Isaiah 42:17

Faith

¹⁵ I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.

¹⁶ I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.

¹⁸ Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!

¹⁹ Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?

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: But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
KJV: They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
WEB: “Those who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back. They will be utterly disappointed.
ASV: They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.
DARBY: They shall be turned back, they shall be covered with shame, that confide in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
BLB: They will be turned back, they are utterly put to shame—those trusting in the idols, those saying to molten images, ‘You⁺ [are] are our gods.’

ÅB: De skal vike tilbake og bli storlig til skamme de som setter sin lit til utskårne bilder, som sier til støpte bilder: Dere er våre guder.
OTB: De skal bli vendt tilbake og fullstendig til skamme, de som stoler på avguder, som sier til støpte bilder: ‘Dere er våre guder.’
B1930: De skal vike tilbake og bli storlig til skamme de som setter sin lit til utskårne billeder, som sier til støpte billeder: I er våre guder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 97:7
All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
Read in context
Isaiah 1:29
Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:11
Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:16–17
They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:17
From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
Read in context
Exodus 32:8
How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”
Read in context
Exodus 32:4
He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:26–27
As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
Read in context