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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Isaiah 41:23

Show the things that. are to come hereafter, at any time in the future, for prophecy is one of the strongest proofs of divinity, that we may know that ye are gods, duly accept them as such; yea, do good or do evil, anything at all that will at least show life, that we may be dismayed and behold it together, concede that they had done wrong in opposing the claims of the idols, and be filled with fear. The entire section is built up in an ironical manner of speaking which greatly heightens the effect of the prophet's argument: the living God over against the helpless, the dead idols!

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See also Isaiah 41:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Isaiah 41:23. _THAT WE MAY BE DISMAYED, AND BEHOLD_ IT _TOGETHER_ - "Then shall we be struck at once with admiration and terror."] The word ונרא _venere_ is written imperfectly in the _Hebrew_...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THAT WE MAY KNOW THAT YE ARE GODS - The prediction of future events is the highest evidence of omniscience, and of course of divinity. In this passage it is admitted that if they could do it, it would...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 41 Jehovah's Challenge 1. _The address to the islands and the peoples (Isaiah 41:1)_ 2. _Jehovah's question, Cyrus and his ways predicted (Isaiah 41:2)_ 3. Nations troubled on account of Cyru...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    YAHWEH'S CHALLENGE TO THE GODS OF THE NATIONS. The nations are bidden to produce their case and bring forward their champions their idols (so emend strong reasons). Let the idols show that in days gon...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _do good, or do evil_ i.e. "do anything whatever, good or bad" (Jeremiah 10:5; Zephaniah 1:12), give any sign of vitality or intelligence. _that we may be dismayed_ Rather: THAT WE MAY STARE (in aston...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The argument of Isaiah 41:1 is resumed, but now the idols (Isaiah 41:23), not their worshippers, are addressed. Foreknowledge is the test of divinity. Can the idols produce any instance whatever of th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LET THEM BRING THEM FORTH— God, teaching his people the right method of disputing against idolaters, draws an argument, and urges it strongly, from the certain prediction of future contingencies of gr...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    d. GOOD TIDINGS TEXT: Isaiah 41:21-29 21 Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them forth, and declare unto us what shall...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. DO GOOD, OR DO EVIL - give any proof at al...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    41:23 astonished, (b-27) Or 'examine.' see Note d, ver. 10....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CYRUS GOD'S AGENT 1-7. Jehovah and the gods of the heathen compared as in a court of judgment. Jehovah has raised up Cyrus and given him victory, in order to carry out His good purposes, while the he...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD PROMISES COMFORT TO HIS PEOPLE ISAIAH CHAPTER S 40 TO 48 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 41 KNOW WHO REALLY CONTROLS EVENTS V1 God speaks: ‘You people in distant...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    No *idols can announce what is going to happen. That is something that only the *Lord God can do. • See my note on Isaiah 44:9-20. LORD ~ God’s personal name in the Bible. In the original language, G...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    DO GOOD, OR DO EVIL. — The challenge reminds us of Elijah’s on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:27). Can the heathen point to any good or evil fortune which, as having been predicted by this or that deity, mi...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הַגִּ֨ידוּ֙ הָ אֹתִיֹּ֣ות לְ אָחֹ֔ור וְ נֵ֣דְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER I THE DATE OF Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 43:1;...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    WHAT THE LORD'S HAND DOES FOR THE NEEDY Isaiah 41:17-29 Life is not easy for any of us, if we regard external conditions only; but directly we learn the divine secret, rivers flow from bare heights,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Having thus announced the majesty of Jehovah, the prophet proceeds to utter his general manifesto. This occupies Chapter s forty-one and forty-two. In chapter forty-one Jehovah challenges the island a...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Good. The prescience and power of God prove his divinity. Can idols produce any thing similar? (Calmet) --- None can tell what will happen, unless God reveal it. (Worthington)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Here is a solemn and unanswerable appeal to the despisers of God and his Christ, to show cause wherefore such mercy; as is in the covenant of redemption, is slighted? What the Apostle closeth one of h...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    23._Do good, or do evil. _It must not be supposed that _to do evil _denotes, in this passage, to commit injustice, which is contrary to the nature of God; but it means to inflict punishment, and to se...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 41, 42, AND 43. Chapter 41 begins the historical details which prove this. Who raised up Cyrus to overthrow idolatry? But in the midst of the havoc he made of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SHOW THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HEREAFTER,.... From henceforward to the consummation of all things: so the Targum, "show what shall come to the end;'' or at the end, the end of all things; or show...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together._ Ver. 23. _Show the things that are to c...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Produce your cause_ He renews his challenge to the idolaters to plead the cause of their idols, and give convincing proof of their divinity: see on Isaiah 41:1. _Bring forth your strong reasons_ Hebr...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    21-29 There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THAT WE MAY KNOW THAT YE ARE GODS; that we may have, if not a certain proof, yet at least a probable argument, of your deity. It may be objected that the devil hath foretold future events by idols; bu...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 41:23 Show H5046 (H8685) come H857 (H8802) hereafter H268 know H3045 (H8799) gods H430 good...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    YAHWEH'S CHALLENGE TO THE GODS OF THE NATIONS (ISAIAH 41:21). Isaiah 41:21 “Produce your cause,” says Yahweh. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob. “Let them bring them forth...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Greatness of God and weakness of man. Admonition to shun idols and encouragement to trust in God. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Jacob. CONCLUSION: Jehovah is infinite, eternal and unchangeable....

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 41:1. _Keep silence before me, oh islands._ Commentators here refer us to the time of our Saviour's birth, for the isles of Chittim designate the Roman power. In the Augustan age, the temple of...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 41:21 God challenges the false claims of human idols. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ISAIAH—NOTE ON ISAIAH 41:23 THAT WE MAY BE DISMAYED AND TERRIFIED. Human religion is intimidating but is empty, while the gospel is comforting (Isaiah 40:1) and offers good an

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    SECTION II.—RECOVERY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD FROM THEIR SIN, AND FROM THEIR BONDAGE IN BABYLON (CH. 41-48.). EXPOSITION...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    In the forty-first chapter of Isaiah in the first part of the chapter, God begins His predictions concerning Cyrus who was not yet born. A man who was not to be born for a hundred and fifty years. But...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 15:18; Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 44:7; Isaiah 44:8; Isaiah 45:7;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Do good — Protect your worshippers whom I intend to destroy, and destroy my people whom I intend to save. That — That I and my people may be astonished, and forced to acknowledge your godhead....

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