Text -- Isaiah 46:4-13 (NET)

46:4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you. 46:5 To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared! 46:6 Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it. 46:7 They put it on their shoulder and carry it; they put it in its place and it just stands there; it does not move from its place. Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply; it does not deliver him from his distress. 46:8 Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! 46:9 Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me, 46:10 who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,’ 46:11 who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out. 46:12 Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right. 46:13 I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 46:4

¹ tn Heb “until old age, I am he” (NRSV similar); NLT “I will be your God throughout your lifetime.”

² sn Unlike the weary idol gods, whose images must be carried by animals, the Lord carries his weary people.

NET Notes: Isa 46:6

¹ tn Heb “the reed,” probably referring to the beam of a scales. See BDB 889 s.v. קָנֶה 4.c.

NET Notes: Isa 46:7

¹ tn Or perhaps, “cannot,” here and in the following two lines. The imperfect forms can indicate capability.

NET Notes: Isa 46:8

¹ tn The meaning of the verb אָשַׁשׁ (’ashash, which appears here in the Hitpolel stem) is uncertain. BDB 84 s.v. אשׁשׁ relates it to a root meaning “found, establish” in Arabic; HALOT 100 s.v. II אשׁשׁ gives the meaning “pluck up courage.” The imperative with vav (ו) may indicate purpose following the preceding imperative.

² tn Heb “return [it], rebels, to heart”; NRSV “recall it to mind, you transgressors.”

NET Notes: Isa 46:9

¹ tn Heb “remember the former things, from antiquity”; KJV, ASV “the former things of old.”

² tn Heb “and there is no other” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

NET Notes: Isa 46:10

¹ tn Or “from long ago”; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV “from ancient times.”

NET Notes: Isa 46:11

¹ tn Or, more generally, “a bird of prey” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV; see 18:6).

² tn Heb “spoken”; KJV “I have spoken it.”

NET Notes: Isa 46:12

¹ tn Heb “strong of heart [or, mind]”; KJV “stouthearted”; NAB “fainthearted”; NIV “stubborn-hearted.”

² tn Heb “who are far from righteousness [or perhaps, “deliverance”].”

NET Notes: Isa 46:13

¹ tn Heb “my salvation.” The verb “I am bringing near” is understood by ellipsis (note the previous line).

² tn Heb “I will place in Zion salvation”; NASB “I will grant salvation in Zion.”

³ tn Heb “to Israel my splendor”; KJV, ASV “for Israel my glory.”