Isaiah 46
Isaiah 46 contrasts the impotence of Babylonian idols **Bel** and **Nebo**, which bow down, stoop, and become burdens carried away into captivity by weary beasts, unable to deliver their worshippers[1][2][3][4][5][9]. In opposition, **YHWH** declares He has carried Israel from the womb, will sustain them to old age and gray hairs, and will summon **Cyrus** from the east to execute His purpose and deliver His people, challenging all to remember His unrivaled sovereignty[1][2][3][5].
Interlinear Text
bows down
he knelt down
Bel
Bel
Bel
stoops
bent-backed one
Nebo
Nebo
Nevo
have become
they were
their idols
their carved-idols
to beast
to a living creature
and to cattle
and to the beast
your carriage
your carried-loads
heavy laden
loaded-down ones
burden
burden of
to the weary
weary one
Verse 1
כָּרַ֥ע
𐤊𐤓𐤏
kara
bows down
he knelt down
HVqp3ms
בֵּל֙
𐤁𐤋
bel
Bel
Bel
Bel
HNp
קֹרֵ֣ס
𐤒𐤓𐤎
qores
stoops
bent-backed one
HVqrmsa
נְב֔וֹ
𐤍𐤁𐤅
nevo
Nebo
Nebo
Nevo
HNp
הָיוּ֙
𐤄𐤉𐤅
hayu
have become
they were
HVqp3cp
עֲצַבֵּי/הֶ֔ם
𐤏𐤑𐤁𐤉/𐤄𐤌
atsabeyhem
their idols
their carved-idols
HNcmpc/Sp3mp
לַ/חַיָּ֖ה
𐤋/𐤇𐤉𐤄
lachayah
to beast
to a living creature
HRd/Ncfsa
וְ/לַ/בְּהֵמָ֑ה
𐤅/𐤋/𐤁𐤄𐤌𐤄
velabehemah
and to cattle
and to the beast
HC/Rd/Ncfsa
נְשֻׂאֹתֵי/כֶ֣ם
𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤕𐤉/𐤊𐤌
nesuoteykhem
your carriage
your carried-loads
HVqsfpc/Sp2mp
עֲמוּס֔וֹת
𐤏𐤌𐤅𐤎𐤅𐤕
amusot
heavy laden
loaded-down ones
HVqsfpa
מַשָּׂ֖א
𐤌𐤔𐤀
masa
burden
burden of
HNcmsa
לַ/עֲיֵפָֽה
𐤋/𐤏𐤉𐤐𐤄
laayefah
to the weary
weary one
HR/Aafsa
They stooped over
they were hump-backed
they bowed down
they have bowed down
together
as one together
not
not
they could
they were able
deliver
to cause to escape
the burden
burden of
themselves
and their living-being
into captivity
in the captivity
are gone
she went
Verse 2
קָרְס֤וּ
𐤒𐤓𐤎𐤅
qaresu
They stooped over
they were hump-backed
HVqp3cp
כָֽרְעוּ֙
𐤊𐤓𐤏𐤅
khareu
they bowed down
they have bowed down
HVqp3cp
יַחְדָּ֔ו
𐤉𐤇𐤃𐤅
yachedav
together
as one together
HD
לֹ֥א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
not
HTn
יָכְל֖וּ
𐤉𐤊𐤋𐤅
yakhelu
they could
they were able
HVqp3cp
מַלֵּ֣ט
𐤌𐤋𐤈
malet
deliver
to cause to escape
HVpc
מַשָּׂ֑א
𐤌𐤔𐤀
masa
the burden
burden of
HNcmsa
וְ/נַפְשָׁ֖/ם
𐤅/𐤍𐤐𐤔/𐤌
venafesham
themselves
and their living-being
HC/Ncbsc/Sp3mp
בַּ/שְּׁבִ֥י
𐤁/𐤔𐤁𐤉
bashevi
into captivity
in the captivity
HRd/Ncbsa
הָלָֽכָה
𐤄𐤋𐤊𐤄
halakhah
are gone
she went
HVqp3fs
Listen
Hear!
to me
toward me
O house
house-of
of Jacob
Heel-Grasper
Yaaqov
and all
and whole of
the remnant
surviving remainder
of the house
house-of
of Israel
El-Contends
Yiserael
who are borne
the burdened ones
by me
from me
from the belly
belly
who are carried
the lifted ones
from me
from me
the womb
womb-compassion
Verse 3
שִׁמְע֤וּ
𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅
shimeu
Listen
Hear!
HVqv2mp
אֵלַ/י֙
𐤀𐤋/𐤉
elay
to me
toward me
HR/Sp1cs
בֵּ֣ית
𐤁𐤉𐤕
beyt
O house
house-of
HNcmsc
יַעֲקֹ֔ב
𐤉𐤏𐤒𐤁
yaaqov
of Jacob
Heel-Grasper
Yaaqov
HNp
וְ/כָל
𐤅/𐤊𐤋
vekhal
and all
and whole of
HC/Ncmsc
שְׁאֵרִ֖ית
𐤔𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤕
sheerit
the remnant
surviving remainder
HNcfsc
בֵּ֣ית
𐤁𐤉𐤕
beyt-2
of the house
house-of
HNcmsc
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋
yiserael
of Israel
El-Contends
Yiserael
HNp
הַֽ/עֲמֻסִים֙
𐤄/𐤏𐤌𐤎𐤉𐤌
haamusim
who are borne
the burdened ones
HTd/Vqsmpa
מִנִּי
𐤌𐤍𐤉
mini
by me
from me
HR
בֶ֔טֶן
𐤁𐤈𐤍
veten
from the belly
belly
HNcfsa
הַ/נְּשֻׂאִ֖ים
𐤄/𐤍𐤔𐤀𐤉𐤌
hanesuim
who are carried
the lifted ones
HTd/Vqsmpa
מִנִּי
𐤌𐤍𐤉
mini-2
from me
from me
HR
רָֽחַם
𐤓𐤇𐤌
racham
the womb
womb-compassion
HNcbsa
even to
and up to
old age
old age
I
I
he
he
even to
and up to
gray hairs
gray-haired old age
I
I
will carry
I will bear
I
I
have made
I did
even I
and I
will bear
I lift
even I
and I
will carry
I will bear
and will deliver
I will deliver
Verse 4
וְ/עַד
𐤅/𐤏𐤃
vead
even to
and up to
HC/R
זִקְנָה֙
𐤆𐤒𐤍𐤄
ziqenah
old age
old age
HNcfsa
אֲנִ֣י
𐤀𐤍𐤉
ani
Ine (Bemba)
I
I
HPp1cs
ה֔וּא
𐤄𐤅𐤀
hu
he
he
HPp3ms
וְ/עַד
𐤅/𐤏𐤃
vead-2
even to
and up to
HC/R
שֵיבָ֖ה
𐤔𐤉𐤁𐤄
sheyvah
gray hairs
gray-haired old age
HNcfsa
אֲנִ֣י
𐤀𐤍𐤉
ani-2
Ine (Bemba)
I
I
HPp1cs
אֶסְבֹּ֑ל
𐤀𐤎𐤁𐤋
esebol
will carry
I will bear
HVqi1cs
אֲנִ֤י
𐤀𐤍𐤉
ani-3
Ine (Bemba)
I
I
HPp1cs
עָשִׂ֨יתִי֙
𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤕𐤉
asiti
have made
I did
HVqp1cs
וַ/אֲנִ֣י
𐤅/𐤀𐤍𐤉
vaani
Ine (Bemba)
even I
and I
HC/Pp1cs
אֶשָּׂ֔א
𐤀𐤔𐤀
esa
will bear
I lift
HVqi1cs
וַ/אֲנִ֥י
𐤅/𐤀𐤍𐤉
vaani-2
Ine (Bemba)
even I
and I
HC/Pp1cs
אֶסְבֹּ֖ל
𐤀𐤎𐤁𐤋
esebol-2
will carry
I will bear
HVqi1cs
וַ/אֲמַלֵּֽט
𐤅/𐤀𐤌𐤋𐤈
vaamalet
and will deliver
I will deliver
HC/Vpi1cs
to whom
to whom?
will you liken me
you will liken me
and make equal
and you will make equal
and compare me
you will liken me
that we should be like
and we will resemble
Verse 5
לְ/מִ֥י
𐤋/𐤌𐤉
lemi
to whom
to whom?
HR/Ti
תְדַמְי֖וּ/נִי
𐤕𐤃𐤌𐤉𐤅/𐤍𐤉
tedameyuni
will you liken me
you will liken me
HVpi2mp/Sp1cs
וְ/תַשְׁו֑וּ
𐤅/𐤕𐤔𐤅𐤅
vetashevu
and make equal
and you will make equal
HC/Vhi2mp
וְ/תַמְשִׁל֖וּ/נִי
𐤅/𐤕𐤌𐤔𐤋𐤅/𐤍𐤉
vetameshiluni
and compare me
you will liken me
HC/Vhi2mp/Sp1cs
וְ/נִדְמֶֽה
𐤅/𐤍𐤃𐤌𐤄
venidemeh
that we should be like
and we will resemble
HC/Vqi1cp
those who lavish
the ones who treat lightly
gold
gold
from the purse
money pouch
and silver
silver
on the scales
in the reed
they weigh
they will weigh out
hire
they will hire
a goldsmith
the refining-one
and he makes it
and he does it
a god
toward
they bow down
they will prostrate themselves
indeed
indeed
they worship
they will prostrate themselves
Verse 6
הַ/זָּלִ֤ים
𐤄/𐤆𐤋𐤉𐤌
hazalim
those who lavish
the ones who treat lightly
HTd/Vqrmpa
זָהָב֙
𐤆𐤄𐤁
zahav
gold
gold
HNcmsa
מִ/כִּ֔יס
𐤌/𐤊𐤉𐤎
mikis
from the purse
money pouch
HR/Ncmsa
וְ/כֶ֖סֶף
𐤅/𐤊𐤎𐤐
vekhesef
and silver
silver
HC/Ncmsa
בַּ/קָּנֶ֣ה
𐤁/𐤒𐤍𐤄
baqaneh
on the scales
in the reed
HRd/Ncmsa
יִשְׁקֹ֑לוּ
𐤉𐤔𐤒𐤋𐤅
yisheqolu
they weigh
they will weigh out
HVqi3mp
יִשְׂכְּר֤וּ
𐤉𐤔𐤊𐤓𐤅
yisekeru
hire
they will hire
HVqi3mp
צוֹרֵף֙
𐤑𐤅𐤓𐤐
tsoref
a goldsmith
the refining-one
HVqrmsa
וְ/יַעֲשֵׂ֣/הוּ
𐤅/𐤉𐤏𐤔/𐤄𐤅
veyaasehu
and he makes it
and he does it
HC/Vqi3ms/Sp3ms
אֵ֔ל
𐤀𐤋
el
a god
toward
HNcmsa
יִסְגְּד֖וּ
𐤉𐤎𐤂𐤃𐤅
yisegedu
they bow down
they will prostrate themselves
HVqi3mp
אַף
𐤀𐤐
af
indeed
indeed
HTa
יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ
𐤉𐤔𐤕𐤇𐤅𐤅
yishetachauu
they worship
they will prostrate themselves
HVvi3mp
They lift it
they will lift him
upon
upon
the shoulder
bearing-shoulder
and carry it
they bear him
and they set it down
and they will set him down
in its place
beneath him; in his place
and it stands
and he will stand
from its place
from his standing-place
not
not
it moves
he will withdraw
even
indeed
one cries out
he cries out
to it
toward him
and not
and not
it answers
he answers
from his distress
his distress
not
not
it saves him
he will deliver us
Verse 7
יִ֠שָּׂאֻ/הוּ
𐤉𐤔𐤀/𐤄𐤅
yisauhu
They lift it
they will lift him
HVqi3mp/Sp3ms
עַל
𐤏𐤋
al
upon
upon
HR
כָּתֵ֨ף
𐤊𐤕𐤐
katef
the shoulder
bearing-shoulder
HNcfsa
יִסְבְּלֻ֜/הוּ
𐤉𐤎𐤁𐤋/𐤄𐤅
yisebeluhu
and carry it
they bear him
HVqi3mp/Sp3ms
וְ/יַנִּיחֻ֤/הוּ
𐤅/𐤉𐤍𐤉𐤇/𐤄𐤅
veyanichuhu
and they set it down
and they will set him down
HC/Vhi3mp/Sp3ms
תַחְתָּי/ו֙
𐤕𐤇𐤕𐤉/𐤅
tachetayv
in its place
beneath him; in his place
HR/Sp3ms
וְ/יַֽעֲמֹ֔ד
𐤅/𐤉𐤏𐤌𐤃
veyaamod
and it stands
and he will stand
HC/Vqi3ms
מִ/מְּקוֹמ֖/וֹ
𐤌/𐤌𐤒𐤅𐤌/𐤅
mimeqomo
from its place
from his standing-place
HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
not
HTn
יָמִ֑ישׁ
𐤉𐤌𐤉𐤔
yamish
it moves
he will withdraw
HVqi3ms
אַף
𐤀𐤐
af
even
indeed
HTa
יִצְעַ֤ק
𐤉𐤑𐤏𐤒
yitseaq
one cries out
he cries out
HVqi3ms
אֵלָי/ו֙
𐤀𐤋𐤉/𐤅
elayv
to it
toward him
HR/Sp3ms
וְ/לֹ֣א
𐤅/𐤋𐤀
velo
and not
and not
HC/Tn
יַעֲנֶ֔ה
𐤉𐤏𐤍𐤄
yaaneh
it answers
he answers
HVqi3ms
מִ/צָּרָת֖/וֹ
𐤌/𐤑𐤓𐤕/𐤅
mitsarato
from his distress
his distress
HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
לֹ֥א
𐤋𐤀
lo-2
not
not
HTn
יוֹשִׁיעֶֽ/נּוּ
𐤉𐤅𐤔𐤉𐤏/𐤍𐤅
yoshienu
it saves him
he will deliver us
HVhi3ms/Sp3ms
Remember
Remember, you men
this
this one
and stand firm
and act as men
recall it
cause to return
you transgressors
rebelling ones
to
upon
mind
inner core of
Verse 8
זִכְרוּ
𐤆𐤊𐤓𐤅
zikheru
Remember
Remember, you men
HVqv2mp
זֹ֖את
𐤆𐤀𐤕
zot
this
this one
HPdxfs
וְ/הִתְאֹשָׁ֑שׁוּ
𐤅/𐤄𐤕𐤀𐤔𐤔𐤅
vehiteoshashu
and stand firm
and act as men
HC/Vrv2mp
הָשִׁ֥יבוּ
𐤄𐤔𐤉𐤁𐤅
hashivu
recall it
cause to return
HVhv2mp
פוֹשְׁעִ֖ים
𐤐𐤅𐤔𐤏𐤉𐤌
fosheim
you transgressors
rebelling ones
HVqrmpa
עַל
𐤏𐤋
al
to
upon
HR
לֵֽב
𐤋𐤁
lev
mind
inner core of
HNcmsa
remember
Remember, you men
the former things
first ones
of old
from hidden antiquity
for
for/because
I
I myself
God
toward
and there is no
and there is not
other
still, again, further
God
mighty ones
and none
and nonexistence
like me
like me
Verse 9
זִכְר֥וּ
𐤆𐤊𐤓𐤅
zikheru
remember
Remember, you men
HVqv2mp
רִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת
𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤍𐤅𐤕
rishonot
the former things
first ones
HAafpa
מֵ/עוֹלָ֑ם
𐤌/𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤌
meolam
of old
from hidden antiquity
HR/Ncmsa
כִּ֣י
𐤊𐤉
ki
for
for/because
HC
אָנֹכִ֥י
𐤀𐤍𐤊𐤉
anokhi
I
I myself
HPp1cs
אֵל֙
𐤀𐤋
el
God
toward
HNcmsa
וְ/אֵ֣ין
𐤅/𐤀𐤉𐤍
veeyn
and there is no
and there is not
HC/Tn
ע֔וֹד
𐤏𐤅𐤃
od
other
still, again, further
HD
אֱלֹהִ֖ים
𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌
elohim
Mulimu (Lozi)
God
mighty ones
HNcmpa
וְ/אֶ֥פֶס
𐤅/𐤀𐤐𐤎
veefes
and none
and nonexistence
HC/Ncmsa
כָּמֽוֹ/נִי
𐤊𐤌𐤅/𐤍𐤉
kamoni
like me
like me
HR/Sp1cs
declaring
the one who makes known
from the beginning
from the first-part of
the end
after-end of
and from ancient times
and from before
things which
that-which
not
not
have been done
were done
saying
the one saying
my counsel
my counsel
shall stand
you will rise
and all
and whole of
my pleasure
my delight
I will do
I will do
Verse 10
מַגִּ֤יד
𐤌𐤂𐤉𐤃
magid
declaring
the one who makes known
HVhrmsa
מֵֽ/רֵאשִׁית֙
𐤌/𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤉𐤕
mereshit
from the beginning
from the first-part of
HR/Ncfsa
אַחֲרִ֔ית
𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤕
acharit
the end
after-end of
HNcfsa
וּ/מִ/קֶּ֖דֶם
𐤅/𐤌/𐤒𐤃𐤌
umiqedem
and from ancient times
and from before
HC/R/Ncmsa
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
𐤀𐤔𐤓
asher
things which
that-which
HTr
לֹא
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
not
HTn
נַעֲשׂ֑וּ
𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤅
naasu
have been done
were done
HVNp3cp
אֹמֵר֙
𐤀𐤌𐤓
omer
saying
the one saying
HVqrmsa
עֲצָתִ֣/י
𐤏𐤑𐤕/𐤉
atsati
my counsel
my counsel
HNcfsc/Sp1cs
תָק֔וּם
𐤕𐤒𐤅𐤌
taqum
shall stand
you will rise
HVqi3fs
וְ/כָל
𐤅/𐤊𐤋
vekhal
and all
and whole of
HC/Ncmsc
חֶפְצִ֖/י
𐤇𐤐𐤑/𐤉
chefetsi
my pleasure
my delight
HNcmsc/Sp1cs
אֶעֱשֶֽׂה
𐤀𐤏𐤔𐤄
eeseh
I will do
I will do
HVqi1cs
calling
calling one
from the east
from the sunrise-place
bird of prey
swooping raptor
from a land
from land
far
remoteness
man
man
of his counsel
his counsel
My counsel
my counsel
indeed
indeed
I have spoken
I spoke
indeed
indeed
I will bring it
I will bring her
I have purposed
I fashioned
indeed
indeed
I will do it
I will make her
Verse 11
קֹרֵ֤א
𐤒𐤓𐤀
qore
calling
calling one
HVqrmsa
מִ/מִּזְרָח֙
𐤌/𐤌𐤆𐤓𐤇
mimizerach
from the east
from the sunrise-place
HR/Ncmsa
עַ֔יִט
𐤏𐤉𐤈
ayit
bird of prey
swooping raptor
HNcmsa
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
𐤌/𐤀𐤓𐤑
meerets
from a land
from land
HR/Ncbsc
מֶרְחָ֖ק
𐤌𐤓𐤇𐤒
merechaq
far
remoteness
HNcmsa
אִ֣ישׁ
𐤀𐤉𐤔
ish
man
man
HNcmsc
עצת/ו
𐤏𐤑𐤕/𐤅
tstv
of his counsel
his counsel
HNcfsc/Sp3ms
עֲצָתִ֑/י
𐤏𐤑𐤕/𐤉
atsati
My counsel
my counsel
HNcfsc/Sp1cs
אַף
𐤀𐤐
af
indeed
indeed
HTa
דִּבַּ֨רְתִּי֙
𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤕𐤉
dibareti
I have spoken
I spoke
HVpp1cs
אַף
𐤀𐤐
af-2
indeed
indeed
HTa
אֲבִיאֶ֔/נָּה
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤀/𐤍𐤄
avienah
I will bring it
I will bring her
HVhi1cs/Sp3fs
יָצַ֖רְתִּי
𐤉𐤑𐤓𐤕𐤉
yatsareti
I have purposed
I fashioned
HVqp1cs
אַף
𐤀𐤐
af-3
indeed
indeed
HTa
אֶעֱשֶֽׂ/נָּה
𐤀𐤏𐤔/𐤍𐤄
eesenah
I will do it
I will make her
HVqi1cs/Sp3fs
Listen
Hear!
to me
toward me
stouthearted
mighty ones of
of heart
inner core of
who are far
the distant ones
from righteousness
from righteousness
Verse 12
שִׁמְע֥וּ
𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤅
shimeu
Listen
Hear!
HVqv2mp
אֵלַ֖/י
𐤀𐤋/𐤉
elay
to me
toward me
HR/Sp1cs
אַבִּ֣ירֵי
𐤀𐤁𐤉𐤓𐤉
abirey
stouthearted
mighty ones of
HAampc
לֵ֑ב
𐤋𐤁
lev
of heart
inner core of
HNcmsa
הָ/רְחוֹקִ֖ים
𐤄/𐤓𐤇𐤅𐤒𐤉𐤌
harechoqim
who are far
the distant ones
HTd/Aampa
מִ/צְּדָקָֽה
𐤌/𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤄
mitsedaqah
from righteousness
from righteousness
HR/Ncfsa
I have brought near
I brought near
my righteousness
my righteousness
not
not
will be far
you will move away
and my salvation
and my deliverance
not
not
will delay
you delay
and I will give
and I will give
in Zion
in Zion
in Tsion
salvation
deliverance
to Israel
to El-Contends
to Yiserael
my glory
my splendor
Verse 13
קֵרַ֤בְתִּי
𐤒𐤓𐤁𐤕𐤉
qeraveti
I have brought near
I brought near
HVpp1cs
צִדְקָתִ/י֙
𐤑𐤃𐤒𐤕/𐤉
tsideqati
my righteousness
my righteousness
HNcfsc/Sp1cs
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo
not
not
HTn
תִרְחָ֔ק
𐤕𐤓𐤇𐤒
tirechaq
will be far
you will move away
HVqi3fs
וּ/תְשׁוּעָתִ֖/י
𐤅/𐤕𐤔𐤅𐤏𐤕/𐤉
uteshuati
and my salvation
and my deliverance
HC/Ncfsc/Sp1cs
לֹ֣א
𐤋𐤀
lo-2
not
not
HTn
תְאַחֵ֑ר
𐤕𐤀𐤇𐤓
teacher
will delay
you delay
HVpi3fs
וְ/נָתַתִּ֤י
𐤅/𐤍𐤕𐤕𐤉
venatati
and I will give
and I will give
HC/Vqq1cs
בְ/צִיּוֹן֙
𐤁/𐤑𐤉𐤅𐤍
vetsion
in Zion
in Zion
in Tsion
HR/Np
תְּשׁוּעָ֔ה
𐤕𐤔𐤅𐤏𐤄
teshuah
salvation
deliverance
HNcfsa
לְ/יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
𐤋/𐤉𐤔𐤓𐤀𐤋
leyiserael
to Israel
to El-Contends
to Yiserael
HR/Np
תִּפְאַרְתִּֽ/י
𐤕𐤐𐤀𐤓𐤕/𐤉
tifeareti
my glory
my splendor
HNcfsc/Sp1cs