Isaiah 44:15

Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

Then shall it be for a man {H120} to burn {H1197}: for he will take {H3947} thereof, and warm {H2552} himself; yea, he kindleth {H5400} it, and baketh {H644} bread {H3899}; yea, he maketh {H6466} a god {H410}, and worshippeth {H7812} it; he maketh {H6213} it a graven image {H6459}, and falleth down {H5456} thereto.

In time, when it's ready for use as fuel, he takes some of it to keep himself warm and burns some more to bake bread. Then he makes a god and worships it, carves it into an idol and falls down before it.

It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Then shall it be for a man to burn; and he taketh thereof, and warmeth himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread: yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

Commentary

Understanding Isaiah 44:15 KJV: The Folly of Idolatry

Isaiah 44:15 is a potent verse within a larger prophetic discourse (Isaiah 44:9-20) where God, through the prophet Isaiah, directly challenges and satirizes the practice of idolatry. This passage emphasizes the incomparable nature of the Lord, contrasting His eternal power with the transient, man-made nature of idols. It serves as a stark reminder of God's sole claim as the First and the Last, and there is no God besides Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Absurdity of Idolatry: The verse vividly exposes the profound absurdity of idol worship. It highlights how a single piece of wood can be used for mundane, practical purposes—like warming oneself by a fire or baking bread for sustenance—and simultaneously be fashioned into an object of worship. This stark contrast underscores the utter foolishness of attributing divine power to something so ordinary and man-made.
  • Spiritual Blindness: Isaiah portrays the idolater as spiritually blind, failing to see the inherent contradiction in their actions. They rely on the very material they use for survival to also be their god, demonstrating a profound lack of discernment and a misplaced sense of devotion.
  • God's Sovereignty vs. Man's Creations: The passage implicitly contrasts the living, all-powerful God who creates and sustains all things with the lifeless, powerless idols that are themselves created by human hands.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "graven image" in this context is pesel (פסל), which typically refers to an idol carved or hewn, often from wood or stone. The emphasis on the human effort involved in its creation, alongside its common utility, accentuates the prophet's satirical point. The irony lies in the idol's humble origins as a mere piece of wood, a portion of which serves basic human needs while another portion is elevated to divine status.

Practical Application

While modern society may not typically carve physical idols from wood, the principle of Isaiah 44:15 remains powerfully relevant. We can still fall into forms of 'idolatry' by placing ultimate trust, devotion, or hope in anything other than God. This includes worshipping wealth, power, status, comfort, technology, or even our own abilities and achievements.

The verse calls us to examine what truly holds the highest place in our lives and reminds us that true provision, ultimate security, and eternal salvation come only from the Lord, not from anything we create, possess, or control. It's a profound call to turn from idols to serve the living and true God, acknowledging Him as the sole source of all good things.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 25:14 (4 votes)

    ¶ Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be] his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

  • Isaiah 45:20 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Judges 2:19 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, [that] they returned, and corrupted [themselves] more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

  • Isaiah 44:10 (2 votes)

    Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing?

  • Revelation 9:20 (2 votes)

    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: