Isaiah 41:26

Isaiah 41:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
• New International Version (NIV)Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’? No one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforehand, that we might say, "He is right"? There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know? And former times, that we may say, ‘He is righteous’? Surely there is no one who shows, Surely there is no one who declares, Surely there is no one who hears your words.

Context of Isaiah 41:26

24Look, you are nothing, and your accomplishments are nonexistent; the one who chooses to worship you is disgusting. 25I have stirred up one out of the north and he advances, one from the eastern horizon who prays in my name. He steps on rulers as if they were clay, like a potter treading the clay. Who decreed this from the beginning, so we could know? Who announced it ahead of time, so we could say, ‘He’s correct’? Indeed, none of them decreed it! Indeed, none of them announced it! Indeed, no one heard you say anything! 27I first decreed to Zion, ‘Look, here’s what will happen!’ I sent a herald to Jerusalem. 28I look, but there is no one, among them there is no one who serves as an adviser, that I might ask questions and receive answers.

Isaiah 41:26 word by word

מִֽי־הִגִּ֤יד מֵרֹאשׁ֙ וְנֵדָ֔עָה וּמִלְּפָנִ֖ים וְנֹאמַ֣ר צַדִּ֑יק אַ֣ף אֵין־מַגִּ֗יד אַ֚ף אֵ֣ין מַשְׁמִ֔יעַ אַ֥ף אֵין־שֹׁמֵ֖עַ אִמְרֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who hath declaredנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• from the beginningרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: firstH7218
• that we may knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• and beforetimeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• that we may sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• none that declarethשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: proclaimH8085
• none that hearethשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• your wordsאֵמֶר'êmer · wordH561

Cross-references for Isaiah 41:26

• Isaiah 41:22“Let them produce evidence! Let them tell us what will happen! Tell us about your earlier predictive oracles, so we may examine them and see how they were fulfilled. Or decree for us some future events!
• Isaiah 43:9All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, ‘It is true.’
• Isaiah 44:7Who is like me? Let him make his claim! Let him announce it and explain it to me – since I established an ancient people – let them announce future events!
• Isaiah 45:21Tell me! Present the evidence! Let them consult with one another! Who predicted this in the past? Who announced it beforehand? Was it not I, the Lord? I have no peer, there is no God but me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but me.
• Isaiah 41:23Predict how future events will turn out, so we might know you are gods. Yes, do something good or bad, so we might be frightened and in awe.

Commentaries on Isaiah 41:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Your word - אמרתיכם imrntheychem ; but, instead of this, one of my most ancient MSS. has דבריכם dibreychem . The meaning is nearly the same: but in this reading this His. is singular.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Who hath declared from the beginning - The meaning of this passage is, there is no one among the soothsayers, and the worshippers of idols, who has predicted the birth, the character, and the conquests of Cyrus. There is among the pagan no recorded prediction on the subject, as there is among the Jews, that when he shall have come, it may be said that a prediction is accomplished.‘ And before-time - Formerly; before the event occurred. That we may say…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. 26Idols and false gods could not predict the future.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Who--of the idolatrous soothsayers? When this prophecy shall be fulfilled, all shall see that God foretold as to Cyrus, which none of the soothsayers have. beforetime--before the event occurred. He is righteous--rather, "It is true"; it was a true prophecy, as the event shows. "He is righteous," in English Version, must be interpreted, The fulfilment of the idol's words proves that he is faithful. showeth, &c.--rather, "there was none (of the…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 41:26

• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Produce
• Gods
• Isaiah
• Omniscience
• Philosophy

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