Isaiah 46

The Idols of Babylon Fall

1Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols have become a load for beast and cattle. The things you carry are loaded as a burden on a weary animal.

2They stoop, they bow down together; they could not rescue the burden, and they themselves have gone into captivity.

3Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been carried from the womb, borne from the belly:

4Even to old age I am he, and to gray hair I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and I will rescue.

To Whom Will You Liken Me

5To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we should be alike?

6Those who pour out gold from the purse and weigh silver on the balance—they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down, indeed they worship.

7They lift it on the shoulder, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands—from its place it does not move. Even if one cries out to it, it does not answer; from his distress it does not save him.

8Remember this and stand firm; bring it back to mind, you rebels.

9Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

10declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and all my pleasure I will accomplish’;

11calling a bird of prey from the east, from a far land the man of my counsel. Yes, I have spoken; yes, I will bring it to pass. I have formed it; yes, I will do it.

12Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, who are far from righteousness:

13I have brought near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay. And I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.

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Cross-references in this chapter

Where this passage connects across Scripture — each link typed and reasoned, part of the AIT Bible Nexus Chart.

The Idols of Babylon Fall

• thematic Jeremiah 50:2 — Both name Bel and Nebo (Merodach) as Babylonian gods put to shame and brought down.
• thematic Psalms 71:18 — Shared theme of God sustaining and not forsaking his people even to old age and gray hair.

To Whom Will You Liken Me

• allusion Isaiah 40:18 — Repeats the rhetorical challenge that God cannot be likened or compared to any idol.
• allusion Isaiah 45:5 — Repeats the emphatic monotheistic declaration that there is no other God beside the LORD.
• thematic Isaiah 44:12 — Both mock the manufacture of an idol by a craftsman who then worships his own product.
• thematic Isaiah 55:11 — Both affirm that God's counsel and word will surely stand and accomplish his purpose.
• thematic Isaiah 41:2 — Both refer to God calling a conqueror from the east (Cyrus) to accomplish his purpose.
• thematic Isaiah 44:28 — The 'man of my counsel' from the east is Cyrus, named elsewhere as God's chosen agent.
• thematic Psalms 115:4 — Both describe idols that must be carried, cannot move, and cannot answer or save those who cry to them.