Isaiah 41:29

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.

American Standard Version (1901)

Behold, all of them, their works are vanity and nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.

Bible in Basic English

Truly they are all nothing, their works are nothing and of no value: their metal images are of no more use than wind.

Free Bible Version

Look at them! They're all evil, deceptive things. They can't do anything! They're just idols full of hot air! ”

Geneva Bible 1599

Beholde, they are all vanitie: their worke is of nothing, their images are wind and confusion.

King James (Authorized) Version

Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

One Unity Resource Bible

Behold, all of them, their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Translation for Translators

Think about it: Those idols are all useless, worthless [DOU] things. They are as meaningless as [MET] the wind.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Look, all of them are nothing, and their deeds are nothing; their cast metal figures are wind and emptiness.

Noah Webster Bible

Behold, they are all vanity, their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

World English Bible

Behold, all of their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Young's Literal Translation

'Lo, all of them [are] vanity, Nought [are] their works, Wind and emptiness their molten images!'

Context

Meaningless Idols

²⁸When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say. ²⁹See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.

Summary

In Isaiah 41:29, the prophet Isaiah highlights the futility of idol worship by pointing out the inability of idols to do anything, whether good or evil. This verse underscores the sovereignty and uniqueness of God, contrasting His power with the lifeless nature of idols. It serves as a reminder to the Israelites, and all believers, to put their trust in the living God who alone can act on behalf of His people. The verse challenges the notion of relying on man-made objects for help and calls for a return to wholehearted devotion to the Almighty.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

This closing declaration of Jehovah terminates with similar words of wrath and contempt to those with which the judicial process ended in Isa 41:24. "See them all, vanity; nothingness are their productions, wind and desolation their molten images." מעשׂיהם are not the works of the idols, but, as the parallel shows, the productions (plural, as in Eze 6:6; Jer 1:16) of the idolaters - in other words, the idols themselves - a parallel expression to נסכּיהם (from נסך, as in Isa 48:5 = massēkhâh, Isa 42:17). אפס און is an emotional asyndeton (Ges. 155, 1, a). The address is thus rounded off by returning to the idolaters, with whom it first started. The first part, vv. 1-24, contains the judicial pleadings; the second part, Isa 41:25., recapitulates the evidence and the verdict.

Isaiah 41:29

Meaningless Idols

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.

American Standard Version (1901)

Behold, all of them, their works are vanity and nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.

Bible in Basic English

Truly they are all nothing, their works are nothing and of no value: their metal images are of no more use than wind.

Free Bible Version

Look at them! They're all evil, deceptive things. They can't do anything! They're just idols full of hot air! ”

Geneva Bible 1599

Beholde, they are all vanitie: their worke is of nothing, their images are wind and confusion.

King James (Authorized) Version

Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

One Unity Resource Bible

Behold, all of them, their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Translation for Translators

Think about it: Those idols are all useless, worthless [DOU] things. They are as meaningless as [MET] the wind.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Look, all of them are nothing, and their deeds are nothing; their cast metal figures are wind and emptiness.

Noah Webster Bible

Behold, they are all vanity, their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

World English Bible

Behold, all of their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.

Young's Literal Translation

'Lo, all of them [are] vanity, Nought [are] their works, Wind and emptiness their molten images!'

Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Isaiah 41:29

Verse

Context

Meaningless Idols

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Isaiah 41:29

Meaningless Idols

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary