Isaiah 46:7

⁵ To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

⁶ They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.

They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

⁸ Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!

⁹ Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

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: They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
KJV: They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
WEB: They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble.
ASV: They bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it standeth, from its place shall it not remove: yea, one may cry unto it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
DARBY: They bear him on the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place; there he standeth, he doth not remove from his place: yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not; he saveth him not out of his trouble.
BLB: they bear it on a shoulder, they carry it and set it in its place, and it stands—from its place it will not move; though one may cry out to it, and it will not answer; from his distress it will not save him.

ÅB: de løfter ham opp, de bærer ham på skulderen og setter ham på hans plass, og han står der og flytter seg ikke fra sitt sted; om noen roper til ham, svarer han ikke og redder ham ikke av nød.
OTB: De løfter det på skuldrene og bærer det; de setter det på plass, og der står det. Det kan ikke flytte seg fra sitt sted. Selv om noen roper til det, kan det ikke svare; det kan ikke redde dem fra deres nød.
B1930: de løfter ham op, de bærer ham på skulderen og setter ham på hans plass, og han står der og flytter sig ikke fra sitt sted; om nogen roper til ham, svarer han ikke og redder ham ikke av nød.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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
Jeremiah 10:5
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
Read in context
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.
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
Jonah 1:5
The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Read in context
1 Kings 18:40
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
Read in context
1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.
Read in context
Jonah 1:14–16
So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.”
Read in context