Devine Scripture

Isaiah 41:22

What does Isaiah 41:22 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 41:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 41:22 means

God challenges the idols and their proponents to demonstrate any genuine divine power by accurately declaring future events. He demands they reveal "what shall happen" or even explain "the former things" and their ultimate outcome. This direct challenge establishes foreknowledge—the ability to declare the future accurately—as the decisive test of true deity, something only the true God possesses. Their inability to do so exposes their phoniness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Let the future be made clear to us: give us news of the past things, so that we may give thought to them; or of the things to come, so that we may see if they are true.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

They bring nigh, and declare to us that which doth happen, The first things--what they <FI>are<Fi> declare ye, And we set our heart, and know their latter end, Or the coming things cause us to hear.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Let them come, and tell us all things that are to come: tell us the former things what they were: and we will set our heart upon them and shall know the latter end of them, and tell us the things that are to come.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Let them bring them forward, and declare to us what shall happen: shew the former things, what they are, that we may give attention to them, and know the end of them; — or let us hear things to come:

Context

This verse presents the primary test by which the true God will be distinguished from idols, directly following God's renewed challenge to present their arguments. The ability to declare the future, both past and prophesied, is put forward as the unique mark of divine power. This criterion lays the groundwork for the subsequent verses, where the idols' utter failure to meet this challenge is highlighted, reinforcing their impotence.

v.21Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

v.22This passage

v.23Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 16:14

    He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

  • Isaiah 43:9

    Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

  • Isaiah 45:21

    Declare ye, and bring it forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.

  • Isaiah 42:9

    Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

  • Isaiah 46:10

    declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;

  • Isaiah 48:14

    Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

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