Isaiah 44:25

KJV

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

KJV (with Strong's)

That frustrateth {H6565} the tokens {H226} of the liars {H907}, and maketh diviners {H7080} mad {H1984}; that turneth {H7725} wise {H2450} men backward {H268}, and maketh their knowledge {H1847} foolish {H5528};

Complete Jewish Bible

I frustrate false prophets and their omens, I make fools of diviners, I drive back the sages and make their wisdom look silly.

Berean Standard Bible

who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

American Standard Version

that frustrateth the signs of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 44:25 stands as a profound declaration of Yahweh's absolute and unparalleled sovereignty, powerfully asserting His unique capacity to nullify and render futile all human attempts at deception, false prophecy, and worldly wisdom that stand in opposition to His divine will. This verse highlights God's active involvement in human affairs, demonstrating His omnipotence by exposing the emptiness of those who claim insight apart from Him, thereby contrasting His infallible truth with the inherent foolishness of all human-centered knowledge and occult practices.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 44:25 is situated within a larger prophetic declaration (Isaiah 44:24-28) where the Lord emphatically asserts His singular identity as the sole Creator and Redeemer of Israel. The preceding verse, Isaiah 44:24, establishes God as the one who "stretcheth forth the heavens alone" and "spreadeth abroad the earth by myself," setting the stage for His subsequent demonstration of power over all human and spiritual opposition. This verse directly follows God's self-identification and precedes His specific prophecy concerning King Cyrus, who would enable the return of the exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple (compare [Isaiah 44:28](/isaiah/44-28 "Isaiah 44:28 - Prophecy of Cyrus") with [Isaiah 45:1-7](/isaiah/45 "Isaiah 45 - God's Anointed Cyrus")). The immediate literary flow emphasizes that just as God is the sole Creator, He is also the sole revealer of truth, capable of thwarting any rival claims to knowledge or power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Isaiah addresses Judah during a period of significant political and spiritual turmoil, spanning from the Assyrian threat to the Babylonian exile and the promise of return. In this era, various forms of divination, sorcery, and reliance on "wise men" (counselors, astrologers, soothsayers) were prevalent in the ancient Near East, including among the nations surrounding Israel and even within Israel itself at times. Kings often consulted such figures for guidance and predictions. Practices like reading omens, consulting mediums, and interpreting signs were common. God's pronouncements in Isaiah consistently condemn these practices as an affront to His exclusive authority and a dangerous deviation from seeking Him alone (e.g., [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Forbidden Practices")). Isaiah 44:25 directly confronts this cultural backdrop, asserting God's power to utterly dismantle the credibility and effectiveness of all such human-derived or demonic-inspired wisdom.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, asserting God's absolute control over all creation and human history, including the ability to nullify any opposing counsel or prophecy. His will cannot be thwarted, and His word stands supreme. Another crucial theme is the **Exposure of Falsehood and Idolatry**. God actively works to expose and invalidate the claims of those who lie, divine, or offer false wisdom, directly contrasting His truthfulness with all forms of deception and underscoring His unique position as the true source of all knowledge. This is a recurring motif, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 41:21-29](/isaiah/41 "Isaiah 41 - The Impotence of Idols"). Finally, the verse highlights the **Futility of Human Wisdom** when it stands apart from or in opposition to God. It posits that human intellect, knowledge, or foresight, when not submitted to divine truth, is rendered foolish and ineffective. This resonates with broader biblical wisdom literature that contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God, as articulated in [1 Corinthians 1:20](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20 - God Makes Worldly Wisdom Foolish").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Frustrateth (Hebrew, _pârar'_):** From H6565, meaning "to break up (usually figuratively), i.e. to violate, frustrate; [idiom] any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, [idiom] clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, [idiom] utterly, make void." This word conveys God's active and decisive action in dismantling, annulling, and rendering ineffective the predictions and plans of those who oppose Him. It's not a passive allowance but an intentional intervention to bring to nothing.
* **Mad (Hebrew, _hâlal'_):** From H1984, meaning "to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify; (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine." In this context, it signifies God causing diviners to act foolishly, to rave senselessly, or to become utterly disoriented, thereby exposing their lack of true insight and rendering their pronouncements absurd.
* **Knowledge (Hebrew, _daʻath'_):** From H1847, meaning "from יָדַע; knowledge; cunning, (ig-) norantly, know(-ledge), (un-) awares (wittingly)." This refers to the accumulated understanding, insight, and perceived wisdom of the "wise men." God's action is to make this very knowledge, which they pride themselves on, appear foolish and ineffectual, demonstrating its inherent emptiness when it is not derived from or aligned with divine truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That frustrateth the tokens of the liars":** This clause declares God's active role in nullifying or making void the "tokens" (signs, omens, predictions) issued by "liars" (those who speak falsehoods, false prophets, or charlatans who claim divine insight but operate deceptively). God does not merely ignore these false signs; He actively intervenes to ensure they fail or are exposed as fraudulent.
* **"and maketh diviners mad":** God causes those who practice divination (seeking knowledge of the future or hidden things through occult means, forbidden in Israel) to become insane, irrational, or utterly confused. This "madness" renders their practices useless and their pronouncements nonsensical, thereby discrediting them entirely in the eyes of observers.
* **"that turneth wise [men] backward":** This refers to God causing the "wise men" (sages, counselors, astrologers, or those esteemed for their worldly wisdom and strategic counsel) to retreat, reverse course, or fail in their plans. Their carefully constructed schemes and advice are undone, leading to an outcome opposite to what they intended or predicted.
* **"and maketh their knowledge foolish":** The culmination of God's action is to expose the inherent foolishness and emptiness of the "knowledge" (understanding, insight, and learning) that these wise men possess. What they consider profound or intelligent is revealed to be utterly devoid of true wisdom or efficacy when confronted by God's sovereign will.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 44:25 is rich in **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, where successive lines or clauses reinforce or expand upon a similar idea. Here, the verse employs **Synonymous Parallelism** ("frustrateth the tokens of the liars" and "maketh diviners mad"; "turneth wise men backward" and "maketh their knowledge foolish") to emphasize God's comprehensive power over all forms of false wisdom and deception. The entire verse functions as a powerful **Antithesis** or **Contrast**, pitting God's omniscient and omnipotent wisdom against the impotent and ultimately foolish wisdom of humanity and demonic forces. The language also contains elements of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like actions to God ("frustrateth," "maketh mad," "turneth backward," "maketh foolish"), vividly portraying His active and personal involvement in dismantling falsehood. Furthermore, there is a strong sense of **Irony** at play: those who claim to be wise and possess secret knowledge are precisely the ones God makes foolish and mad, demonstrating that true wisdom belongs to Him alone.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly undergirds the biblical doctrine of divine sovereignty, asserting that God's will is ultimately unthwartable and His plans are infallible. It teaches that no human scheme, no matter how cunning, and no spiritual deception, no matter how potent it may appear, can ultimately stand against the purposes of the Almighty. God actively intervenes in history to expose falsehood and uphold His truth, demonstrating that true wisdom and power reside solely in Him. This should instill both comfort and a call to humility: comfort that God is in control even amidst chaos and deception, and humility that human intellect and efforts are always subservient to His divine wisdom.

* [Job 5:12-13](/job/5-12 "Job 5:12-13 - God Frustrates the Schemes of the Crafty")
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of the Nations")
* [1 Corinthians 1:19-20](/1_corinthians/1-19 "1 Corinthians 1:19-20 - God Destroys the Wisdom of the Wise")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 44:25 offers profound reassurance to believers and a stark warning to those who trust in anything other than God's truth. In a world saturated with competing narratives, "alternative facts," and a constant barrage of information, this verse reminds us that God remains the ultimate arbiter of truth and reality. It calls us to exercise discernment, to critically evaluate sources of information and counsel, and to anchor our trust firmly in God's revealed Word, rather than being swayed by the fleeting wisdom of the world or the deceptive promises of false ideologies. Knowing that God actively frustrates falsehood empowers us to stand firm in faith, even when it seems that the "wise" or the "liars" of this age are prevailing. Our ultimate security and guidance come from Him alone, and His purposes will always prevail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to rely on worldly wisdom or human counsel more than God's Word?**
* **How does the truth that God frustrates the plans of liars and diviners impact my perspective on current events or societal trends that seem to contradict God's truth?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a greater reliance on divine wisdom and discernment in my daily decisions?**

### FAQ
**What does "frustrateth the tokens of the liars" mean?**

Answer: This phrase means that God actively nullifies, defeats, or makes void the signs, omens, or predictions put forth by those who speak falsely or deceptively. These "liars" are often false prophets, charlatans, or anyone who claims to speak for God or know the future but operates outside of divine truth. God ensures that their supposed "tokens" or proofs of their claims fail to materialize or are exposed as fraudulent, demonstrating His supreme authority over all forms of deception and false prophecy. It underscores that God's word and plans are the only reliable ones, as seen in [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 44:25, while rooted in God's sovereign dealings with Israel and the futility of ancient pagan practices, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of God's wisdom, through whom all the "tokens of the liars" and the "knowledge of the wise" are utterly exposed and made foolish. The world's wisdom, which often rejects divine truth, was indeed turned "backward" and made "foolish" by the "foolishness" of the cross, through which God chose to save those who believe ([1 Corinthians 1:18-25](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - The Foolishness of the Cross")). Jesus, as the "light of the world," came to expose the darkness and deception of sin and false teachings ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). He Himself confronted and silenced the "diviners" and "liars" of His day—the religious leaders and those who relied on human tradition over divine truth—often leaving them "mad" or utterly confounded by His wisdom and authority ([Matthew 22:46](/matthew/22-46 "Matthew 22:46 - No One Could Answer Him")). In Christ, God's promise to turn all opposing wisdom into foolishness is fully realized, for He is the "wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Wisdom of God")) and the one in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom")). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ utterly disarmed the powers of darkness and the wisdom of this age, establishing God's kingdom and His truth as eternally supreme ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 33:10

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

Job 5:12

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.

Job 5:14

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

Jeremiah 50:36

A sword [is] upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword [is] upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

2 Samuel 15:31

¶ And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Isaiah 47:12

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it.