Isaiah 41:28
◄  Isaiah 41:28  ►
New International Version (©2011)
I look but there is no one-- no one among the gods to give counsel, no one to give answer when I ask them.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Not one of your idols told you this. Not one gave any answer when I asked.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"But when I look, there is no one, And there is no counselor among them Who, if I ask, can give an answer.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say.

International Standard Version (©2012)
But when I look, there is no one— among them there's no one to give counsel, no one to give an answer when I ask them.

NET Bible (©2006)
I look, but there is no one, among them there is no one who serves as an adviser, that I might ask questions and receive answers.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When I look, there is no one. There is no one to advise them. When I ask them a question, will they give an answer?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

American King James Version
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

American Standard Version
And when I look, there is no man: even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I saw, and there was no one even among them to consult, or who, when I asked, could answer a word.

Darby Bible Translation
And I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

English Revised Version
And when I look, there is no man; even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

World English Bible
When I look, there is no man; even among them there is no counselor who, when I ask of them, can answer a word.

Young's Literal Translation
And I see that there is no man, Yea, of these that there is no counsellor, And I ask them, and they return word:

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

41:21-29 There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear. But the certain knowledge of the future must be only with Jehovah, who fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of redemption the Lord showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from Babylon. The good tidings the Lord will send in the gospel, is a mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of the captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants and faithful friends.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 28. - For I beheld. "Jehovah once more looks round to see if any of the idols possess an ability to prophesy, but in vain" (Cheyne). He finds no counsellor, i.e. no prophet, among them. Hence the final "outburst of scorn" in ver. 29, which, however, is directed primarily against the idol-worshippers, and, only through them, against the idols.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For I beheld, and there was no man,.... Among all the Pagan priests and prophets, that could foretell things to come; or could prove that their idols did or could say anything in favour of them:

even amongst them, and there was no counsellor: none that could be advocates for these idols, and plead their cause; or could give any good advice and counsel to persons that needed it, and who applied to them or their idols for it:

that, when I asked of them, could answer a word; when asked what they had to say on behalf of their gods they worshipped, were dumb and speechless; moreover, all this may be said of the idols themselves, that there was none among them that could foretell a future event, or give any wholesome counsel to their worshippers, or could say anything in their own defence; and therefore, to close the controversy, the following sentence is pronounced.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

28. no counsellor—no one of the idolatrous soothsayers who could inform (Nu 24:14) those who consulted them what would take place. Compare "counsel of His messenger" (Isa 44:26).

when I asked—that is, challenged them, in this chapter.

Isaiah 41:28 Parallel Commentaries

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Meaningless Idols
…27The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that brings good tidings. 28For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Isaiah 40:13 Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
Isaiah 40:14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
Isaiah 46:7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.
Isaiah 50:2 When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
Isaiah 63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
Isaiah 65:12 I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me."