New King James Version
Isaiah 41:28
28For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Isaiah 41:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
- New International Version (NIV)I look but there is no one— no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Not one of your idols told you this. Not one gave any answer when I asked.
Context of Isaiah 41:28
26Who 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. 27The first time I said to Zion, ‘Look, there they are!’ And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29Indeed they are all worthless; Their works are nothing; Their molded images are wind and confusion.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 41:28 word by word
וְאֵ֙רֶא֙ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה וְאֵ֣ין יוֹעֵ֑ץ וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם וְיָשִׁ֥יבוּ דָבָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 41:28
- Isaiah 63:5I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me.
- Daniel 2:10The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
- Daniel 4:7Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
- Daniel 5:8Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
Commentaries on Isaiah 41:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Among them "Among the idols" - For ומאלה umeelleh, I read ומאלים umeellim, with the Septuagint, , "and from or among the idols. "See Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 57:5. R. D. Kimchi has many good observations on this chapter. Bishop Lowth follows him in applying it to Abraham, and not to Cyrus; the whole being spoken in the past tense, which is not used, or rarely, in such a case for the future. Almost the whole of the rabbins understand it of Abraham. On Kimchi's…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28For I beheld - I looked upon the pagan world, among all the pretended prophets, and the priests of pagan idolatry. And there was no man - No man among them who could predict these future events. No counselor - No one qualified to give counsel, or that could anticipate by his sagacity what would take place. That, when I asked of them - In the manner referred to in this chapter. There is no one of whom it could be inquired what would take place in future…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. 2828. no counsellor--no one of the idolatrous soothsayers who could inform (Nu 24:14) those who consulted them what would take place. Compare "counsel of His messenger" (Is 44:26). when I asked--that is, challenged them, in this chapter.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 41:28
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries