Isaiah 46:6
Isaiah 46:6 in Multiple Translations
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.
As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.
There are those who extravagantly tip out gold from their bags, and weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith to make them a god they can bow down to and worship.
They draw gold out of the bagge and weigh siluer in the balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, and they bowe downe, and worship it.
— They are pouring out gold from a bag, And silver on the beam they weigh, They hire a refiner, and he maketh it a god, They fall down, yea, they bow themselves.
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.
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yes, they worship.
You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and worship.
So it is stupid/ridiculous that some people pour out gold and silver from their bags and weigh it on a scale. Then they hire a man who makes things from gold to make an idol from it. After he makes an idol, they bow down and worship it!
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 46:6
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Isaiah 46:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 46:6
Study Notes — Isaiah 46:6
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 46:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 46:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 46:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 46:6
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 46:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
- Sermons on Isaiah 46:6
Context — Babylon’s Idols
6They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
7They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. 8Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 17:29 | Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. |
| 2 | Isaiah 40:19–20 | To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains? To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple? |
| 3 | Habakkuk 2:18–20 | What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.” But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him. |
| 4 | Daniel 3:5–15 | As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.” Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?” |
| 5 | Judges 17:3–4 | And when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I wholly dedicate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit, to make a graven image and a molten idol. Therefore I will now return it to you.” So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into a graven image and a molten idol. And they were placed in the house of Micah. |
| 6 | Jeremiah 10:3–4 | For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. |
| 7 | Isaiah 2:8 | Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. |
| 8 | 1 Kings 12:28 | After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” |
| 9 | Isaiah 44:12–19 | The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow. It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.” They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” |
| 10 | Hosea 8:4–6 | They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. |
Isaiah 46:6 Summary
Isaiah 46:6 shows us how silly it is for people to make their own gods out of gold and silver, just so they can worship them. This is because, as seen in Exodus 20:3-5, God commands us to worship Him alone and not to make idols. The people in this verse are trying to fill a spiritual void, but they're looking in the wrong place, as Psalm 16:11 tells us that true joy and fulfillment come from knowing and worshiping the one true God. By remembering God's power and love, as encouraged in Deuteronomy 6:13-15, we can avoid the trap of idolatry and find true satisfaction in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main point of Isaiah 46:6?
The main point of Isaiah 46:6 is to highlight the foolishness of idolatry, where people create their own gods with gold and silver, as seen in the actions described in the verse, which is also warned against in Deuteronomy 4:15-18 and Exodus 20:4-5.
Why do people create idols according to this verse?
According to Isaiah 46:6, people create idols so they can bow down and worship them, showing a deep-seated desire for spiritual connection, but one that is misplaced and contrary to the worship commanded in Exodus 20:3-5 and Deuteronomy 6:13-15.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah?
Isaiah 46:6 fits into the overall message of Isaiah, which emphasizes the uniqueness and sovereignty of the one true God, as stated in Isaiah 44:6 and Isaiah 45:5-6, and warns against the futility of idolatry.
What can we learn from the futility of idolatry in this verse?
We can learn from Isaiah 46:6 that true worship and satisfaction can only be found in the one true God, as expressed in Psalm 16:11 and Jeremiah 2:13, and that creating or following idols will always lead to emptiness and disappointment.
Reflection Questions
- What are some modern forms of idolatry that I might be unknowingly practicing in my life, and how can I redirect my worship to the one true God?
- How does the desire to create and worship idols reflect a deeper human need, and how can this need be fulfilled in a biblical way?
- In what ways can I apply the warning against idolatry in Isaiah 46:6 to my daily life and priorities, ensuring that I am giving God the worship and reverence He deserves?
- What role does gratitude and remembrance of God's sovereignty, as encouraged in Isaiah 46:8-9, play in preventing the temptation to idolatry, and how can I cultivate these qualities in my own heart?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 46:6
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 46:6
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 46:6
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 46:6
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 46:6
Sermons on Isaiah 46:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Does God Love the World Outside of Jesus Christ? by Alan Martin | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. He states that there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ and that al |
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Unreached Peoples: The Drokpa People of the Himalayas by Paul Hattaway | This sermon delves into the unique traditions and lifestyle of the Drogpa people, who live in a fruitful yet isolated area, practicing ancient customs and idol worship. Despite the |
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Acts 19_pt2 by Bill Gallatin | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of worshiping the beast and receiving the mark of his name as described in the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of knowing the |
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Of the Nature of God. by John Gill | John Gill explores the profound nature of God, emphasizing that while God's essence is incomprehensible to human understanding, it is essential to recognize Him as the ultimate Cre |
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The King and His Kingdom by Winkie Pratney | Winkie Pratney preaches about the King of all Kings, emphasizing the fellowship of three Divine Personalities known as the Godhead, who have always existed unmade, distinct yet one |
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Second River -- Idol Worship by Martin Knapp | Martin Knapp delivers a powerful sermon on the sin of idolatry, emphasizing the First Commandment's prohibition of internal idolatry and the Second Commandment's prohibition of out |
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Vision #2 by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of taking God's word seriously and living out the visions He gives us. The example of Abraham is used to illustrate this poin |







