Isaiah 44:9
New International Version
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.

New Living Translation
How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame.

English Standard Version
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.

Berean Standard Bible
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.

King James Bible
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

New King James Version
Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.

New American Standard Bible
Those who fashion an idol are all futile, and their treasured things are of no benefit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

NASB 1995
Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

NASB 1977
Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

Legacy Standard Bible
Those who form a graven image are all of them futile, and their desirable things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

Amplified Bible
All who make carved idols are nothing. Their precious objects are worthless [to them], and their own witnesses (worshipers) fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.

Christian Standard Bible
All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure benefits no one. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure does not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.

American Standard Version
They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses see not, nor know: that they may be put to shame.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
All of the Craftsman who make images are worthless, and there is no gain by their works which they lusted to make, and Craftsman testified they had made them, that they do not see, and they do not hear and they do not know

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But they that framed false gods did not then hearken; and they that graved images are all vain, performing their own desires, which shall not profit them, but they shall be ashamed

Contemporary English Version
Those people who make idols are nothing themselves, and the idols they treasure are just as worthless. Worshipers of idols are blind, stupid, and foolish.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The makers of idols are all of them nothing, and their best beloved things shall not profit them. They are their witnesses, that they do not see, nor understand, that they may be ashamed.

English Revised Version
They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit: and their own witnesses see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.

Good News Translation
All those who make idols are worthless, and the gods they prize so highly are useless. Those who worship these gods are blind and ignorant--and they will be disgraced.

International Standard Version
Now, all the forming of images means nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their own witnesses cannot see, and they know nothing. So they will be put to shame.

JPS Tanakh 1917
They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity, And their delectable things shall not profit; And their own witnesses see not, nor know; That they may be ashamed.

Literal Standard Version
Framers of a carved image, all of them [are] emptiness, | And their desirable things do not profit, | And they [are] their own witnesses, | They do not see, nor know, that they may be ashamed.

Majority Standard Bible
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.

New American Bible
Those who fashion idols are all nothing; their precious works are of no avail. They are their witnesses: they see nothing, know nothing, and so they are put to shame.

NET Bible
All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.

New Revised Standard Version
All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know. And so they will be put to shame.

New Heart English Bible
Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses do not see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.

Webster's Bible Translation
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

World English Bible
Everyone who makes a carved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.

Young's Literal Translation
Framers of a graven image are all of them emptiness, And their desirable things do not profit, And their own witnesses they are, They see not, nor know, that they may be ashamed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD has Chosen Israel
8Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.” 9All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. 10Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image--an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman--and sets it up in secret.' And let all the people say, 'Amen!'

2 Kings 19:18
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone--the work of human hands.

Psalm 97:7
All worshipers of images are put to shame--those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!

Psalm 115:8
Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.

Isaiah 26:11
O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!

Isaiah 41:24
Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

Isaiah 41:29
See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.


Treasury of Scripture

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

make

Isaiah 41:24,29
Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you…

Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Psalm 97:7
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

and their

Isaiah 2:20,21
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; …

Isaiah 37:18-20
Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries, …

Isaiah 46:1,2,6,7
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast

delectable.

Daniel 11:38
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

their own

Isaiah 44:18,20
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand…

Isaiah 42:18
Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

Isaiah 43:8
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Jump to Previous
Ashamed Blind Delectable Delight Desire Disappointed Engraved Fail Fashion Futile Graven Idols Image Makes Pictured Precious Profit Servants Shame Speak Treasure Vain Vanity Witnesses Worthless
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Ashamed Blind Delectable Delight Desire Disappointed Engraved Fail Fashion Futile Graven Idols Image Makes Pictured Precious Profit Servants Shame Speak Treasure Vain Vanity Witnesses Worthless
Isaiah 44
1. God comforts the church with his promises
7. The vanity of idols
9. And folly of idol makers
21. He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence














(9) Are all of them vanity . . .--Once more Isaiah's favourite tohu--the symbol of the primeval chaos.

Their delectable things . . .--The generic term used for works of art (Isaiah 2:16), specially for what men delight to worship. (Comp. Isaiah 64:11; Lamentations 1:10.)

They are their own witnesses . . .--Better, their witnesses (i.e., the worshippers who sing their praises) see not and know not.

Verses 9-20. - The uniqueness of God having been set forth, the prophet now turns to the images and the image-makers, overwhelming them with his scorn and ridicule. The passage may be compared with Jeremiah 10:3-10 and Baruch 6:8-72. Verse 9. - They that make a graven image are... vanity; rather, are confusion. The word used is tohu, which, together with bohu, describes the primitive chaos in Genesis 1:2 (comp. Isaiah 24:10; Isaiah 34:11; Isaiah 40:17, 23; Isaiah 41:29; Isaiah 59:4). Their delectable things shall not profit. "Their delectable things" are their idols, which are "pets, favourites, treasures." These cannot possibly be of any advantage to them. They are their own witnesses. Their powerlessness stands confessed in their very appearance, since they are manifestly sightless and senseless. That they may be ashamed. The subject of this clause cannot be sought in the earlier part of the verse. It is the idol-makers that will be put to shame.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כֻּלָּם֙ (kul·lām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

makers
יֹֽצְרֵי־ (yō·ṣə·rê-)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

of idols
פֶ֤סֶל (p̄e·sel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6459: An idol, image

are nothing,
תֹּ֔הוּ (tō·hū)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8414: A desolation, desert, a worthless thing, in vain

and the things they treasure
וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖ם (wa·ḥă·mū·ḏê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2530: To desire, take pleasure in

are worthless.
יוֹעִ֑ילוּ (yō·w·‘î·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3276: To confer or gain profit or benefit

Their witnesses
וְעֵדֵיהֶ֣ם (wə·‘ê·ḏê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

fail to
בַּל־ (bal-)
Adverb
Strong's 1077: A failure, nothing, not at all, lest

see
יִרְא֛וּ (yir·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

or know anything,
יֵדְע֖וּ (yê·ḏə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

so
לְמַ֥עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

they are put to shame.
יֵבֹֽשׁוּ׃ (yê·ḇō·šū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 44:9 Everyone who makes an engraved image (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 44:8
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