New International Version
Isaiah 41:26
26Who 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Who told you from the beginning that this would happen? Who predicted this, making you admit that he was right? No one said a word!
Context of Isaiah 41:26
24But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; whoever chooses you is detestable. 25“I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes— one from the rising sun who calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay. 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. 27I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’ I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news. 28I look but there is no one— no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 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“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,
- 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 44:7Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come— yes, let them foretell what will come.
- 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 41:23tell 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.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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