Isaiah 41:26
24 Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.
25 I have raised up one from the north, and he has come— one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay.
Who has declared this from the beginning, so that we may know, and from times past, so that we may say: ‘He was right’? No one announced it, no one foretold it, no one heard your words.
27 I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
28 When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Who has declared this from the beginning, so that we may know, and from times past, so that we may say: ‘He was right’? No one announced it, no one foretold it, no one heard your words.
- KJV
- Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
- WEB
- Who has declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and before, that we may say, ‘He is right’? Surely, there is no one who declares. Surely, there is no one who shows. Surely, there is no one who hears your words.
- ASV
- Who hath declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, [He is] right? yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.
- DARBY
- Who hath declared [it] from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, [It is] right? Indeed, there is none that declareth; no, none that sheweth; no, none that heareth your words.
- BLB
- Who has declared [this] from the beginning, that we might know, and from before the face, that we may say, ‘[He is] right? Surely, no one declared [it]; surely, no one proclaimed [it]; surely no one heard your⁺ words.
- ÅB
- Hvem har kunngjort dette fra begynnelsen, så vi kunne vite det, og fra fordums tid, så vi kunne si: Han har rett? Ingen har kunngjort noe, ingen har forkynt noe, og ingen har hørt dere si noe.
- OTB
- Hvem har erklært dette fra begynnelsen, så vi kunne vite, eller fra tidligere tider, så vi kan si, 'Han har rett'? Ingen erklærte det, ingen forkynte det, ingen hørte noen ord fra dere.
- B1930
- Hvem har kunngjort dette fra begynnelsen, så vi kunde vite det, og fra fordums tid, så vi kunde si: Han har rett? Ingen har kunngjort noget, ingen har forkynt noget, og ingen har hørt eder si noget.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 44:7
Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.
Read in contextIsaiah 41:22
“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
Read in contextIsaiah 45:21
Speak up and present your case— yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:18–20
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Read in contextIsaiah 43:9
All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
Read in context