Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 44 contains: (1) the I-AM-FIRST-AND-LAST monotheistic-claim (v. 6) — Christologically extended at-Revelation 1:17, 22:13; (2) the most-extended OT-anti-idolatry-satire (vv. 9–20); (3) the explicit-naming of CYRUS (v. 28) — the most-specific historical-prophecy in-the-OT.
Notable Variants
44:3 'pour water on the thirsty land … pour my Spirit' Pentecost-type; 44:6 'I am the first and I am the last' → Rev 1:17, 22:13 Christological-self-designation; 44:28 CYRUS NAMED EXPLICITLY (~150 years before-his-rise).
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 44 = LXX Isaiah 44. 28 verses.
But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!
'But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!' tracks MT.
This is what the LORD says — He who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
'Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen' tracks MT. JESHURUN — poetic-name for-Israel (Deut 32:15, 33:5, 26).
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
'For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants' tracks MT. POUR-MY-SPIRIT. Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28 cited — 'I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh') Christologically-extends. Pentecost-anticipation.
They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
'They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams' tracks MT.
This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and take the name of Israel.
'This one will say: I am the LORD's, another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand: The LORD's, and name himself by the name of Israel' tracks MT. WRITE-ON-HAND. Revelation 14:1 ('having his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads') Christologically-extends.
This is what the LORD says — the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God.
'Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god' tracks MT. I-AM-FIRST-AND-LAST. Revelation 1:17 ('I am the FIRST AND THE LAST'), 2:8, 22:13 directly-applies this divine-self-designation to-Christ. Christological-identification with-YHWH.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
'Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen' tracks MT.
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.
'Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any' tracks MT. NO-OTHER-ROCK. Christ-as-the-Rock (1 Cor 10:4) Christologically-extends.
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
'All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame' tracks MT. ANTI-IDOLATRY SATIRE begins (vv. 9–20) — the OT's-most-extended sustained-mockery of-idol-making.
Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
'Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?' tracks MT.
Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth; they shall be terrified and put to shame together.
'Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together' tracks MT.
The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint.
'The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint' tracks MT. IDOL-MAKER-WEAKER-THAN-HIS-IDOL — the-irony.
The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.
'The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house' tracks MT.
He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.
'He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it' tracks MT.
Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it.
'Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it' tracks MT. SAME-WOOD becomes-fuel-and-deity. The absurdity.
Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, 'Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!'
'Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says: Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!' tracks MT.
And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol; and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, 'Deliver me, for you are my god!'
'And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says: Deliver me, for you are my god!' tracks MT.
They know not, nor do they discern, for their eyes are shut so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot understand.
'They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand' tracks MT.
No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and ate. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?'
'No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say: Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?' tracks MT.
He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?'
'He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say: Is there not a lie in my right hand?' tracks MT. FEEDS-ON-ASHES. Romans 1:21–23 ('they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images') extends.
Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
'Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me' tracks MT.
I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
'I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you' tracks MT. BLOTTED-OUT-LIKE-CLOUD. Sin-evaporation imagery.
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, O depths of the earth! Break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.
'Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel' tracks MT.
This is what the LORD says, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself —
'Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself' tracks MT.
who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish;
'Who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish' tracks MT.
who confirms the word of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins';
'Who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem: She shall be inhabited, and of the cities of Judah: They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins' tracks MT.
who says to the deep, 'Be dry; I will dry up your rivers';
'Who says to the deep: Be dry; I will dry up your rivers' tracks MT.
who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,' and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'
'Who says of Cyrus: He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose, saying of Jerusalem: She shall be built, and of the temple: Your foundation shall be laid' tracks MT. CYRUS NAMED. ~150-years-before-his-rise (Isaiah ministered c. 740–686 BCE; Cyrus ruled-Persia from-559 BCE). The most-specific historical-prediction in-the-OT. Critics-have-disputed pre-exilic-dating; conservatives accept-the-supernatural-foreknowledge. CYRUS-AS-MY-SHEPHERD — divine-instrument designation extended-to-Gentile-king.