New International Version They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. New Living Translation Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together. English Standard Version They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. Berean Standard Bible The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity. Berean Literal Bible They stoop low, they bend down together; they could not deliver the burden, and their souls have gone into captivity. King James Bible They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. New King James Version They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity. New American Standard Bible They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity. NASB 1995 They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity. NASB 1977 They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity. Legacy Standard Bible They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the load, But have themselves gone into captivity. Amplified Bible They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden [of their own idols], But have themselves gone into captivity. Berean Annotated Bible The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden (burden); but they themselves go into captivity. Christian Standard Bible The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity. Holman Christian Standard Bible The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.” American Standard Version They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. Contemporary English Version They are down on their knees to rescue the heavy load, but the images are still taken to a foreign country. English Revised Version They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. GOD'S WORD® Translation These gods stoop low and bow down together. They aren't able to escape with heavy loads. They go away into captivity. Good News Translation The idols cannot save themselves; they are captured and carried away. This is the end for Babylon's gods! International Standard Version They stoop, they bow down together, and they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go off into captivity. NET Bible Together they bend low and kneel down; they are unable to rescue the images; they themselves head off into captivity. New Heart English Bible They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity. Webster's Bible Translation They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity. World English Bible They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThey have stooped, they have bowed together, "" They have not been able to deliver the burden, "" And have gone into captivity themselves. Berean Literal Bible They stoop low, they bend down together; they could not deliver the burden, and their souls have gone into captivity. Young's Literal Translation They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And themselves into captivity have gone. Smith's Literal Translation They bowed down, they bent together; they were not able to deliver the burden and their soul went into captivity. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey are consumed, and are broken together: they could not save him that carried them, and they themselves shall go into captivity. Catholic Public Domain Version They have been melted down, or have been smashed together. They were not able to save the one who carried them, and their life will go into captivity. New American Bible They stoop and bow down together; unable to deliver those who bear them, they too go into captivity. New Revised Standard Version They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey were overthrown, they have fallen down together; they could not rescue those who carried them, but they themselves are gone into captivity. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They stumbled and they fell as one, and they were not able to deliver their bearers, and their souls went on into captivity OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They stoop, they bow down together, They could not deliver the burden; And themselves are gone into captivity. Brenton Septuagint Translation who will not be able to save themselves from war, but they themselves are led away captive. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Babylon's Idols1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. 2The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity. 3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.… Cross References The gods cower; Isaiah 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them. Jeremiah 50:2 “Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’ 1 Samuel 5:3-4 When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. / But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD, with his head and his hands broken off and lying on the threshold. Only the torso remained. they crouch together, Isaiah 45:16 They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace. 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 97:7 All worshipers of images are put to shame—those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods! unable to relieve the burden; Isaiah 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save. Jeremiah 10:5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” 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; … but they themselves go into captivity. Jeremiah 48:7 Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials. Jeremiah 49:3 Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed; cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and mourn; run back and forth within your walls, for Milcom will go into exile together with his priests and officials. Hosea 10:6 Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols. Jeremiah 51:44 I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall. Jeremiah 51:47 Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the idols of Babylon. Her entire land will suffer shame, and all her slain will lie fallen within her. Jeremiah 51:52-53 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish her idols, and throughout her land the wounded will groan. / Even if Babylon ascends to the heavens and fortifies her lofty stronghold, the destroyers I send will come against her,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 50:18 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. Treasury of Scripture They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. they could Isaiah 36:18,19 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? … Isaiah 37:12,19 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar? … Isaiah 44:17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. but Judges 18:17,18,24 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war… 2 Samuel 5:21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. Jeremiah 43:12,13 And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace… themselves are. Jump to Previous Able Bend Bent Bow Bowed Burden Captivity Deliver Falling Images Prisoner Rescue Safe Save Stoop Stooped Themselves Together UnableJump to Next Able Bend Bent Bow Bowed Burden Captivity Deliver Falling Images Prisoner Rescue Safe Save Stoop Stooped Themselves Together UnableIsaiah 46 1. The idols of Babylon could not save themselves3. God saves his people to the end 5. Idols are not comparable to God for power 12. Or present salvation. The gods cower; Bel and Nebo, Babylon’s chief gods, are portrayed in disgrace rather than triumph. Idols exalted in Babylonian worship cannot withstand the judgment of the living God. Their humiliation exposes the emptiness of every rival to the Lord, who alone rules nations and directs history. Isa 19:1 This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides… they crouch together, Babylon’s gods share the same defeat. Deities believed to guard the city and secure its empire are unable even to stand when Babylon falls before the Medes and Persians. Isaiah’s prophecy overturns Babylon’s confidence in religious power, political strength, and military security. Isa 45:16 They will all be put to shame and humiliated;… unable to relieve the burden; The images carried in procession become burdens for the very people who trusted them. Rather than delivering their worshipers, the idols must be transported and protected. Jeremiah likewise describes idols as unable to walk and dependent upon those who carry them (Jeremiah 10:5). The Lord, by contrast, carries His people from birth to old age and promises to save them (Isaiah 46:3–4). Isa 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives… but they themselves go into captivity. Babylon’s conquerors would carry its sacred images away as plunder, demonstrating that the gods of the empire had no power to preserve either themselves or their people. The captivity of the idols reveals the captivity awaiting all who rest their hope in what cannot save. God’s judgment on Babylon anticipates the final fall of every system opposed to His kingdom (Revelation 18). Jer 48:7 Because you trust in your works and treasures,… Persons / Places / Events 1. BabylonA powerful empire known for its idolatry and oppression of Israel. In this context, Babylon's gods are depicted as powerless. 2. Bel and Nebo Babylonian deities mentioned earlier in Isaiah 46:1, representing the false gods that the Babylonians worshipped. 3. Isaiah The prophet who conveyed God's messages to Israel, warning them of judgment and offering hope for redemption. 4. Israel The chosen people of God, often warned against idolatry and encouraged to trust in the Lord. 5. Captivity Refers to the Babylonian exile, a period when the Israelites were taken captive due to their disobedience to God. Teaching Points The Futility of IdolatryIdols, whether ancient deities or modern-day equivalents, cannot save or sustain us. We must place our trust in the living God. God's Sovereignty Despite the apparent power of earthly empires, God remains in control and will bring about His purposes. The Burden of False Worship Idolatry is a burden that leads to captivity, both spiritually and physically. True freedom is found in worshiping God alone. The Call to Repentance Like Israel, we are called to turn away from idols and return to God, who is able to save and deliver. Hope in God's Deliverance Even in times of captivity or hardship, God promises deliverance and restoration for those who trust in Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 46:2?2. How does Isaiah 46:2 illustrate the futility of relying on false gods? 3. What does Isaiah 46:2 teach about God's sovereignty over idols and nations? 4. How can Isaiah 46:2 deepen our trust in God's power and provision? 5. Connect Isaiah 46:2 with Exodus 20:3. How do both emphasize God's exclusivity? 6. How should Isaiah 46:2 influence our daily worship and devotion practices? 7. What does Isaiah 46:2 reveal about the powerlessness of idols compared to God? 8. How does Isaiah 46:2 challenge the belief in man-made deities? 9. What historical context is essential for understanding Isaiah 46:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 46? What Does Isaiah 46:2 Mean The gods cowerIsaiah pictures the idols of Babylon—Bel and Nebo—as shrinking back in fear. These so-called deities are exposed as mere objects when the true God acts, just as Dagon toppled before the ark in 1 Samuel 5:3–4 and as every idol is declared “worthless” in Isaiah 44:9. The scene reminds us that “all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens” (Psalm 96:5). When the Almighty steps onto the stage, counterfeit powers cannot even stand. They crouch together The phrase suggests a helpless huddle. In Isaiah 46:1 the idols are already “bowing” and “stooping,” lashed to pack animals for evacuation. Jeremiah 50:2 foretells the same humiliation: “Bel has been put to shame; Nebo lies in ruins.” Idols may dominate culture for a season, yet they end up piled in heaps—silent, immobile, and embarrassed. Unable to relieve the burden Instead of lifting the load from their worshipers, the idols become a load themselves. • They cannot hear cries for help (Psalm 115:4–8). • They cannot act when disaster strikes (Jeremiah 10:5). • They cannot carry anyone; rather, oxen must carry them (Isaiah 46:1). In dramatic contrast, the Lord says, “I have made you and I will bear you; I will sustain you and deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4). Only the living God shoulders our burdens (Psalm 55:22; Matthew 11:28). But they themselves go into captivity The final humiliation is transport to enemy territory. When Cyrus conquers Babylon, its idols are hauled off as war trophies, paralleling how Nebuchadnezzar once seized the vessels of God’s temple (Daniel 1:2). Even the spiritual forces behind the idols are destined for defeat; Revelation 18:2 pictures the fall of Babylon’s system in ultimate, cosmic captivity. Trusting in anything less than the Sovereign Lord ends in the same ruin. summary Isaiah 46:2 paints a vivid reversal: idols once exalted now crouch, powerless to save, finally carted away as cargo. The verse calls us to forsake every substitute for God and rest in the One who carries His people from birth to old age—and never, ever cowers. (2) They could not deliver the burden.—The deities are, for the moment, distinguished from their images. They are powerless to rescue them. So far as they have a soul or being at all, that very being is carried away captive.Verse 2. - They stoop, they bow down together; i.e. all the Babylonian gods would suffer equally - not one would be able to protect himself. They could not deliver the burden. A distinction is here made between the god and the idol, which have hitherto been identified. The god was, in each case, unable to deliver, or save from capture, the heavy "burden" of gold, or silver, or bronze (i.e. his own image) which was carried off on the back of the "weary beast." On the contrary, the gods themselves - the "souls" of the images, immanent in them - were carried off with the images into captivity.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The gods cower;קָרְס֤וּ (qā·rə·sū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7164: To bend down, stoop, crouch they crouch כָֽרְעוּ֙ (ḵā·rə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3766: To bend the knee, to sink, to prostrate together, יַחְדָּ֔ו (yaḥ·dāw) Adverb Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly unable יָכְל֖וּ (yā·ḵə·lū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3201: To be able, have power to relieve מַלֵּ֣ט (mal·lêṭ) Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks the burden; מַשָּׂ֑א (maś·śā) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire but they וְנַפְשָׁ֖ם (wə·nap̄·šām) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion themselves go הָלָֽכָה׃ (hā·lā·ḵāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk into captivity. בַּשְּׁבִ֥י (baš·šə·ḇî) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7628: Exiled, captured, exile, booty Additonal Resources Isaiah 46:2 Blue Letter BibleIsaiah 46:2 Bible Gateway Isaiah 46:2 Bible.com Isaiah 46:2 NIV |
    |