Isaiah 44

1 But now [at this time, in this present moment] listen, O Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah, a key figure in God’s plan] My servant [one who serves and obeys], Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], whom I have chosen [selected, elected, to be My special people]. word study 2 This is the word [thus, in this manner] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], your Maker [Creator, one who forms and shapes], who formed [shaped, molded] you from the womb [belly, the seat of life] and who will help [assist, aid] you: “Do not be afraid [do not fear, have no anxiety], O Jacob [the son of Isaac] My servant [one who serves, a slave], Jeshurun [upright one], whom I have chosen [selected, elected]. word study 3 For I will pour [send forth, cause to flow] water [a source of refreshment, spiritual nourishment] on the thirsty [parched, dry] land, and currents [streams, floods] on the dry [barren, desolate] ground. I will pour out My Spirit [breath of life, divine presence] on your descendants [seed, offspring], and My blessing [gift of prosperity, divine favor] on your offspring [children, heirs]. word study 4 They will sprout [grow rapidly, spring up] among the grass [like a well-watered field] like willows [or poplar trees] by flowing streams [watercourses, rivers of water]. word study 5 One will say, ‘I [emphatically, as a personal affirmation] belong to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God],’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah], and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s [a mark of ownership and devotion],’ and will take the name of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants, and a symbol of God’s people].” word study 6 Thus says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the King [sovereign ruler] and Redeemer [one who buys back or rescues] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], the LORD [Yehovah] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army]: “I [the first person singular, emphasizing God’s personal involvement] am the first [primary, coming before all else] and I am the last [final, coming after all else], and there is no God [Elohim, the one supreme God] but Me [excluding all others, emphasizing God’s uniqueness]. word study 7 Who [like no other, uniquely sovereign] then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare [telling openly, making known] his case before Me, since I established [appointed, set in order] an ancient [long-standing, eternal] people. Let him foretell [predict, declare beforehand] the things to come [future events, what is to happen], and what is to take place [what will occur, the course of events]. word study 8 Do not [cease to, stop] tremble [feel fear, dread] or fear [be afraid, terrified]. Have I not [certainly, indeed] told you [declared to you, made known] and declared [made clear, revealed] it long ago [from that time, in the past]? You are My witnesses [testifiers, those who have seen]! Is there any God [deity, divine being] but Me [beside Me, except Me]? There is no other Rock [refuge, stronghold]; I know [am aware of, recognize] not one [any, none].” word study 9 All makers [framing, shaping] of idols [graven images, carved objects] are nothing [empty, worthless], and the things they treasure [delight in, take pleasure in] are worthless [without profit, unbeneficial]. Their witnesses [those who testify, see] fail to see [are blind, do not perceive] or comprehend [understand, know], so they are put to shame [are ashamed, disappointed]. word study 10 Who [which person, whoever it may be] fashions [forms, shapes, creates] a god [idol, false deity, el] or casts [pours out, molds] an idol [graven image, carved image] which [in reality, actually] profits [benefits, gains, ho’il] him [the maker, the one creating] nothing [no value, no benefit, to no avail]? word study 11 Behold [look, take notice], all his companions [fellow worshipers, those who make idols] will be put to shame [be confounded, feel guilt], for the craftsmen [artificers, skilled workers] themselves are only human [mere men, mortal]. Let them all assemble [gather together, come forward] and take their stand [rise up, stand in fear]; they will all be brought to terror [fear, dread] and shame [be ashamed, disgraced]. word study 12 The blacksmith [metalworker, artisan] takes a tool [axe, instrument] and labors [works, toils] over the coals [burning embers]; he fashions [shapes, forms] an idol [image, false god] with hammers [blows, strikes] and forges [shapes, molds] it with his strong [powerful, mighty] arms [strength, force]. Yet he grows hungry [famished, weak] and loses his strength [power, might]; he fails [neglects, forgets] to drink water [refresh, quench] and grows faint [weary, exhausted]. word study 13 The woodworker [skilled craftsman, artificer] extends a measuring line [cord, rule]; he marks it out with a stylus [sharp tool, pencil]; he shapes it with chisels [planes, scraping tools] and outlines it with a compass [tool for drawing circles]. He fashions it in the likeness [pattern, model] of man [a male person, Adam], like man [a human, in God’s image] in all his glory [beauty, honor], that it may dwell [sit, remain, abide] in a shrine [house, place of worship]. word study 14 He cuts down [heweth, to shape or prepare] cedars [strong and durable trees] or retrieves [takes, selects] a cypress or oak [a strong tree]. He lets it grow strong [to strengthen, be courageous] among the trees [firm objects, like wooden planks] of the forest [a copse of bushes, a wooded area]. He plants [establishes, fixes] a laurel [fir, ash, a strong and durable tree], and the rain [a shower, refreshing downpour] makes it grow [magnify, to make great]. word study 15 It serves as fuel [for a man to burn] for man [the human, Adam]. He takes some of it [from the tree] to warm [to heat, to comfort] himself, and he kindles [to start, to ignite] a fire and bakes [to cook, to prepare] his bread; he even fashions [to make, to create] it into a god [an idol, a false deity] and worships [to bow down, to reverence] it; he makes [to create, to form] an idol [a carved image, a graven image] and bows down [to prostrate, to humble himself] to it. word study 16 He burns [part of it, with part thereof] half of it in the fire [flame], and he roasts [cook over an open flame] meat on that half [portion, share]. He eats [consumes, devours] the roast [cooked meat, food] and is satisfied [filled, content]. Indeed, he warms [heats, comforts] himself and says, “Ah [expression of surprise, excitement]! I am warm [heated, comforted]; I see [behold, perceive] the fire [flame, light].” word study 17 From the rest [remnant, what is left] he makes a god [idol, false deity], his graven image [carved idol, pictured image]. He bows down [prostrates, falls down] to it and worships [gives reverence, pays homage]; he prays [intercedes, makes petition] to it and says, “Save me [rescue, deliver], for you are my god [strength, power, el].” word study 18 They do not [have knowledge or understanding] comprehend or discern [are without insight or perception], for He has shut [closed or sealed] their eyes [sight or perception] so they cannot see [perceive or understand] and closed [shut or veiled] their minds [hearts or intellect] so they cannot understand [have discernment or wisdom]. word study 19 And no one considers [thinks deeply, reflects] in his heart [mind, emotions, and will], no one has the knowledge [insight, understanding] or insight [discernment, wisdom] to say, “I burned [set on fire, kindled] half [a portion, a part] of it in the fire [flames, blaze], and I baked [cooked, prepared] bread [food, sustenance] on its coals [glowing embers, hot remains]; I roasted [cooked over an open flame] meat [flesh, animal] and I ate [consumed, devoured]. Shall I make [create, fashion] something detestable [abhorrent, disgusting] with the rest [remainder, leftover] of it? Shall I bow down [prostrate, worship] to a block [piece, log] of wood [tree, timber]?” word study 20 He feeds on ashes [the dust of a dead fire, worthless remains]. His deluded [deceived, twisted] heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] has led him astray [turned him aside, misled], and he cannot deliver [rescue, save] himself or say [speak, utter], “Is not this thing [idol, false god] in my right hand [my power, my control] a lie [a deception, a falsehood]?” word study 21 Remember [keep in mind, recall to your thoughts] these things, O Jacob [descendant of Abraham], for you are My servant [bondservant, one who serves], O Israel [symbolic name of Jacob and his descendants]. I have made [formed, shaped like a potter] you, and you are My servant [one who serves Me]; O Israel, I will never [not at all, under no circumstances] forget [neglect or disregard] you. word study 22 I have blotted out [wiped away, erased] your transgressions [rebellions, sins of revolt] like a cloud [a thick cloud, a dark mass], and your sins [guilt, punishment for sin] like a mist [a cloudy vapor]. Return [turn back, come back] to Me, for [because, since] I have redeemed [bought back, set free] you. word study 23 Sing for joy [with triumphant praise], O heavens [the visible universe, sky], for the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has done this [accomplished, fulfilled]; shout aloud [with a loud, ringing cry], O depths [lower parts, the lowest] of the earth [land, ground]. Break forth [burst out, overflow] in song [music, joyful sound], O mountains [hills], you forests [woods, thickets] and all your trees [strong, firm objects]. For the LORD [the supreme God] has redeemed [bought back, freed] Jacob [the descendant of Abraham], and revealed [shown, made known] His glory [beauty, splendor] in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants]. word study 24 Thus says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], your Redeemer [who saves and delivers] who formed [shaped and molded] you from the womb [the belly, the seat of life]: “I am the LORD [the self-existent, eternal God], who has made [created and brought into being] all things [everything in the universe], who alone [by myself, without help] stretched out [expanded and spread] the heavens [the sky and the spiritual realm], who by Myself [without assistance, single-handedly] spread out [stretched and expanded] the earth [the land, the material world], word study 25 who foils [frustrates, makes void] the signs [miraculous tokens, wonders] of false prophets [liars, deceivers] and makes fools [turns mad, brings to madness] of diviners [those who practice magic, soothsayers], who confounds [turns backward, reverses] the wise [intelligent, skilled ones] and turns their knowledge [understanding, insight] into nonsense [foolishness, absurdity], word study 26 who confirms [establishes, fulfills] the message [word, promise] of His servant [messenger, prophet] and fulfills [accomplishes, perfects] the counsel [plan, purpose] of His messengers [representatives, angels], who says [declares, prophesies] of Jerusalem [the city of peace], ‘She will be inhabited [dwelled in, restored],’ and of the cities [towns, communities] of Judah [the tribe of praise], ‘They will be rebuilt [restored, established], and I will restore [raise up, renew] their ruins [desolate places, wastes],’ word study 27 who says [to command, speak with authority] to the depths [the deep, the abyss] of the sea [the ocean, the deep waters], ‘Be dry [desolate, wither away], and I will dry up [cause to wither, make dry] your currents [rivers, streams, floods],’ word study 28 who says [declares, speaks] of Cyrus [my anointed leader], ‘My shepherd [one who cares for my people] will fulfill [complete, perfect] all that I desire [my pleasure, delight],’ who says [speaks, declares] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the holy city], ‘She will be rebuilt [restored, reestablished],’ and of the temple [the house of God, the place of worship], ‘Let its foundation [base, starting point] be laid [established, founded].’” word study