Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” New Living Translation The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” English Standard Version 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?” Berean Standard Bible He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” King James Bible He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? New King James Version He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” New American Standard Bible He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” NASB 1995 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” NASB 1977 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Legacy Standard Bible He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, and he cannot say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Amplified Bible That kind of man (the idolater) feeds on ashes [and is satisfied with ashes]! A deceived mind has led him astray, so that he cannot save himself, or ask, “Is this thing [that I am holding] in my right hand not a lie?” Christian Standard Bible He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot rescue himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself, or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” American Standard Version He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Contemporary English Version How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes? No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods? English Revised Version He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? GOD'S WORD® Translation They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They can't rescue themselves or ask themselves, "Isn't what I hold in my right hand a false god?" Good News Translation It makes as much sense as eating ashes. His foolish ideas have so misled him that he is beyond help. He won't admit to himself that the idol he holds in his hand is not a god at all. International Standard Version He tends ashes. A deceived mind has lead him astray. It cannot be his life, nor can he say, "There's a lie in my right hand." Majority Standard Bible He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” NET Bible He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say, 'Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?' New Heart English Bible He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't deliver his soul, nor say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?" Webster's Bible Translation He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? World English Bible He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFeeding on ashes, the heart is deceived, "" It has turned him aside, "" And he does not deliver his soul, nor says: “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Young's Literal Translation Feeding on ashes, the heart is deceived, It hath turned him aside, And he delivereth not his soul, nor saith: 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' Smith's Literal Translation He fed upon ashes: a deceived heart turned him away, and he shall not deliver his soul, and he shall not say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BiblePart thereof is ashes: his foolish heart adoreth it, and he will not save his soul, nor say: Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand. Catholic Public Domain Version Part of it is ashes. His foolish heart adores it. And he will not liberate his soul, and he will not say, “Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand.” New American Bible He is chasing ashes! A deluded mind has led him astray; He cannot save himself, does not say, “This thing in my right hand—is it not a fraud?” New Revised Standard Version He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTheir imagination is dull; they are surely gone astray, and cannot deliver themselves, nor say, Our right hand has wrought falsehood. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Their heart is feeding on ashes and straying, it is going astray, and they are not saving their soul and they are not saying: "Our right hand has wrought falsehood!" OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917He striveth after ashes, A deceived heart hath turned him aside, That he cannot deliver his soul, nor say: 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' Brenton Septuagint Translation Know thou that their heart is ashes, and they err, and no one is able to deliver his soul: see, ye will not say, There is a lie in my right hand. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The LORD has Chosen Israel…19And 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?” 20He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?” Cross References Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Jeremiah 10:14-15 Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish. Psalm 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ... 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. Jeremiah 2:27-28 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ / But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah. Psalm 135:15-18 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ... 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. Hosea 4:12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God. Deuteronomy 4:28 And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. Acts 17:29-30 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. / Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. Habakkuk 2:18-19 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.” 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Jeremiah 16:19-20 O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. / Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” 1 Kings 18:26-29 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ... Treasury of Scripture He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? feedeth Job 15:2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Psalm 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. a deceived 1 Kings 22:20-23 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner… Job 15:31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. Hosea 4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. is there Isaiah 28:15-17 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: … Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Habakkuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Jump to Previous Ashes Astray Dead Deceived Deliver Deluded Dust False. Feedeth Feeding Feeds Fire Food Hand Heart Lie Mind Misleads Right Safe Save Soul Striveth Turned Twisted Unable WayJump to Next Ashes Astray Dead Deceived Deliver Deluded Dust False. Feedeth Feeding Feeds Fire Food Hand Heart Lie Mind Misleads Right Safe Save Soul Striveth Turned Twisted Unable WayIsaiah 44 1. God comforts the church with his promises7. The vanity of idols 9. And folly of idol makers 21. He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence He feeds on ashes The phrase "He feeds on ashes" is a vivid metaphor illustrating the futility and emptiness of idolatry. In Hebrew, the word for "ashes" is "אֵפֶר" (epher), which signifies something that is burnt out and worthless. This imagery suggests that those who pursue idols are nourishing themselves with what is devoid of life and substance. Historically, ashes were a symbol of mourning and repentance, yet here they represent the spiritual starvation and deception of idol worship. The conservative Christian perspective sees this as a call to recognize the emptiness of anything that takes the place of God in one's life. A deluded heart has led him astray he cannot deliver himself or say, ‘Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?’ Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He feeds onרֹעֶ֣ה (rō·‘eh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with ashes. אֵ֔פֶר (’ê·p̄er) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 665: Ashes His deluded הוּתַ֖ל (hū·ṯal) Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2048: To deride, to cheat heart לֵ֥ב (lêḇ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre has led him astray, הִטָּ֑הוּ (hiṭ·ṭā·hū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend and he cannot וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no deliver יַצִּ֤יל (yaṣ·ṣîl) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver himself נַפְשׁוֹ֙ (nap̄·šōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion [or] וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no say, יֹאמַ֔ר (yō·mar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Is not הֲל֥וֹא (hă·lō·w) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no this thing in my right hand בִּימִינִֽי׃ (bî·mî·nî) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south a lie?” שֶׁ֖קֶר (še·qer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood Links Isaiah 44:20 NIVIsaiah 44:20 NLT Isaiah 44:20 ESV Isaiah 44:20 NASB Isaiah 44:20 KJV Isaiah 44:20 BibleApps.com Isaiah 44:20 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 44:20 Chinese Bible Isaiah 44:20 French Bible Isaiah 44:20 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 44:20 He feeds on ashes (Isa Isi Is) |
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