Translations
Modern
Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’
Traditional
I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
Literal
…and I declared to you from then, before it came to pass; I informed you, lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my carved image and my molten image has commanded them!’
Latin
Prædixi tibi ex tunc; antequam venirent, indicavi tibi, ne forte diceres: Idola mea fecerunt hæc, et sculptilia mea et conflatilia mandaverunt ista.
Original
Hebrew
English
Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’
Notes
This prophecy is a disputation, a speech in which the prophet argues a set of points against his audience.
The Lord urges Israel to abandon its long history of rebellion and pay attention to his words. In Hebrew, the word for listening often means the same as obeying or acting on what is heard.
We can draw two conclusions from the earlier evidence that the Lord alone is God:
Babylon's great pride is foolish (Isaiah 47:1–15);
Israel should listen to the word of the Lord (Isaiah 48:1–22).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC