Bible Commentary

Isaiah 46

Isaiah 46 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

God, by the prophet here, designing shortly to deliver them out of their captivity, prepared them for that deliverance by possessing them with a detestation of idols and with a believing confidence in God, even their own God. I. Let them not be afraid of the idols of Babylon, as if they could in any way obstruct their deliverance, for they should be defaced (ver. 1, 2); but let them trust in that God who had often delivered them to do it still, to do it now, ver. 3, 4. II. Let them not think to make idols of their own, images of the God of Israel, by them to worship him, as the Babylonians worship their gods, ver. 5-7. Let them not be so sottish (ver. 8), but have an eye to God in his word, not in an image; let them depend upon that, and upon the promises and predictions of it, and God's power to accomplish them all, ver. 9-11. And let them know that the unbelief of man shall not make the word of God of no effect, ver. 12, 13.

The Folly of Idolatry. (b. c. 708.)

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Isaiah 46 — OverviewIsaiah 46 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeIsaiah 46:1, The idols of Babylon could not save themselves; Isaiah 46:3, God saves his people to the end; Isaiah 46:5, Idols are not comparable to God for power, Isaiah 46:12. or present salvation.Isaiah 46 — OverviewIsaiah 46 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter contains a prophecy of the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, and of the deliverance of the Jews; who are encouraged to expect the divine protection, and a continuance of it; are dehorted from idolatry, and…Isaiah 46:1-4Isaiah 46:1-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe are here told, I. That the false gods will certainly fail their worshippers when they have most need of them, v. 1, 2. Bel and Nebo were two celebrated idols of Babylon. Some make Bel to be a contraction of…Isaiah 46:1Isaiah 46:1 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeBel: Bel, called Belus by the Greek and Roman writers, is the same as Baal; and Nebo is interpreted by Castell and Norberg of Mercury; the two principal idols of Babylon. When that city was taken by the Persians, these…Isaiah 46:2Isaiah 46:2 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgethey could: Isaiah 36:18-19, Isaiah 37:12, Isaiah 37:19, Isaiah 44:17, Isaiah 45:20 but: Judges 18:17-18, Judges 18:24; 2 Samuel 5:21; Jeremiah 43:12-13, Jeremiah 48:7 themselves are: Heb. their soul isIsaiah 46:2Isaiah 46:2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey stoop, they bow together,.... Either the beasts under their burdens, or other idols besides those mentioned; or rather the Babylonians themselves, who were obliged to submit to the conquerors:they could not deliver…