Isaiah 46:1

Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.

² The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

³ “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.

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: Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.
ASV: Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [beast].
DARBY: Bel is bowed down, Nebo bendeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things ye carried are laid on, a burden to the weary [beast].
BLB: Bel bows down, Nebo is stooping low; their idols are on the beasts and on the cattle, [these] carried by you⁺ [were] heavy laden a burden to the weary.

ÅB: Bel[^1] segner, Nebo faller om; deres bilder overgis til dyr og fe; de som dere bar[^2], legges som en byrde på de trette dyr.
OTB: Bel bøyer seg, Nebo synker sammen; deres avguder bæres av dyr og fe. Bildene som dere bærer er tunge, en byrde for de trette.
B1930: Bel segner, Nebo faller om; deres billeder overgis til dyr og fe; de som I bar, legges som en byrde på de trette dyr. / < to av Babels avguder; JER 50, 2.> / < JES 45, 20.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 21:9
Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:44
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:2
“Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:52
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will punish her idols, and throughout her land the wounded will groan.
Read in context
Isaiah 41:6–7
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
Read in context
1 Samuel 5:3
When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place.
Read in context
Jeremiah 48:1–25
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.
Read in context
Exodus 12:12
On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.
Read in context