New Living Translation
Isaiah 41:21
21“Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel.
Isaiah 41:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
- New International Version (NIV)“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
Context of Isaiah 41:21
19I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. 20I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means— that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it. “Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel. 22“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. 23Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us.
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 41:21 word by word
קָרְב֥וּ רִֽיבְכֶ֖ם יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה הַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ עֲצֻמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם יֹאמַ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ יַעֲקֹֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 41:21
- Job 23:3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.
- Job 31:37For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.
- Job 38:3Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
- Job 40:7“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
- Micah 6:1Listen to what the Lord is saying: “Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints.
Commentaries on Isaiah 41:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Bring forth your strong reasons "Produce these your mighty powers" - "Let your idols come forward which you consider to be so very strong. "Hieron. in loc. I prefer this to all other interpretations of this place; and to Jerome's own translation of it, which he adds immediately after, Afferte, si quid forte habetis. "Bring it forward, if haply ye have any thing." The false gods are called upon to come forth and appear in person; and to give evident…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Produce your cause - This address is made to the same persons who are referred to in Isaiah 41:1 - the worshippers of idols; and the prophet here returns to the subject with reference to a further argument on the comparative power of Yahweh and idols. In the former part of the chapter, God had urged his claims to confidence from the fact that he had raised up Cyrus; that the idols were weak and feeble compared with him; and from the fact that it was his…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. 21the King of Jacob: See Isaiah 6:5; 43:15; 44:6.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. A new challenge to the idolaters (see Is 41:1, 7) to say, can their idols predict future events as Jehovah can (Is 41:22-25, &c.)? your strong reasons--the reasons for idol-worship which you think especially strong.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 41:21
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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