Isaiah 41:22

Isaiah 41:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen.

Context of Isaiah 41:22

20so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. 21“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King. “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, 23tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. 24But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable.

Isaiah 41:22 word by word

יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔נוּ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת׀ מָ֣ה הֵ֗נָּה הַגִּ֜ידוּ וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְנֵדְעָ֣ה אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן א֥וֹ הַבָּא֖וֹת הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• forthנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: bringH5066
• and shewנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• us what shall happenקָרָהqârâh · to meetH7136
• the former thingsרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
• that we may considerלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• that we may considerשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: considerH7760
• them, and knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the latter endאַחֲרִית'achărîyth · endH319
• of them; or declareשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: proclaimH8085
• us things for to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935

Cross-references for Isaiah 41:22

• Isaiah 42:9See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
• Isaiah 43:9All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of their gods foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
• Isaiah 45:21Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.
• Isaiah 48:14“Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The Lord’s chosen ally will carry out his purpose against Babylon; his arm will be against the Babylonians.
• John 13:19“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.
• John 16:14He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

Commentaries on Isaiah 41:22

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Let them bring them forth - Let the idols, or the worshippers of idols, bring forth the evidences of their divine nature and power. Or more probably it means, let them draw near or approach.‘ And show us what shall happen - None but the true God can discern the future, and predict what is to occur. To be able to do this, is therefore a proof of divinity to which God often appeals as a demonstration of his own divine character (see Isaiah 44:7-8; Isaiah…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. 21-29This trial scene develops the Lord’s case against idolatry. Idols are nothing but a human creation, whereas God is the Creator of all things. Idols cannot speak, act, accomplish anything, or save their worshipers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. what shall happen--"Let them bring near and declare future contingencies" [Horsley]. former things ... the latter end of them--show what former predictions the idols have given, that we may compare the event ("latter end") with them; or give new prophecies ("declare things to come") (Is 42:9), [Maurer]. Barnes explains it more reconditely, "Let them foretell the entire series of events, showing, in their order, the things which shall first occur, as…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 41:22

• Condescension of God

In the dictionaries

• Produce
• Bring
• Foreknow; Foreknowledge
• Foretell; Foretold
• Gods
• Happen
• Isaiah
• Mind
• 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