Isaiah 44:19

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.”

18 They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.

And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

20 He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

21 Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, and you are My servant; O Israel, I will never forget you.

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
And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
KJV
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
WEB
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
ASV
And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
DARBY
And none taketh it to heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire, and have also baked bread upon the coals thereof, I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it], and with the rest thereof shall I make an abomination? shall I bow down to a block of wood?
BLB
And no one turns [it] back to his heart, and there is no knowledge and no understanding to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire, and also I have baked bread on its coals [and] roasted meat, and I have eaten. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”
ÅB
Han[^3] tar seg det ikke til hjerte, og han har ikke klokskap og forstand nok til å si: Halvdelen av det har jeg brent opp med ild, jeg har også bakt brød over glørne av det, jeg steker kjøtt og spiser, og resten av det skulle jeg gjøre til en styggedom, for en treklubbe skulle jeg falle ned!
OTB
Ingen overveier, og det er ingen kunnskap eller forståelse til å si: "Halvparten av det brukte jeg til brensel; jeg bakte til og med brød over dets kull, jeg stekte kjøtt og jeg spiste. Skal jeg lage en avskyelig ting av det som er igjen? Skal jeg bøye meg ned for en trekloss?"
B1930
Han tar sig det ikke til hjerte, og han har ikke klokskap og forstand nok til å si: Halvdelen av det har jeg brent op med ild, jeg har også bakt brød over glørne av det, jeg steker kjøtt og eter, og resten av det skulde jeg gjøre til en vederstyggelighet, for en treklubbe skulde jeg falle ned! / < avgudsdyrkeren.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 27:15

    ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 11:7

    At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 11:5

    Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 5:13

    Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 45:20

    Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 32:46

    he said to them, “Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 23:13

    The king also desecrated the high places east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Corruption, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 40:4

    “Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”

    Read in context