Isaiah 44:13-17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:9-20

Often before, God, by the prophet, had mentioned the folly and strange sottishness of idolaters; but here he enlarges upon that head, and very fully and particularly exposes them to contempt and ridicule. This discourse is intended, 1. To arm the people of Israel against the strong temptation they would be in to worship idols when they were captives in Babylon, in compliance with the custom of the country (they being far from the city of their own solemnities) and to humour those who were now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:13

The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ,.... Or, the worker of trees F5 חרש עצים "faber lignorum", Montanus; "artifex lignarius", V. L. Pagninus; "faber lignarius", Vitringa. ; that works in wood, or makes images of wood; having cut down a tree, he stretches out his rule or line upon it, and takes the dimensions of it, and measures the length and the breadth of it, as much as is for his purpose to make a god of: and then he maketh it out with a line ; coloured with ochre, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:14

He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak ,.... To make gods of, trees both pleasant and durable, but all unfruitful: which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest ; taking a great deal of pains in seeking out such trees as were most fit for his use, and a great deal of care in the growth of them, that they might answer his end, as well as exerting his strength in cutting of them down: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it ; a tree... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:15

Then shall it be for a man to burn ,.... And which indeed is the proper use of it, but not all that this man puts it to; only the boughs, and what he cuts off as useless to his purpose, and the chips he makes, which he commits to the fire: for he will take thereof, and warm himself ; with some part of it he makes a fire in his parlour, and warms himself when it is cold weather: yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread ; he heats his oven with another part of it, and bakes the bread he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:16

He burneth part thereof in the fire ,.... To warm himself with, as before: with part thereof he eateth flesh ; that is, with part of it he dresses flesh, and makes it fit to eat; unless the meaning is, with part of it he makes tables and trenchers to eat meat off of; but the former sense seems most likely, and agrees with what follows: he roasteth roast, and is satisfied ; he roasts his meat with it, and eats it when roasted, and is highly pleased and delighted with it, and he eats... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:17

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image ,.... What remains of the tree, that is not consumed by making a fire to warm with, by heating the oven to bake bread with, and by using it in the kitchen to roast meat with, this is made an image of, and being graved and carved, is called a god, and worshipped; though it is of the same matter, and of the same nature, with that which was used for warming, baking, and roasting: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:14

He heweth him down "He heweth down" - For לכרת lichroth , the Septuagint and Vulgate read כרת carath or יכרת yichroth . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:16

With part "And with part" - Twenty-three MSS., the Septuagint, and Vulgate add the conjunction ו vau , and ועל veal . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:17

He falleth down unto it - There were four forms of adoration used among the Hebrews: השתחוה Hishtachavah , The prostration of the whole body. קדד Kadad , The bowing of the head. כרע Cara , The bending of the upper part of the body down to the knees. 4. ברך Barach , Bowing the knee, or kneeling. See on Isaiah 49:23 ; (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:6-20

A FURTHER CONTRAST OF GOD WITH IDOLS . The captive Jews, dwelling scattered in a land the inhabitants of which were, one and all, idolaters, and having by hereditary taint an inclination to idolatry, would be easily tempted, during the long and weary period of the Captivity, to put away the worship and even the thought of Jehovah, who had allowed their subjugation, and conform to the religion of their conquerors. Hence the repeated contrasts in these later chapters—specially... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 44:9-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 44:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 44:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 44:6-20

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