.YotH857And the eventsthat are going to takeH935placeH935.
8Do not trembleתִּפְחֲדוּ֙tif.cha.DuH6342and do not beH3385afraidH3385;Have I not longH3975sinceH3975announcedהִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥יךָhish.ma'.Ti.khaH8085itto you and declaredוְהִגַּ֖דְתִּיve.hi.Gad.tiH5046it? Andyou are My witnessesעֵדָ֑י'e.DaiH5707.IsH3426thereH3426anyH3426Godאֱל֙וֹהַּ֙'e.Lo.ahH433besidesמִבַּלְעָדַ֔יmi.bal.'a.DaiH4480H1107Me, Or is there any otherRockצ֖וּרtzurH6697?I knowיָדָֽעְתִּי׃ya.Da.'e.tiH3045of noneבַּל־bal-H1077.’”
The Foolishness of Idolatry
9Those who fashionיֹֽצְרֵי־yo.tze.rei-H3335an idolפֶ֤סֶלFe.selH6459are allכֻּלָּם֙ku.LamH3605futileתֹּ֔הוּTo.huH8414,and their treasuredH2530thingsוַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖םva.cha.mu.dei.HemH2530are of noH1077benefitיוֹעִ֑ילוּyo.'I.luH3276;even their own witnessesוְעֵדֵיהֶ֣םve.'e.dei.HemH5707failH1077to seeיִרְא֛וּyir.'UH7200or knowיֵדְע֖וּye.de.'UH3045,soלְמַ֥עַןle.Ma.'anH4616thatH4616they will beputH954toH954shameH954.
11Beholdהֵ֤ןhenH2005,allכָּל־kol-H3605his companionsחֲבֵרָיו֙cha.ve.RavH2270will beputH954toH954shameH954,for the craftsmenוְחָרָשִׁ֥יםve.cha.ra.ShimH2796themselvesהֵ֖מָּהHe.mahH1992are mereH4480menמֵֽאָדָ֑םme.'a.DamH120.Let them allכֻלָּם֙khu.LamH3605assembleיִֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּyit.ka.be.TzuH6908themselves, let them standיַֽעֲמֹ֔דוּya.'a.Mo.duH5975up, let them trembleיִפְחֲד֖וּyif.cha.DuH6342,let them be putH954toH954shameH954togetherיָֽחַד׃Ya.chadH3162.
12Thecraftsmanחָרַ֤שׁcha.RashH2796of ironבַּרְזֶל֙bar.ZelH1270shapesa cuttingH4621toolמַֽעֲצָ֔דma.'a.TzadH4621and doesH6466his workH6466over the coalsבַּפֶּחָ֔םba.pe.ChamH6352,fashioningיִצְּרֵ֑הוּyi.tze.Re.huH3335it with hammersוּבַמַּקָּב֖וֹתu.vam.ma.ka.VotH4717and workingH6466it with his strongכֹּח֔וֹko.ChoH3581armבִּזְר֣וֹעַbiz.Ro.a'H2220.He alsoגַּם־gam-H1571getsH7456hungryרָעֵב֙ra.'EvH7456andhis strengthכֹּ֔חַKo.achH3581failsוְאֵ֣יןve.'EinH369;he drinksשָׁ֥תָהSha.tahH8354noלֹא־lo'-H3808waterמַ֖יִםMa.yimH4325and becomesH3286wearyוַיִּיעָֽף׃vai.yi.'AfH3286.
13The craftsmanחָרַ֣שׁcha.RashH2796of woodעֵצִים֮'e.TzimH6086extendsנָ֣טָהNa.tahH5186a measuringH6957lineH6957;he outlinesיְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּye.ta.'a.Re.huH8388it with a markerבַשֶּׂ֔רֶדva.Se.redH8279.He worksיַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ya.'a.Se.huH6213it with carvingH4741knivesH4741and outlinesיְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּye.to.'o.Re.huH8388it with a compassוּבַמְּחוּגָ֖הu.va.me.chu.GahH4230,and makesוַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Se.huH6213it like the formכְּתַבְנִ֣יתke.tav.NitH8403of a manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,like the beautyכְּתִפְאֶ֥רֶתke.tif.'E.retH8597ofmankindאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120,so that it may sitלָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetH3427in ahouseבָּֽיִת׃Ba.yitH1004.
14He will cutלִכְרָת־likh.rot-H3772cedarsאֲרָזִ֔ים'a.ra.ZimH730for himself, and he takesוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947a holm-oakתִּרְזָה֙tir.ZahH8645or anotheroakוְאַלּ֔וֹןve.'a.LonH437and lets itgrowH553strongH553for himself among the treesבַּעֲצֵי־ba.'a.tzei-H6086of the forestיָ֑עַרYa.'arH3293.He plantsנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193a laurelH766treeH766,and the rainוְגֶ֥שֶׁםve.Ge.shemH1653makesH1431it growיְגַדֵּֽל׃ye.ga.DelH1431.
15Then it becomesוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961somethingfor a personלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120to burnלְבָעֵ֔רle.va.'ErH1197,so he takesוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947one of them and getsH2552warmוַיָּ֔חָםvai.Ya.chomH2552;he alsoאַף־'af-H637makesH5400aH5400fireיַשִּׂ֖יקya.SikH5400and bakesוְאָ֣פָהve.'A.fahH644breadלָ֑חֶםLa.chemH3899.He alsoאַף־'af-H637makesיִפְעַל־yif.'al-H6466a godאֵל֙'elH410and worshipsH2331it; he makesעָשָׂ֥הוּ'a.Sa.huH6213it a carvedH6459imageH6459andbowsH5456downH5456before it.
16Halfחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677of it he burnsשָׂרַ֣ףsa.RafH8313in the fireאֵ֔שׁ'EshH784;overעַל־'al-H5921thishalfחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677he eatsיֹאכֵ֔לyo.KhelH398meatבָּשָׂ֣רba.SarH1320,he roastsיִצְלֶ֥הyitz.LehH6740a roastצָלִ֖יtza.LiH6748,and isH7646satisfiedH7646.He alsoאַף־'af-H637warmsיָחֹם֙ya.ChomH2552himself and saysוְיֹאמַ֣רve.yo.MarH559, “Ahaהֶאָ֔חhe.'AchH1889!I amH2552warmחַמּוֹתִ֖יcha.mo.TiH2552,I have seenרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200the fireאֽוּר׃'UrH217.”
17Yet the restוּשְׁאֵ֣רִית֔וֹu.she.'E.ri.ToH7611of it hemakesעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213into a godלְאֵ֥לle.'ElH410,his carvedH6459imageH6459.He bowsיִסְגָּדyis.goyd-H5456downל֤וֹloH5456before it and worshipsH2331; he alsopraysוְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣לve.yit.pa.LelH6419to it and saysוְיֹאמַר֙ve.yo.MarH559, “Saveהַצִּילֵ֔נִיha.tzi.Le.niH5337me, for you are my godאֵלִ֖י'e.LiH410.”
18They do notknowיָדְע֖וּya.de.'UH3045,norH3808do they understandיָבִ֑ינוּya.Vi.nuH995, for He hassmearedH2911overH2911their eyesעֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם'ei.nei.HemH5869soH4480thatH4480they cannotH4480seeמֵֽרְאוֹת֙me.re.'OtH7200,and their heartsלִבֹּתָֽם׃li.bo.TamH3820soH4480thatH4480they cannotH4480comprehendמֵהַשְׂכִּ֖ילme.has.KilH7919.
19NoH3808oneremembersיָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־ לִבּ֗וֹya.Shiv 'el- li.BoH7725H413H3820,norH3808is thereknowledgeדַ֥עַתDa.'atH1847or understandingתְבוּנָה֮te.vu.NahH8394to sayלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559, “I have burnedשָׂרַ֣פְתִּיsa.Raf.tiH8313halfחֶצְי֞וֹchetz.YoH2677of it in the fireאֵ֗שׁ'EshH784and alsoוְ֠אַףVe.'afH637have bakedאָפִ֤יתִי'a.Fi.tiH644breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899overעַל־'al-H5921its coalsגֶּחָלָיו֙ge.cha.LavH1513.I roastאֶצְלֶ֥ה'etz.LehH6740meatבָשָׂ֖רva.SarH1320and eatוְאֹכֵ֑לve.'o.KhelH398it. ThenI makeאֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213the restוְיִתְרוֹ֙ve.yit.RoH3499of it into anabominationלְתוֹעֵבָ֣הle.to.'e.VahH8441,I bowH5456downH5456before a blockלְב֥וּלle.VulH944of woodעֵ֖ץ'etzH6086!”
20Hefeedsרֹעֶ֣הro.'EhH7462on ashesאֵ֔פֶר'E.ferH665; adeceivedH8524heartלֵ֥בlevH3820has misledהִטָּ֑הוּhi.Ta.huH5186him. And he cannotH3808saveיַצִּ֤ילya.TzilH5337himselfנַפְשׁוֹ֙naf.ShoH5315,norH3808sayיֹאמַ֔רyo.MarH559, “Is there not a lieשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerH8267in my rightבִּימִינִֽי׃ סbi.mi.NiH3225handH3225?”
God Forgives and Redeems
21“Rememberזְכָר־ze.khor-H2142theseH428thingsאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428,Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,And Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478, for you areMy servantעַבְדִּי־'av.di-H5650;I have formedיְצַרְתִּ֤יךָye.tzar.Ti.khaH3335you, you are My servantעֶֽבֶד־'e.ved-H5650,Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478, you willnot be forgottenתִנָּשֵֽׁנִי׃ti.na.She.niH5382by Me.
23Shoutרָנּ֨וּra.NuH7442forH7442joyH7442,you heavensשָׁמַ֜יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064,for the Lordיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068has doneעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213it!Shoutהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ha.Ri.'uH7321joyfullyH7321,you lowerH8482partsתַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹתtach.ti.YotH8482of the earthאָ֔רֶץ'A.retzH776;Breakפִּצְח֤וּpitz.ChuH6476into a shoutרִנָּ֔הri.NahH7440of jubilationH7440,you mountainsהָרִים֙ha.RimH2022,Forestיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293,and everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605treeעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086in it; Forthe Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068has redeemedגָאַ֤לga.'AlH1350Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,And in Israelוּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.ve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478HeshowsH6286His gloryיִתְפָּאָֽר׃ פyit.pa.'ArH6286.
24ThisH3541isH3541whatH3541the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559, He who is yourRedeemerגֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָgo.'a.Le.khaH1350, and the One whoformedוְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335you from the wombמִבָּ֑טֶןmi.Ba.tenH990: “I, the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,am the Makerעֹ֣שֶׂה'O.sehH6213of allH3605thingsH3605,Stretchingנֹטֶ֤הno.TehH5186outH5186the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙sha.Ma.yimH8064by Myselfלְבַדִּ֔יle.va.DiH905And spreadingרֹקַ֥עro.Ka'H7554outH7554the earthהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776aloneמֵאִתִּֽי׃ma.'i.tiH4480H854,
25Causing theomensאֹת֣וֹת'o.TotH226of divinersבַּדִּ֔יםba.DimH907to failמֵפֵר֙me.FerH6565,MakingH1984foolsH1984of fortune-tellersוְקֹסְמִ֖יםve.ko.se.MimH7080;Causing wiseH2450menH2450to turnמֵשִׁ֧יבme.ShivH7725backאָח֖וֹר'a.ChorH268AndmakingH5528their knowledgeוְדַעְתָּ֥םve.da'.TamH1847ridiculousH5528,
26Confirmingמֵקִים֙me.KimH6965the wordדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of His servantעַבְדּ֔וֹav.DoH5650AndcarryingH7999outH7999the purposeוַעֲצַ֥תva.'a.TzatH6098of His messengersמַלְאָכָ֖יוmal.'a.KhavH4397. It is Iwho saysהָאֹמֵ֨רha.'o.MerH559of Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֜םli.ru.sha.LimH3389, ‘She shall be inhabitedתּוּשָׁ֗בtu.ShavH3427!’ And of thecitiesוּלְעָרֵ֤יu.le.'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063, ‘They shall be builtתִּבָּנֶ֔ינָהti.ba.Nei.nahH1129.’And I will raiseאֲקוֹמֵֽם׃'a.ko.MemH6965her ruinsוְחָרְבוֹתֶ֖יהָve.cha.re.vo.Tei.haH2723again.
28It is Iwho saysהָאֹמֵ֤רha.'o.MerH559ofCyrusלְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙le.Kho.reshH3566, ‘He isMy shepherdרֹעִ֔יro.'IH7462,And he will carryH7999outH7999allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605My desireחֶפְצִ֖יchef.TziH2656.’ Andhe saysוְלֵאמֹ֤רve.le.MorH559of Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙li.ru.sha.LimH3389, ‘She will be builtתִּבָּנֶ֔הti.ba.NehH1129,’And of the templeוְהֵיכָ֖לve.hei.KhalH1964, ‘Your foundationH3245will be laidH3245.’”
Commentaries on Isaiah 44
- 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
New American Standard Bible 2020 — © 1960–2020 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries