Isaiah chapter 46
The gods of Babylon.
THE GODS OF BABYLON
VERSE 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.
Bel. Bel, signifying “lord” or “master”, is a title rather than a genuine name.
It is applied to various gods in the Mesopotamian religion of Akkad, Assyria and Babylonia.
Nebo. That is, “Nabu.”
He is the patron god of scribes, wisdom and literature. He was worshipped by the Assyrian and Babylonian peoples.
VERSE 2. They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity.
VERSE 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.
NLT translation. Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you before you were born.
carried from their birth. The LORD God promises to be with us always, even to the ends of the world. Read more »
VERSE 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.
NCV translation. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.
Even when your hair has turned gray. In the Bible, gray-haired people are considered wise. If you have not yet had gray hair, you are not considered wise. Read more »
VERSE 5. “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?
VERSE 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.
VERSE 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.
VERSE 8. “Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.
VERSE 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.
I am God, and there is no other. The LORD is one. He is God alone. He is the one God and Father of all. Beside him there is no other God. There is none like him. Read more »
VERSE 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.
VERSE 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.
a ravenous bird. That is, a “bird of prey” (NAB translation).
VERSE 12. Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness!
VERSE 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.
NLT translation. For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel.
2 Corinthians 6:2. for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
ISAIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
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Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.