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Isaiah 46
Babylon's two great gods, Bel and Nebo, open the chapter slumped on the backs of pack animals — dead weight that has to be hauled into captivity. Isaiah sets that picture against the LORD, who carries Israel rather than being carried, from the womb to gray hairs. Watch the verbs of carrying. An idol is a burden you lift; the living God lifts you. The taunt then sharpens into a claim about who alone can announce the end from the beginning and summon the conqueror from the east.
- 1
Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.
- 2
They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity.
- 3
“Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb.
- 4
Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.
- 5
“To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?
- 6
Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down— yes, they worship.
- 7
They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble.
- 8
“Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.
- 9
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me.
- 10
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.
- 11
I call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it.
- 12
Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness!
- 13
I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.
- 1
Bel se encurva. Nebo se abaixa. Seus ídolos são levados por animais, e sobre o gado. As coisas que vocês carregavam são cargas pesadas, um fardo para os exaustos.
- 2
Eles se abaixam e se encurvam juntos. Eles não puderam salvar o fardo, mas eles mesmos foram para o cativeiro.
- 3
“Ouçam-me, casa de Jacó, e todo o remanescente da casa de Israel, que têm sido carregados desde o nascimento, que foram levados desde o ventre.
- 4
Mesmo até a velhice eu sou o mesmo, e até os cabelos brancos eu os carregarei. Eu os fiz, e eu os levarei. Sim, eu os carregarei, e os livrarei.
- 5
“A quem vocês me compararão, e me considerarão igual, e me compararão, como se fôssemos iguais?
- 6
Alguns derramam ouro da bolsa, e pesam prata na balança. Eles contratam um ourives, e ele faz disso um deus. Eles se prostram— sim, eles adoram.
- 7
Eles o levam sobre os ombros. Eles o carregam, o colocam em seu lugar, e ali ele fica. Não pode se mover do seu lugar. Sim, alguém pode clamar a ele, mas ele não pode responder. Não pode salvá-lo da sua angústia.
- 8
“Lembrem-se disso, e mostrem-se homens. Tragam isso à mente novamente, vocês, transgressores.
- 9
Lembrem-se das coisas passadas da antiguidade; pois eu sou Deus, e não há outro. Eu sou Deus, e não há ninguém como eu.
- 10
Eu declaro o fim desde o princípio, e desde os tempos antigos as coisas que ainda não aconteceram. Eu digo: Meu conselho permanecerá, e farei tudo o que me agrada.
- 11
Eu chamo uma ave de rapina do oriente, o homem do meu conselho de um país distante. Sim, eu falei. Eu também farei com que aconteça. Eu planejei. Eu também o farei.
- 12
Ouçam-me, vocês de coração obstinado, que estão longe da justiça!
- 13
Eu aproximo a minha justiça. Ela não está longe, e a minha salvação não tardará. Eu concederei salvação a Sião, minha glória a Israel.
The idol you carry vs. the God who carries you
The argument is built on a reversal. In verses 1-2 the famous Babylonian deities cannot even rescue their own statues; in verses 3-4 the LORD promises to bear Israel "even to gray hairs." Worship is redefined by direction: dead gods are luggage, the true God is the one doing the lifting.
Verses 9-11 ground the boast in prophecy: only the one who declares things "not yet done" and calls a bird of prey from the east — Cyrus, named earlier in 45 — can prove the difference. The stubborn-hearted of verse 12 are warned that salvation is already near, not far off.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- RighteousnessWhat righteousness means in the Bible, how it relates to justice and right standing, and why it cannot be reduced to private morality.
- SalvationWhat salvation means in the Bible, how it relates to rescue from sin and judgment, and where to read it clearly.
- WorshipWhat worship means in the Bible, how it goes beyond music, and where Scripture shows its full shape most clearly.
- Psalms 40:1Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Isaiah 40:31Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Lamentations 3:25Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Romans 8:25Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- James 5:7Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Psalms 25:5Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Isaiah 12:2Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
- Isaiah 33:2Related through the topic "Waiting on God".
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