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Text -- Isaiah 46:5 (NET)

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Context
46:5 To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Isaiah, The Book of | Isaiah | God | GOD, 2 | COMPARE | BEAR; BORNE | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
, Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: Isa 46:5 - -- (Isa 40:18, Isa 40:25).

Calvin: Isa 46:5 - -- 5.To whom will ye liken and compare me? Here the Prophet introduces the Lord as remonstrating with the Jews, because they distrusted and doubted his ...

5.To whom will ye liken and compare me? Here the Prophet introduces the Lord as remonstrating with the Jews, because they distrusted and doubted his power, and, in a word, because they put him on a level with idols, and even placed idols above him. When they saw the Babylonians enjoy prosperity, they thought that their hope was gone, and that the remembrance of the covenant had faded away, and hardly believed that God was in heaven or took any concern about them. On this account the Lord complains that they ascribe some power to idols, and that thus they east his power into the shade. This subject was formerly discussed under the forty-second, forty-third, and following chapters; and therefore it is unnecessary to repeat observations in each word.

In order that they may not estimate the power of God by the present condition of things, he bids them raise their minds higher. In like manner, when we see the Papists enjoy prosperity, if we should entertain doubts whether or not they possessed the true religion, we would need to be dissuaded by the same exhortation; for this would be to compare God with idols. And we ought carefully to observe this circumstance, the forgetfulness or disregard of which has led many commentators absurdly to weaken this statement, by supposing that the Prophet merely attacks superstitious persons who ascribe some divine power to wood or stone, because this degrades the glory of God by comparing him to dead things. But I have no doubt that he reproves that sinful and wicked conclusion by which the people, when they were weighed down by adversity, imagined that God was favorable to the Babylonians; for, if he had been favorable to them, it would follow that he approves of idolatry, and thus his honor would have been conveyed to dumb creatures. We may likewise draw from it a general doctrine that God is robbed of his glory, when he is compared to dumb and senseless things, as Paul also applies the passage appropriately. (Act 17:29.)

TSK: Isa 46:5 - -- Isa 40:18, Isa 40:25; Exo 15:11; Psa 86:8, Psa 89:6, Psa 89:8, Psa 113:5; Jer 10:6, Jer 10:7, Jer 10:16; Phi 2:6; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Isa 46:5 - -- To whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isa 40:18, Isa 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatr...

To whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isa 40:18, Isa 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of trusting in idols. This is a subject that the prophet often dwells on. The argument here is derived from the fact that the idols of Babylon were unable to defend the city, and were themselves carried away in triumph Isa 46:1-2. If so, how vain was it to rely on them! how foolish to suppose that the living and true God could resemble such weak and defenseless blocks!

Poole: Isa 46:5 - -- If you are tempted or inclined at any time to exchange me for an idol , do me and yourselves this right, seriously to consider, whether you can fin...

If you are tempted or inclined at any time to exchange me for an idol , do me and yourselves this right, seriously to consider, whether you can find another God who will be more able and more ready to do you good than I have been; which if you can do, I am content you should prefer him before me; but if not, as will appear by what I am now saying, Isa 46:6,7 , then it is best for you to adhere to your ancient God and Friend.

Gill: Isa 46:5 - -- To whom will ye liken me?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exo 20:4 what likeness could be thought of? is th...

To whom will ye liken me?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exo 20:4 what likeness could be thought of? is there any creature in heaven or earth, among all the angels or sons of men, to whom God can be likened, who has done such works of power, and acts of grace, as to care and provide not only for the house of Israel, from the beginning of their state to the close of it, but for all his creatures from the beginning of life to the end thereof, yea, from the beginning of the world to the end of it, and has shown such special grace and goodness to his chosen people, in such a kind and tender manner?

And make me equal; or any equal to him in power and goodness, since all are but worms, dust, and ashes, as the small dust of the balance, yea, as nothing in comparison of him.

And compare me, that we may be like? which is impossible to be done; for what comparison or likeness can there be between the Creator and a creature, between an infinite, immense, and eternal Being, possessed of all perfections, and a finite, frail, imperfect one? see Isa 40:18. To pretend to frame a likeness of such a Being, is to act the absurd and stupid part the Heathens do, described in the following verses.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

Geneva Bible: Isa 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and ( g ) compare me, that we may be like? ( g ) The people of God setting their own calamity, and the...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Isa 46:1-13 - --1 The idols of Babylon could not save themselves.3 God saves his people to the end.5 Idols are not comparable to God for power,12 or present salvation...

MHCC: Isa 46:5-13 - --Here the folly of those who made idols, and then prayed to them, is exposed. How does the profuseness of idolaters shame the niggardliness of many who...

Matthew Henry: Isa 46:5-13 - -- The deliverance of Israel by the destruction of Babylon (the general subject of all these chapters) is here insisted upon, and again promised, for t...

Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 46:3-5 - -- From this approaching reduction of the gods of Babylon to their original nothingness, several admonitions are now derived. The first admonition is a...

Constable: Isa 40:1--55:13 - --IV. Israel's calling in the world chs. 40--55 This part of Isaiah picks up a theme from chapters 1-39 and develo...

Constable: Isa 40:1--48:22 - --A. God's grace to Israel chs. 40-48 These chapters particularly address the questions of whether God cou...

Constable: Isa 44:23--48:1 - --3. The Lord's redemption of His servant 44:23-47:15 Isaiah began this section of the book dealin...

Constable: Isa 45:14--47:1 - --The God of redemption 45:14-46:13 This section develops the ideas that preceded by unfolding the characteristics of Yahweh that His people needed to a...

Guzik: Isa 46:1-13 - --Isaiah 46 - Dead Idols and the Living God A. The idols of the nations are carried into captivity. 1. (1-2) The false gods are carried away on carria...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Isaiah (Book Introduction) ISAIAH, son of Amoz (not Amos); contemporary of Jonah, Amos, Hosea, in Israel, but younger than they; and of Micah, in Judah. His call to a higher deg...

JFB: Isaiah (Outline) PARABLE OF JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD. (Isa. 5:1-30) SIX DISTINCT WOES AGAINST CRIMES. (Isa. 5:8-23) (Lev 25:13; Mic 2:2). The jubilee restoration of posses...

TSK: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah has, with singular propriety, been denominated the Evangelical Prophet, on account of the number and variety of his prophecies concerning the a...

TSK: Isaiah 46 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Isa 46:1, The idols of Babylon could not save themselves; Isa 46:3, God saves his people to the end; Isa 46:5, Idols are not comparable t...

Poole: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT THE teachers of the ancient church were of two sorts: 1. Ordinary, the priests and Levites. 2. Extraordinary, the prophets. These we...

Poole: Isaiah 46 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 46 The ruin of Babylon and her idols, Isa 46:1,2 . God’ s love and faithfulness to the Jews, Isa 46:3,4 . Idols not to be compared wit...

MHCC: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and...

MHCC: Isaiah 46 (Chapter Introduction) (Isa 46:1-4) The idols could not save themselves, but God saves his people. (Isa 46:5-13) The folly of worshipping idols.

Matthew Henry: Isaiah (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Isaiah Prophet is a title that sounds very great to those that understand it, t...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah 46 (Chapter Introduction) God, by the prophet here, designing shortly to deliver them out of their captivity, prepared them for that deliverance by possessing them with a de...

Constable: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and writer The title of this book of the Bible, as is true of the o...

Constable: Isaiah (Outline) Outline I. Introduction chs. 1-5 A. Israel's condition and God's solution ch. 1 ...

Constable: Isaiah Isaiah Bibliography Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah. 1846, 1847. Revised ed. ...

Haydock: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS. INTRODUCTION. This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, (Ecclesiasticus xlviii. 25.) the great prophet; from t...

Gill: Isaiah (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH This book is called, in the New Testament, sometimes "the Book of the Words of the Prophet Esaias", Luk 3:4 sometimes only t...

Gill: Isaiah 46 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 46 This chapter contains a prophecy of the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, and of the deliverance of the Jews; who are encourage...

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