Isaiah 46:5
Isaiah 46:5 in Multiple Translations
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?
Can you think of anyone is like me? Can you consider anyone to be my equal? Can you compare anyone with me, as if we were alike?
To whom will ye make me like or make me equall, or copare me, that I should be like him?
To whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
“To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom have you likened me, and made me equal, and compared me, and made me like?
There is certainly [RHQ] no one to whom I can be compared. There is [RHQ] no one who is equal to me [DOU].
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 46:5
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 46:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לְ/מִ֥י
תְדַמְי֖וּ/נִי
וְ/תַשְׁו֑וּ
וְ/תַמְשִׁל֖וּ/נִי
וְ/נִדְמֶֽה
לְ/מִ֥י
mîy
H4310
who?
Prep | Part
תְדַמְי֖וּ/נִי
dâmâh
H1819
to resemble
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp | Suff
וְ/תַשְׁו֑וּ
shâvâh
H7737
be like
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp
וְ/תַמְשִׁל֖וּ/נִי
mâshal
H4911
to liken
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp | Suff
וְ/נִדְמֶֽה
dâmâh
H1819
to resemble
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 46:5
לְ/מִ֥י
mîy
H4310
"who?"
Prep | Part
This word is used to ask questions like who, whose, or whom. It can also be used to express a wish, like would that or whoever. It appears in many forms throughout the Bible, often in phrases like O that or what.
Definition: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Usage: Occurs in 342 OT verses. KJV: any (man), [idiom] he, [idiom] him, [phrase] O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), [phrase] would to God. See also: Genesis 3:11; 2 Samuel 15:4; Psalms 4:7.
תְדַמְי֖וּ/נִי
dâmâh
H1819
"to resemble"
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp | Suff
To resemble means to compare or liken something, often used to describe a similarity. In the Bible, this word is used to make comparisons or analogies, like in the parables of Jesus where he compares the kingdom of God to everyday things.
Definition: 1) to be like, resemble 1a) (Qal) to be like, resemble 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to liken, compare 1b2) to imagine, think 1c) (Hithpael) to make oneself like 1d) (Niphal) Aramaic equivalent: de.mah (דְּמָה "be like" H1821)
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes. See also: Numbers 33:56; Song of Solomon 8:14; Psalms 48:10.
וְ/תַשְׁו֑וּ
shâvâh
H7737
"be like"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp
This word means to set or place something, and it is used to describe the act of leveling or equalizing something. It can also mean to adjust or compare things, and it is used in various contexts in the Bible.
Definition: 1) to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be like 1a2) equivalent (participle) 1a3) to set, place 1a4) setting (participle) 1b) (Piel) to level, smooth, still 1c) (Hiphil) to make like 1d) (Nithpael) to be alike Aramaic equivalent: she.vah (שְׁוָה "be like" H7739A)
Usage: Occurs in 21 OT verses. KJV: avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-) like, make plain, profit, reckon. See also: 2 Samuel 22:34; Psalms 131:2; Psalms 16:8.
וְ/תַמְשִׁל֖וּ/נִי
mâshal
H4911
"to liken"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp | Suff
To use a proverb means to speak in a way that teaches a lesson, often using metaphors or poems, as seen in Jesus' parables in the Gospels. This word is about comparing things to make a point. It appears in books like Proverbs and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to represent, liken, be like 1a) (Niphal) to liken, be like, be similar 1b) (Hiphil) to compare 1c) (Hithpael) to become like
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: be(-come) like, compare, use (as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter. See also: Numbers 21:27; Isaiah 46:5; Psalms 28:1.
וְ/נִדְמֶֽה
dâmâh
H1819
"to resemble"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cp
To resemble means to compare or liken something, often used to describe a similarity. In the Bible, this word is used to make comparisons or analogies, like in the parables of Jesus where he compares the kingdom of God to everyday things.
Definition: 1) to be like, resemble 1a) (Qal) to be like, resemble 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to liken, compare 1b2) to imagine, think 1c) (Hithpael) to make oneself like 1d) (Niphal) Aramaic equivalent: de.mah (דְּמָה "be like" H1821)
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think, use similitudes. See also: Numbers 33:56; Song of Solomon 8:14; Psalms 48:10.
Study Notes — Isaiah 46:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 46:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 46:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 46:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 46:5
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 46:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
- Sermons on Isaiah 46:5
Context — Babylon’s Idols
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.
4Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
5To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6They 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. 7They 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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 40:18 | To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? |
| 2 | Isaiah 40:25 | “To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One. |
| 3 | Psalms 89:6 | For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD? |
| 4 | Psalms 86:8 | O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 10:16 | The Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance— the LORD of Hosts is His name. |
| 6 | Philippians 2:6 | Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, |
| 7 | Jeremiah 10:6–7 | There is none like You, O LORD. You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. |
| 8 | Colossians 1:15 | The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. |
| 9 | Exodus 15:11 | Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? |
| 10 | Psalms 113:5 | Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high? |
Isaiah 46:5 Summary
[Isaiah 46:5 reminds us that God is one of a kind, and there is no one like Him. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and completely unique, as seen in Psalms 115:3, where it says, 'Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.' This verse encourages us to worship God alone and to trust in His power and goodness, as stated in Deuteronomy 6:13-14, where it says, 'Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.' By recognizing God's uniqueness, we can deepen our reverence and awe for Him, and we can learn to trust Him more fully with our lives.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main point of Isaiah 46:5?
The main point of Isaiah 46:5 is that God is unique and incomparable to any other being or idol, as He asks, 'To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal?' This emphasizes His sovereignty and power, as seen in Psalms 86:8-10, where it says, 'There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours.'
Why does God ask the question in Isaiah 46:5?
God asks the question in Isaiah 46:5 to highlight the foolishness of idolatry and to remind His people of His unique nature, as seen in Isaiah 44:6-7, where He says, 'I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.'
How does Isaiah 46:5 relate to our worship of God?
Isaiah 46:5 reminds us that our worship should be directed to the one true God, who is incomparable and unique, as stated in Exodus 20:3-5, where it says, 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
What can we learn from God's question in Isaiah 46:5 about our own limitations?
God's question in Isaiah 46:5 teaches us about our own limitations and the danger of pride, as seen in Proverbs 16:18, where it says, 'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have tried to compare God to something or someone else, and how has that affected my relationship with Him?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe for God's uniqueness and power in my daily life?
- What are some idols or false gods that I may be unintentionally worshiping, and how can I turn away from them and toward the one true God?
- How does the truth of God's incomparability challenge me to trust Him more fully and to surrender my life to His sovereignty?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 46:5
To whom will ye liken me?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exodus 20:4 what likeness could be thought of?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 46:5
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? To whom will ye liken me - (Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25.)
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
If you are tempted or inclined at any time to exchange me for an idol, do me and yourselves this right, seriously to consider, whether you can find another God who will be more able and more ready to do you good than I have been; which if you can do, I am content you should prefer him before me; but if not, as will appear by what I am now saying, ,7, then it is best for you to adhere to your ancient God and Friend.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
Isaiah 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Ver. 5. To whom, then, will ye liken me? &c., ] q.d., To which of your paramours? for here the Lord returneth to his discourse against idolaters and their idols, earumque inanitatem et inopiam demonstrat, inveighing against them with no less stomach and indignation than a jealous husband against his adulteress’ s gallants. Let every godless person, who idoliseth his lusts, think he heareth God thus bespeaking him, as in this text. Pathos habent verba me et cui. - A Lapide. Ibid.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
(5) To whom will ye liken me?—The argument against idolatry is renewed in nearly its old form (Isaiah 40:18-25; Isaiah 44:9-17). The fate of Bel and Nebo is urged against those who thought that they might worship Jehovah as those deities had been worshipped. Such had been the sin of the calves at Bethel and at Dan. Like it had been the act of Israel when it had carried the ark into battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:5).
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 46:5
5. Comp. the similar question of Isa 40:18, which as here introduces a sarcastic description of the manufacture of idols.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 46:5
To whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of trusting in idols.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 46:5
5. To whom will ye liken me — Compare with chap. Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25. Is the compassionate and infinite Jehovah to be compared with the contemptible idols of the heathen?
Sermons on Isaiah 46:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Attributes of God (Series 1): The Perfection of God by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the greatness and holiness of God. He compares the excitement of a child playing with a ball to our attempts to impress God with our achieve |
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The Majesty of Our God by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, Dave Wilkerson and his wife discuss the power of experiencing God's presence firsthand rather than just watching it in films or hearing about it in class. They anno |
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Guidelines to Freedom Part 2 - Graven Mistakes by Alistair Begg | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the influence of entertainment on our culture and how it has affected public discourse. He emphasizes the longing within every person to get |
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The Incomparable One by Carl Armerding | The sermon transcript discusses the quest for security and the tendency of people to seek it in worldly things rather than in God. The speaker emphasizes the need for a ministry of |
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The Helpless State of the Sinner Under Condemnation by Philip Doddridge | Philip Doddridge delivers a powerful sermon urging sinners to consider how they can be saved from impending ruin, emphasizing that salvation cannot be attained through personal off |
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Leaning Toward Heresy by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer warns against the heresy that arises when the Christian church adopts a distorted view of God, leading to a tragic decline in the understanding of His majesty and presen |
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Praise and Thanksgiving: Praise the Creator by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Revelation chapter 4 and highlights the central theme of worship in heaven. The chapter describes John's arrival in heaven, where he sees a |