Isaiah 44:19

And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

And none considereth {H7725} in his heart {H3820}, neither is there knowledge {H1847} nor understanding {H8394} to say {H559}, I have burned {H8313} part {H2677} of it in {H1119} the fire {H784}; yea, also I have baked {H644} bread {H3899} upon the coals {H1513} thereof; I have roasted {H6740} flesh {H1320}, and eaten {H398} it: and shall I make {H6213} the residue {H3499} thereof an abomination {H8441}? shall I fall down {H5456} to the stock {H944} of a tree {H6086}?

Not one thinks to himself or has the knowledge or the discernment to say, "I burned half of it in the fire, baked bread on its coals, roasted meat and ate it. Should I now make the rest an abomination? Should I prostrate myself to a tree trunk?"

And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

Context

Isaiah 44:19 is part of a powerful and often satirical passage (Isaiah 44:9-20) where the prophet Isaiah exposes the utter foolishness and irrationality of idolatry. Written during a time when ancient Israel was prone to adopting the pagan practices of surrounding nations, this section serves as a sharp contrast between the living, sovereign God of Israel and the lifeless, man-made idols. The prophet highlights the absurdity of individuals using the same piece of wood for mundane purposes like cooking and then fashioning the remainder into a god to be worshipped, demonstrating a profound lack of spiritual insight.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • The Absurdity of Idolatry: The verse vividly portrays the illogical nature of idol worship. The idol maker uses part of a tree for fire to bake bread and roast meat, satisfying physical hunger, and then takes the very same material—the "residue"—and shapes it into an object of veneration. The rhetorical questions, "shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?" underscore the sheer senselessness of such an act. It's a direct challenge to the idolater's reason.
  • Spiritual Blindness and Lack of Discernment: The core of the critique lies in the phrase, "And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding." This highlights a profound spiritual blindness and intellectual deficit. Those engaged in idol worship are depicted as lacking the basic wisdom to see the contradiction in their actions, failing to discern the difference between a created object and the Creator Himself. This lack of introspection prevents them from recognizing the true nature of their "gods."
  • God's Uniqueness vs. Man-Made Gods: Implicit in this condemnation of idols is the affirmation of the one true God, who is incomparable and distinct from anything fashioned by human hands. The passage serves to reinforce the uniqueness and power of the God of Israel, who created all things, in stark contrast to the impotent idols.

Linguistic Insights

The word "abomination" in this verse translates the Hebrew term to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה), which signifies something detestable, abhorrent, or morally disgusting, particularly in the eyes of God. It is often used to describe practices that are anathema to divine law and covenant, such as pagan rituals and idolatry. The phrase "stock of a tree" emphasizes the idol's humble, inanimate, and utterly un-divine origin, reinforcing its worthlessness as an object of worship.

Cross-References & Internal Links

This passage powerfully critiques the folly of idol worship, a theme common throughout the Old Testament. Similar warnings against the making and worship of idols can be found in Deuteronomy 4:28 and Jeremiah 10:3-5. The New Testament also addresses forms of idolatry, broadening the concept to include covetousness, as seen in Colossians 3:5, reminding us that anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts can become an idol.

Practical Application

While literal idol worship of wooden statues may be less common in many parts of the world today, the principle of Isaiah 44:19 remains profoundly relevant. This verse challenges us to examine what we truly prioritize and worship in our hearts. Are there things we dedicate our time, energy, and devotion to that ultimately come from human hands or human desires, rather than from the true God? Modern "idols" can include money, power, possessions, career, self-image, or even relationships, when they take precedence over our relationship with the Creator. The call of Isaiah is a call to spiritual discernment: to "consider in our heart" and gain "knowledge and understanding" to recognize the difference between the finite and the infinite, the created and the Creator, and to give our worship to God alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 27:15

    Cursed [be] the man that maketh [any] graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth [it] in [a] secret [place]. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

  • 1 Kings 11:7

    Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that [is] before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

  • 1 Kings 11:5

    For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

  • Exodus 7:23

    And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

  • Isaiah 45:20

    ¶ Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save.

  • Isaiah 5:13

    Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge: and their honourable men [are] famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

  • Ezekiel 40:4

    And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew [them] unto thee [art] thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

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