New International Version
Isaiah 46:7
7They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.
Isaiah 46:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.
Context of Isaiah 46:7
5“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? 6Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles. 8“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
Read all of Isaiah 46Isaiah 46:7 word by word
יִ֠שָּׂאֻהוּ עַל־כָּתֵ֨ף יִסְבְּלֻ֜הוּ וְיַנִּיחֻ֤הוּ תַחְתָּיו֙ וְיַֽעֲמֹ֔ד מִמְּקוֹמ֖וֹ לֹ֣א יָמִ֑ישׁ אַף־יִצְעַ֤ק אֵלָיו֙ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲנֶ֔ה מִצָּרָת֖וֹ לֹ֥א יוֹשִׁיעֶֽנּוּ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They bearנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: raiseH5375
- him upon the shoulderכָּתֵףkâthêph · shoulderH3802
- they carryסָבַלsâbal · to bearH5445
- him, and set him in his placeיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
- and he standethעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- from his placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725
- shall he not removeמוּשׁmûsh · to removeH4185
- shall cryצָעַקtsâ‛aq · to cryH6817
- unto him, yet can he not answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- nor saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
- him out of his troubleצָרָהtsârâh · distressH6869
Cross-references for Isaiah 46:7
- 1 Samuel 5:3When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place.
- Jeremiah 10:5Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
- Daniel 3:1King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
- Isaiah 37:38One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.
- Isaiah 45:20“Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save.
- Judges 10:12the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands?
- 1 Kings 18:26So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
- Jeremiah 2:28Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns.
- Jonah 1:5All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Commentaries on Isaiah 46:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7They bear him upon the shoulder - and set him in his place - This is the way in which the Hindoos carry their gods; and indeed so exact a picture is this of the idolatrous procession of this people, that the prophet might almost be supposed to have been sitting among the Hindoos when he delivered this prophecy. - Ward'S Customs. Pindar has treated with a just and very elegant ridicule the work of the statuary even in comparison with his own poetry, from…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7They bear him upon the shoulder - They carry the idol which they have made on their shoulder to the temple, or place where it is to be fixed. This circumstance, with the others, is doubtless introduced to show how ridiculous and absurd it was to offer divine homage to a god whom they could thus carry about on the shoulder. And set him in his place - Fix the idol on its basis or pedestal, in its proper niche, or place in the temple. The whole design of…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. 77. cry ... can ... not ... save--(Is 45:20, with which contrast Is 45:19).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 46:7
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
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