Isaiah 44:9
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.
KJV
Plastæ idoli omnes nihil sunt, et amantissima eorum non proderunt eis. Ipsi sunt testes eorum, quia non vident, neque intelligunt, ut confundantur.
Vulgate
οἱ πλάσσοντες καὶ οἱ γλύφοντες, πάντες μάταια, ποιοῦντες τὰ καταθύμια αὐτῶν ἃ οὐκ ὠφελήσει αὐτούς· ἀλλὰ αἰσχυνθήσονται.
LXX
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.
ASV
יֹֽצְרֵי פֶ֤סֶל כֻּלָּ/ם֙ תֹּ֔הוּ וַ/חֲמוּדֵי/הֶ֖ם בַּל יוֹעִ֑ילוּ וְ/עֵדֵי/הֶ֣ם הֵׄ֗מָּׄהׄ בַּל יִרְא֛וּ וּ/בַל יֵדְע֖וּ לְמַ֥עַן יֵבֹֽשׁוּ
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
13 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Themes
Historic Christian voices
8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§2112The first commandment condemns polytheism. It requires man neither to believe in, nor to venerate, other divinities than the one true God. Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of "idols, (of) silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see." These empty idols make their worshippers empty: "Those who make them are like th…
The Holy Ghost, throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, made mention of no other God or Lord, save him who is the true God. 1. Therefore neither would the Lord, nor the Holy Spirit, nor the apostles, have ever named as God, definitely and absolutely, him who was not God, unless he were truly God; nor would they have named any one in his own person Lord, except God the Father r…
Since God as Spirit is in essence invisible and immense, he cannot really be expressed by any art or image. For this reason we are not afraid to say with Scripture that images of God are mere lies. Therefore we reject not only the idols of the Gentiles, but also the images of Christians. Although Christ assumed human nature, yet he did not on that account assume it in order to …
And neither do we honour with many sacrifices and garlands of flowers such deities as men have formed and set in shrines and called gods; since we see that these are soulless and dead, and have not the form of God (for we do not consider that God has such a form as some say that they imitate to His honour), but have the names and forms of those wicked demons which have appeared…
Cross-references
- 1Cor 8:4 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
- 1Kgs 14:9 — But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
- 1Kgs 18:26 — And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered
- 1Sam 12:21 — And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
- 2Cor 4:4 — In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
- 2Kgs 19:18 — And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
- Dan 5:23 — But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and
- Dan 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.
- Dan 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.
- Deut 4:28 — And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
- Deut 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 sa
- Eph 4:18 — Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
- Eph 5:8 — For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
- Exod 20:4 — Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
- Exod 32:4 — And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt
- Gal 4:8 — Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
- Gen 2:25 — And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
- Hab 2:18 — What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
- Hab 2:18 — What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
- Hos 8:4 — They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
- Isa 2:20 — 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;
- Isa 37:18 — Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,
- Isa 41:24 — Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
- Isa 41:29 — Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
- Isa 42:18 — Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
- Isa 43:8 — Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
- Isa 44:18 — They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
- Isa 44:18 — They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
- Isa 44:20 — He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
- Isa 45:16 — They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.
- Isa 45:20 — Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
- Isa 46:1 — 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.
- Isa 46:6 — They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
- Isa 65:13 — Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be a
- Jer 2:5 — Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
- Jer 2:11 — Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
- Jer 2:13 — For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
- Jer 2:27 — Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, a
- Jer 10:3 — For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
- Jer 10:3 — For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.