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Commentary on Isaiah 46 verses 1–4
We are here told,
I. That the false gods will certainly fail their worshippers when they have most need of them, Isa 46:1, Isa 46:2. Bel and Nebo were two celebrated idols of Babylon. Some make Bel to be a contraction of Baal; others rather think not, but that it was Belus, one of their first kings, who after his death was deified. As Bel was a deified prince, so (some think) Nebo was a deified prophet, for so Nebo signifies; so that Bel and Nebo were their Jupiter and their Mercury or Apollo. Barnabas and Paul passed at Lystra for Jupiter and Mercury. The names of these idols were taken into the names of their princes, Bel into Belshazzar's, Nebo into Nebuchadnezzar's and Nebuzaradan's, etc. These gods they had long worshipped, and in their revels praised them for their successes (as appears, Dan 5:4); and they insulted over Israel as if Bel and Nebo were too hard for Jehovah and could detain them in captivity in defiance of their God. Now, that this might be no discouragement to the poor captives, God here tells them what shall become of these idols, which they threaten them with. When Cyrus takes Babylon, down go the idols. It was usual then with conquerors to destroy the gods of the places and people they conquered, and to put the gods of their own nation in the room of them, Isa 37:19. Cyrus will do so; and then Bel and Nebo, that were set up on high, and looked great, bold, and erect, shall stoop and bow down at the feet of the soldiers that plunder their temples. And because there is a great deal of gold and silver upon them, which was intended to adorn them, but serves to expose them, they carry them away with the rest of the spoil. The carriers' horses, or mules, are laden with them and their other idols, to be sent among other lumber (for so it seems they accounted them rather than treasure) into Persia. So far are they from being able to support their worshippers that they are themselves a heavy load in the wagons, and a burden to the weary beast. The idols cannot help one another (Isa 46:2): They stoop, they bow down together. They are all alike, tottering things, and their day has come to fall. Their worshippers cannot help them: They could not deliver the burden out of the enemy's hand, but themselves (both the idols and the idolaters) have gone into captivity. Let not therefore God's people be afraid of either. When God's ark was taken prisoner by the Philistines it proved a burden, not to the beasts, but to the conquerors, who were forced to return it; but, when Bel and Nebo have gone into captivity, their worshippers may even give their good word with them: they will never recover themselves.
II. That the true God will never fail his worshippers: "You hear what has become of Bel and Nebo, now hearken to me, O house of Jacob! Isa 46:3, Isa 46:4. Am I such a god as these? No; though you are brought low, and the house of Israel is but a remnant, your God has been, is, and ever will be, your powerful and faithful protector."
1.Let God's Israel do him the justice to own that he has hitherto been kind to them, careful of them, tender over them, and has all along done well for them. Let them own, (1.) That he bore them at first: I have made. Out of what womb came they, but that of his mercy, and grace, and promise? He formed them into a people and gave them their constitution. Every good man is what God makes him. (2.) That he bore them up all along: You have been borne by me from the belly, and carried from the womb. God began betimes to do them good, as soon as ever they were formed into a nation, nay, when as yet they were very few, and strangers. God took them under a special protection, and suffered no man to do them wrong, Psa 105:12-14. In the infancy of their state, when they were not only foolish and helpless, as children, but forward and peevish, God carried them in the arms of his power and love, bore them as upon eagles' wings, Exo 19:4; Deu 32:11. Moses had not patience to carry them as the nursing father does the sucking child (Num 11:12), but God bore them, and bore their manners, Act 13:18. And as God began early to do them good (when Israel was a child, then I loved him), so he had constantly continued to do them good: he had carried them from the womb to this day. And we may all witness for God that he has been thus gracious to us. We have been borne by him from the belly, from the womb, else we should have died from the womb and given up the ghost when we came out of the belly. We have been the constant care of his kind providence, carried in the arms of his power and in the bosom of his love and pity. The new man is so; all that in us which is born of God is borne up by him, else it would soon fail. Our spiritual life is sustained by his grace as necessarily and constantly as our natural life by his providence. The saints have acknowledged that God has carried them from the womb, and have encouraged themselves with the consideration of it in their greatest straits, Psa 22:9, Psa 22:10; Psa 71:5, Psa 71:6, Psa 71:17.
2.He will then do them the kindness to promise that he will never leave them. He that was their first will be their last; he that was the author will be the finisher of their well-being (Isa 46:4): "You have been borne by me from the belly, nursed when you were children; and even to your old age I am he, when, by reason of your decays and infirmities, you will need help as much as in your infancy." Israel were now growing old, so was their covenant by which they were incorporated, Heb 8:13. Gray hairs were here and there upon them, Hos 7:9. And they had hastened their old age, and the calamities of it, by their irregularities. But God will not cast them off now, will not fail them when their strength fails; he is still their God, will still carry them in the same everlasting arms that were laid under them in Moses's time, Deu 33:27. He has made them and owns his interest in them, and therefore he will bear them, will bear with their infirmities, and bear them up under their afflictions: "Even I will carry and will deliver them; I will now bear them upon eagles' wings out of Babylon, as in their infancy I bore them out of Egypt." This promise to aged Israel is applicable to every aged Israelite. God has graciously engaged to support and comfort his faithful servants, even in their old age: "Even to your old age, when you grow unfit for business, when you are compassed with infirmities, and perhaps your relations begin to grow weary of you, yet I am he - he that I am, he that I have been - the very same by whom you have been borne from the belly and carried from the womb. You change, but I am the same. I am he that I have promised to be, he that you have found me, and he that you would have me to be. I will carry you, I will bear, will bear you up and bear you out, and will carry you on in your way and carry you home at last."
After your apostasies I will still continue to call you to repentance, since you are my creation. I created you; therefore I sustain you. I promise I will make atonement for your sins, if you change.
(Verse 1, 3 and following) Hear me, house of Jacob, and all the rest of the house of Israel, who are carried from my womb, who are born from my womb. Even to your old age, I am the one, and even to your gray hairs, I will carry you. I have done it, and I will bear it; I will carry, and I will save. To whom have you likened me, and equalized, and compared me, and made me similar? You who pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver on the scales, hiring a goldsmith to make a god, and they fall down and worship. They carry him on their shoulders, carrying and placing him in his place, and he will stand, and he will not be moved from his place. But when they cry out to him, he will not hear: he will not save them from distress. Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of Israel who are carried from the womb, and be instructed from infancy to old age. I am, and until you grow old, I am: I will sustain you: I have made you, and I will carry you: I will support you, and I will make you safe. To whom do you liken me? See, consider those who go astray and compare gold from a bag, and silver in a scale, and hire a goldsmith. They make it into an idol, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it. If they place it in its rightful place, it stays and will not move. It cannot hear those who cry out to it, and it will not save them from their troubles. It is not called Jacob or Israel, as we have explained above, because it is inferior, the house of Jacob, and the remnant of Israel, due to their close relationship of flesh and blood, and they are like the waste and remnants of Israel. And it teaches that they were carried from Egypt as infants and sucklings, just as from God, as if from a mother's womb and the pregnant womb, they were carried. Not because the ineffable and incomprehensible majesty of God has a womb or a womb, feet, hands, and other members of the body; but that we may learn the affection of God through our words. Otherwise, the same is sung in the hundred and ninth psalm from the person of God. For in that place where the Seventy translated, 'From the womb before the morning star I begot you,' in the Hebrew script it has 'Merehem,' which is interpreted as 'from the womb.' But at present, not only is it written about the womb and the vulva, that is, Mebeten and Merehem but also Menni, which signifies 'from my womb' or 'from my vulva'. And the meaning is: I who have begotten you from infancy and carried you in my womb and vulva, I myself will protect you even until old age, not my own, but yours, so that divine mercy may teach them to be saved. For the Creator spares his creature, and the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (John 10). But the hired hand, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and flees. Therefore, because I have made and begotten children, I will bear and carry them myself. According to the Septuagint, which says: 'You who are carried from the womb, and are taught from infancy until old age,' this signifies that it is in vain for them to meditate on the law of God day and night, not having knowledge of God, but venerating the idols of humans and animals. To the extent that they require prophetic correction, by which God speaks to them: 'To whom have you made me similar and equal?' And the rest: what gold and silver they have brought, and what idols they have made by hiring a sculptor, and what works of their hands they have worshiped, which are carried on their shoulders, and which, when nailed and fixed, are unable to move, nor are they able to benefit those who worship them. We pass over the obvious things to uncover the closed mercy of Christ.
We hear the voice of the Holy Spirit with wonder when it tells us in many passages of Scripture that the Word of God, in an ineffable motion of love, has given human nature the names of “sister,” “daughter,” “bride.” For example, the words in Isaiah, “Listen to me, Israel my people, the race of Abraham my friend, you whom I carry in my womb.” … Our mind is set aflame with desire to obtain the love that burns between the Word of God and the soul, so that it can know the measure of love and give love to God in return.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 46:3 presents a profound declaration of Yahweh's unparalleled and unwavering care for His chosen people, Israel. In stark contrast to the impotent idols of Babylon, which are burdens to their worshippers and must be carried, God proclaims Himself as the one who has actively borne and carried His people from their very inception, from the "belly" and "womb" of their national existence. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's intimate, lifelong, and sovereign providence, assuring His people that He is not merely a distant deity but an ever-present, sustaining Father who actively upholds them through every stage of their journey, demonstrating His unique power and steadfast love.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 46:3 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. Apostrophe is prominently used as God directly addresses "O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel," creating a personal and urgent appeal to His people, demanding their attention. The central and most striking device is Metaphorical Imagery, specifically the vivid picture of God "borne [by me] from the belly" and "carried from the womb." This imagery draws on the tender, intimate, and foundational relationship between a parent and child, extending it to describe God's continuous, lifelong, and deeply personal care for the nation of Israel from its very inception. This also functions as a powerful Contrast with the preceding verses (Isaiah 46:1-2), where the idols of Babylon are depicted as inert burdens carried by their worshippers. Here, God reverses the dynamic, portraying Himself as the one who carries, sustains, and bears the burdens of His people, highlighting His unique power. Finally, the verse utilizes Synonymous Parallelism in the phrases "borne [by me] from the belly" and "carried from the womb," reinforcing the central idea of God's continuous and intimate sustenance through two distinct but complementary images, adding emphasis and poetic depth to the divine declaration and underscoring the unwavering nature of His care.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 46:3 articulates a profound theological truth about the nature of God as the ultimate Sustainer and Burden-Bearer. Unlike the gods of the nations, who are lifeless and require human effort to be moved, Yahweh is the living God who actively upholds His creation and His people. This verse reveals God's intimate involvement in the lives of His elect, demonstrating that His care is not a recent development but has been constant from the very beginning of their existence as a nation. It underscores His covenant faithfulness, reminding Israel that His promises and His steadfast love endure through all generations and circumstances, even through the crucible of exile. This divine carrying is an expression of His deep compassion and unwavering commitment, assuring His people that they are never a burden to Him, but rather the objects of His tender, parental care, a truth that grounds their hope and calls them to trust.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 46:3 offers profound comfort and a powerful challenge for believers today. In a world that often feels heavy with burdens, uncertainties, and the pressure to carry our own weight, this verse reminds us that we serve a God who delights in carrying us. Just as He sustained Israel from its national infancy through every trial, so too does He promise to uphold us from the moment of our spiritual birth and throughout our entire lives. This truth invites us to release our anxieties and fears, recognizing that our God is not a distant, passive observer but an intimately involved, tender Father who knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. When we feel overwhelmed, weak, or lost, we are called to "hearken" to His voice, to remember His unfailing providence, and to cast our burdens upon Him, knowing that He has always been and always will be our faithful, compassionate Carrier. This divine promise fosters deep trust and encourages a posture of dependence, freeing us from the futile attempt to bear what only God can carry and empowering us to walk in His strength.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the phrases "borne from the belly" and "carried from the womb"?
Answer: These phrases are powerful metaphors that emphasize the unparalleled intimacy and continuous nature of God's care for His people. They do not merely refer to physical birth but symbolically represent the entire duration of Israel's national existence, from its earliest formation as a people (through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to the present moment and into the future. It signifies that God's relationship with Israel is not an afterthought or a temporary alliance, but a foundational, lifelong commitment, akin to the tender, protective care a parent provides for a child from its very conception. This imagery underscores God's deep affection, unwavering commitment, and active involvement in every stage of His people's journey, setting Him apart from the lifeless idols that require their worshippers to carry them, as described in Isaiah 46:1-2. It highlights that God's care is not conditional on Israel's performance but flows from His inherent nature and covenant love.
How does Isaiah 46:3 contrast with the surrounding context in Isaiah 46?
Answer: Isaiah 46:3 serves as a dramatic and intentional contrast to the preceding verses (Isaiah 46:1-2). In those verses, the prophet describes the Babylonian idols Bel and Nebo being carried as heavy burdens by weary beasts and their worshippers, unable to save themselves or their devotees from captivity. These false gods are depicted as helpless objects that are themselves carried into exile. In stark opposition, Isaiah 46:3 presents Yahweh as the one who carries His people. This highlights God's unique power, sovereignty, and living nature versus the impotence and lifelessness of idols. While false gods are a burden to those who serve them, the true God is the benevolent burden-bearer for His beloved people, demonstrating His active care and ability to deliver, a theme central to the "Book of Comfort" in Isaiah and God's redemptive plan for His people, as seen in Isaiah 40:28-31.
Is this promise only for ancient Israel, or does it apply to believers today?
Answer: While primarily addressed to the "house of Jacob" and "remnant of Israel" in their historical context, the theological principles embedded in Isaiah 46:3 extend profoundly to believers today. The New Testament teaches that those who are in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are spiritual descendants of Abraham and part of the "Israel of God" (Galatians 3:29; Galatians 6:16). Therefore, the same God who faithfully carried ancient Israel continues to carry and sustain His people, the Church, through all generations. This verse assures us that God is intimately involved in our lives from our spiritual birth (regeneration) onward, providing continuous care, strength, and guidance. It is an enduring promise of divine providence and unwavering love for all who trust in Him, encouraging us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us, and to rely on His strength rather than our own.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 46:3, with its tender imagery of God bearing and carrying His people from their very inception, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's promise of divine sustenance, rooted in God's covenant faithfulness, culminates in the Incarnation, where God Himself literally "bore" humanity into His divine person. Jesus, as Immanuel, "God with us", embodies the very essence of God's promise to carry His people. He is the one who took on our flesh, bore our sins on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), and continues to carry our burdens, weaknesses, and anxieties as our great High Priest, who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15-16). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ became the ultimate burden-bearer, not only sustaining us but also redeeming us from the weight of sin and death, offering us true rest (Matthew 11:28-30). The intimate, lifelong care promised in Isaiah 46:3 is perfectly realized in the believer's union with Christ, where He promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), continually upholding us by His grace and power, from the moment of our spiritual birth to our eternal glorification. He is the Good Shepherd who gently leads and carries His lambs in His arms (Isaiah 40:11), demonstrating God's compassionate love in its fullest, most personal, and redemptive measure.