Isaías 46
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 46
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS H. C. Leupold, in his commentary on Isaiah, p. 147, reminded me that in Isaiah 14 the kingdom of old Babylon is judged in Isaiah 46 the idols of Neo-Babylon are judged in Isaiah 47 the nation, personified as a queen, is judged "Babylon," in the Bible, is imagery for all human society organized and functioning apart from God (as is Edom in Isaiah 34). It is mankind's attempt to meet his needs with his own resources. Babylon is personified as the great whore in Revelation 18 (which, by the way, I think refers to faithless Jerusalem. See my new 2024 exegetical, verse-by-verse commentary of Revelation [i.e. Partial Preterist]).
Isaías 46:1-2
46:1 "Bel" Bel (BDB128, KB 132, Akkadian for "lord" is a similar title to the Canaanite title Ba'al). This is a reference to the chief god of the Akkadian pantheon (Enlil, who was called "lord"). As Babylon came to power the chief deity's name was changed to Marduk (BDB 597, cf. Jer. 50:2). ▣ "Nebo" This was the son of Marduk (named only here in the OT) who was the god of learning and writing (BDB 612). He was the chief deity of the city of Borsippa. Bel and Nebo can be seen in many of the Babylonian names of the period. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 1:1) Nebushazban (Jer. 39:13) Nebuzaradan (Jer. 39:9) Nabopolassar (first king of Neo-Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar's father) Nebuchadnezzar Nabonidus (Belshazzar's father, last king of Neo-Babylon) Belteshazzar (Dan. 1:7) Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1) These were the two chief gods of the Babylonian pantheon. ▣ "bowed down. . .stoops over" There is a play on the concept "bow down" (BDB 505, KB 499). It relates to 45:23, the deities of Babylon are bowing before YHWH the Creator. ▣ "you carry. . .load. . .the burden" There is a play on the word "carry" in Isa. 46:1-2 and 3-4. First of all the idols of Babylon must be carried on beasts of burden to try to escape the Persians or in ritual marches through the streets of the large cities. God carries His children, both metaphorically in the womb and later, throughout their lives (cf. Isa. 46:4). It is the inability of the Babylon gods to hear, to act versus the care, provision, and grace acts of the God of Israel, with which they are contrasted in Isa. 46:1-4. 46:2 "They stooped over" This is a play between the animals that carried the heavy cast idols (v. 6) bowing down just like the idol's makers. ▣ "They could not rescue the burden" The idols could not save themselves (i.e. taken by conquerors), nor could those who worshiped them. ▣ "But have themselves gone into captivity" Here these Neo-Babylonian idols are personified as going into captivity with their people.
Isaías 46:3-4
46:3 "Listen" This, like Isa. 46:12, is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 1033, KB 1570). See note at Isa. 44:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR (shema) ▣ "the remnant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT, THREE SENSES ▣ "have been carried from the womb" This primarily is a reference to God as parent and Israel as child. However, it also refers to the formation of the nation of Israel beginning with the Exodus (cf. Deut. 1:31; Isa. 63:9). 46:4 "Even to your old age" God not only created Israel but will sustain her (i.e. "carry" or "bear" them, cf. Exod. 19:4; Deut. 1:31; 32:11). ▣ "I shall be the same" This (lit. I Am He, cf. NKJV) is the concept that God does not change (cf. NJB, cf. Mal. 3:6 and James 1:7). Even though Israel has been unfaithful to the covenant, God remains faithful. He is the God of covenant loyalty. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! For a discussion of "covenant loyalty" see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT ▣ "And I will bear you and I will deliver you" This is a reference to the nation of Israel, but it is individualized also to every believer (SINGULAR VERBS). Notice the VERBS in Isa. 46:4. God had created Israel (Qal PERFECT, BDB 793, KB 889) God will continue to provide and protect bear you ‒ Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 687, KB 741 (twice) carry you ‒ Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 669, KB 724 (twice) deliver you ‒ Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 572, KB 589
Isaías 46:5-7
46:5 "To whom would you liken Me" This is the theological emphasis that no one can be compared with YHWH (cf. Isa. 43:11; 44:6,8; 45:6). This is a comparison between YHWH and the idols of the nations (cf. Isa. 40:18-20; 44:9-20). Notice the parallelism. to whom would you liken Me ‒ Piel IMPERFECT (BDB 197, KB 225) and make Me equal ‒ Hiphil IMPERFECT (BDB 1000, KB 1436) and compare Me ‒ Hiphil IMPERFECT (BDB 605, KB 647) that we should be alike ‒ Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 197, KB 225) YHWH is unique! He is the ever-living, only-living, one true God (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM). Also note the surprising NT theological revelation of Trinity, see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY 46:6-7 These two verses are the contrast between the one true God of Isa. 46:5 and the idols of the nations. people give money to make images and then bow down and worship them (Isa. 46:6) they then move them here and there but they cannot move themselves; the idols cannot deliver (Isa. 46:7)
Isaías 46:8-11
46:8 "Remember" This verse and the first line of Isa. 46:9 contain a series of IMPERATIVES. remember, Isa. 46:8 ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 269, KB 269) be assured, Isa. 46:8 ‒ Hithpoel IMPERATIVE (BDB 84, KB 100) recall, Isa. 46:8 ‒ Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 996, KB 1427) remember, Isa. 46:9 ‒ same as #1 Number 2 is a rare form found only here in the OT. The Aramaic Targums translate it as "take courage," possibly from a related Arabic root (cf. Leupold, p. 145). ▣ "be assured" "show yourselves men" "consider" "discern" NJB, JPSOA "stand firm" "abandon hope" "groan" "so you can be brave" This Hebrew term (BDB 84, KB 100 II) is found only here. BDB ‒ found, establish KB ‒ to pluck up courage Arabic related root NIV Lexicon ‒ fix in mind Owens, Analytical Key to the OT ‒ consider ▣ "you transgressors" This shows that some in Israel still had doubts about the way God was performing His task of restoration (cf. Isa. 45:9-11, the book of Habakkuk). This same group is referred to in Isa. 46:12 as "the stubborn minded" of the Jewish people. SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORNNESS (OT) 46:9 "the former things long past" This could refer to YHWH's ancient covenant with Abraham (cf. Gen. 12; 15; 17; 22; Isa. 43:18; 65:17; Jer. 16:14; 23:7) YHWH's acts of birthing (i.e. the Exodus) them Israel's ancient promise to be loyal and abide by the covenant (cf. Exod. 19:8; 24:3,7; Deut. 5:27) YHWH's proof of His existence by predicting the future (cf. Isa. 46:10,11; 42:9; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE [its uniqueness and inspiration]) ▣ "For I am God" This verse uses two titles for "God." El ‒ BDB 42, cf. Isa. 40:18-42:5; 43:10; 44:10,15,17; 45:14,15,20,21,22; 46:6 Elohim ‒ BDB 43, cf. Isa. 40:1,3,8,9,27,28; 41:10,13,17; 43:3; 44:6; 45:3,5,14,15,18,21 This, like v. 5, is a continuing emphasis on monotheism. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, A., C. 46:10-11 Again, God is using the example of predictive prophecy (i.e. the summoning of Cyrus II) to show that He is in control of history. The emphasis on His purposes, mentioned so often in Isa. 46:10-11, shows that history is not random but has a divine purpose (i.e. teleological; cf. Isa. 14:24,26; 25:1). This assurance of YHWH fulfilling His Divine Plan is also seen in Isa. 14:24; 25:1; 40:8; 55:11 (see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2 nd ed., pp. 371-390). The phrase in 10a is theologically parallel to Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12. YHWH is the "present one" from the "very" beginning to the "very" end (i.e. the first and last)! SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Isaías 46:12-13
46:12-13 This is a very important passage and shows that God will have mercy even on unbelieving Israel. This shows that the Israelite people did not deserve God's love and mercy. Many of them were still stubborn and stiff-necked (see SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORN, cf. Isa. 48:4), but God brought salvation to them because of Who He is and not because of who they are (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36). This is the New Covenant model (cf. Jer. 31:31-34). 46:12 "Who are far from" This description of God's covenant people is contrasted with the nearness ("it is not far off," Isa. 46:13b) of YHWH's deliverance through Cyrus II (temporal) through the Messiah (eschatological) ▣ NASB, NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "righteousness" "deliverance" TEV, JPSOA, REB "victory" "saving justice. . .justice" The Hebrew word used twice is "righteousness" (BDB 842 see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS). BDB says it is used of the salvation of God (#6a) in Isa. 45:8; 46:13; 51:6. 46:13 The Hebrew term "deliverance" (BDB 842) is parallel to "salvation" (BDB 448). SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS (BDB 842) SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT) (BDB 447)