Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 46 contrasts BEL-AND-NEBO (Babylonian-deities being-carried-on-beasts-of-burden, vv. 1–2) with-the-LORD who-CARRIES-his-people (vv. 3–4). Verses 9–10's 'I am God, and there is no other … declaring the end from the beginning' is a foundational divine-foreknowledge statement.
Notable Variants
46:1–2 BEL-AND-NEBO carried — pagan-gods-burdened; 46:3–4 LORD-CARRIES from-womb-to-old-age; 46:10 'declaring the end from the beginning' divine-foreknowledge.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 46 = LXX Isaiah 46. 13 verses.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low. Their images are loaded on beasts and cattle. The things you carry are burdens, a load for weary animals.
'Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts' tracks MT. BEL-AND-NEBO. Bel = Marduk, chief-Babylonian-deity; Nebo = Nabu, son-of-Bel, god-of-writing. The-images of-the-deities being-loaded-onto-pack-animals (Cyrus's-conquest of-Babylon).
They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot rescue the burden, and they themselves go into captivity.
'They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity' tracks MT. GODS-GO-INTO-CAPTIVITY. The-pagan-deities being-treated-as-loot.
Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been carried from the womb, borne from birth:
'Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb' tracks MT. CARRIED-FROM-WOMB. The reverse-of-pagan-gods. The LORD carries-Israel; Israel-doesn't-carry the-LORD.
Even to your old age I am He, and to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry, and I will deliver.
'Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save' tracks MT. CARRY-FROM-WOMB-TO-OLD-AGE. Lifelong-divine-care. One of-the-OT's-most-tender-passages on-divine-care.
To whom will you liken me or make me equal? To whom will you compare me, as though we were alike?
'To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?' tracks MT. INCOMPARABILITY question.
Those who lavish gold from their purses and weigh out silver on the scales hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god. They bow down — yes, they worship.
'Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!' tracks MT. PURCHASING-A-GOD irony.
They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it; they set it in its place, and there it stands. From its spot it does not move. If someone cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save anyone from distress.
'They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble' tracks MT.
Remember this and stand firm; take it to heart, you rebels.
'Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors' tracks MT.
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,
'Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me' tracks MT.
declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is not yet done, saying, 'My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all my desire.'
'Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying: My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose' tracks MT. END-FROM-BEGINNING. Divine-foreknowledge axiom. Acts 15:18 ('the Lord, who has made these things known from of old') extends. The eschatological-counsel-stands theme.
calling a bird of prey from the east, from a distant land the man of my purpose. I have spoken, and I will bring it about; I have planned, and I will do it.
'Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it' tracks MT. BIRD-OF-PREY-FROM-EAST — Cyrus.
Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness:
'Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness' tracks MT.
I am bringing near my righteousness — it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay. I will place salvation in Zion, my splendor upon Israel.
'I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory' tracks MT. NEAR-RIGHTEOUSNESS. Romans 10:6–8 ('the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart') Christologically-extends.