“Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.
Parallel Translations
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“Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.
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Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
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Remember this, and stand fast; bring it to mind, O ye transgressors.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Isaiah 46:8 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Deuteronomy 32:29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
- Psalms 115:8 Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.
- Psalms 135:18 Those who make them will be like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them.
- Isaiah 44:18-21 They don’t know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see; and their hearts, that they can’t understand. No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?” He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” Remember these things, Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
- Isaiah 47:7 You said, ‘I will be a princess forever,’ so that you didn’t lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the results.
- Ezekiel 18:28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
- Haggai 1:5 Now therefore this is what Yahweh of Armies says: Consider your ways.
- Haggai 1:7 This is what Yahweh of Armies says: “Consider your ways.
- Luke 15:17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
- Jeremiah 10:8 But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.
- Ephesians 5:14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit…
Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Isa 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring…
Isa 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Ver. 8. Remember this.] Suffer me not to press these things so oft upon you to no purpose.
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And show yourselves men.] Roboramini, Fortify your hearts by the word of God and true reason, renewing your good resolutions oft against this senseless sin of idolatry.
Bring it again to mind.] Heb., Bring back to heart, turn short again upon yourselves, recognise your iniquities, and be humbled.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Remember this, consider these things which I now speak,…
Remember this, consider these things which I now speak, O ye Israelites,
and show yourselves men; act like reasonable creatures, and be not so brutish as to worship your own works; be so wise and courageous as to withstand all solicitation to idolatry.
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Bring it again to mind; think of this again and again.
O ye transgressors; you who have been guilty of this foolish sin; and therefore are obliged to take the better heed that you do not relapse into it again.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Remember this,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version,…
Remember this,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God:
and show yourselves men; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" (q); so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or "burn ye" (r) or "be ye inflamed", so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "be ye confounded" (s); or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired (t) with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry:
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bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors; of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.
(q) "roborat vos", Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word. (r) Ardete, "comburite vos", some in Vatablus. (s) "Confundamini", V. L. "et erubescite", Calvin. (t) "Incendimini sive corripimini zelo", Vitringa.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Bring it - Think of this again and again,…
Bring it - Think of this again and again, ye who have been guilty of this foolish sin.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 8. Show yourselves men] התאששו hithoshashu. This word…
Verse 8. Show yourselves men] התאששו hithoshashu. This word is rather of doubtful derivation and signification. It occurs only in this place: and some of the ancient interpreters seem to have had something different in their copies. The Vulgate read התבששו hithbosheshu, take shame to yourselves; the Syriac התבוננו hithbonenu, consider with yourselves; the Septuagint στεναξετε perhaps התאבלו hithabbelu, groan or mourn, within yourselves. Several MSS. read התאוששו hithosheshu, but without any help to the sense.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Remember this - Bear in mind what is now…
Remember this - Bear in mind what is now said of the manner in which idols are made. This is addressed, doubtless, to the Jews, and is designed to keep them from idolatry.
And show yourselves men - Act as men; throw away the childish trifles of idolaters. The word used here (התאשׁשׁוּ hithe'oshâshû' occurs nowhere else in the Bible. It is according to Gesenius, derived from אישׁ 'ı̂ysh, “a man,” and means to act “as a man.” A similar word is used in 1Co 16:13 (ἀνδρίζεσθε andrizesthe, from ἀνήρ anēr, a man), and is correctly rendered there, ‘quit you like men.’ This Greek word often occurs in the Septuagint. It is used as a translation of אמץ 'âmats, in Jos 1:6-7, Jos 1:9, Jos 1:18; 1Ch 28:20; 2Ch 32:7; Neh 2:1; of גדל gâdal in Rth 1:12; of חזק châzaq, in Deu 31:6-7, Deu 31:23; Jos 10:25; 2Ki 2:12; 2Ki 12:8; 1Ch 28:20, and in several other places. Jerome renders the Hebrew word here, ‘Be confounded;’ the Septuagint, Στενάξατε Stenachate) - ‘Groan;’ the Syriac, ‘Consider,’ or understand. The meaning is, that they were to act as became people - not as children; as became those endowed with an immortal mind, and not as the brutes. So Kimchi renders it: ‘Be men, and not brutes, which neither consider nor understand.’
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O ye transgressors - Ye who have violated the laws of God by the worship of idols. In the time of Manasseh, the Israelites were much addicted to idolatry, and probably this is to be regarded as addressed to them, and as designed to recall them from it to the worship of the true God.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Ashamed. Septuagint, "groan." Protestants, "shew yourselves men." (Haydock)
Ashamed. Septuagint, "groan." Protestants, "shew yourselves men." (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain show yourselves men--Renounce the childishness of idolatry as shown…
show yourselves men--Renounce the childishness of idolatry as shown in what precedes (Co1 14:20; Co1 16:13; Eph 4:14). In order to be manly we must be godly; for man was made "in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; virtue is derived from the Latin vir, "a man."
bring . . . to mind--rather, "lay it to heart."
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transgressors--addressed to the idolaters among the Jews.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 8, 9. Remember this — The address is now,…
8, 9. Remember this — The address is now, probably, to the Israelites. The impotence of idol gods was shown them in early days. See Deu_32:37-39.
Show yourselves men — That is, learn the lesson of the impotence of idol gods to give aid; learn to stand firm, and resist staunchly the whole idol system. Know and assert who your true deity is.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 8–11. An appeal to history and prophecy in proof…
8–11. An appeal to history and prophecy in proof of Jehovah’s divinity.
shew yourselves men] R.V. marg. renders “stand fast,” but neither sense is suitable in an address to “rebels.” The verb used (hith’ôshâshû) is unknown in Hebrew. The rendering of A.V. is based on a common view that it is a denominative from the word for “man” (’îsh), which is grammatically untenable; that of R.V. marg. connects it with a root found in Aramaic, Assyrian and Arabic, meaning to “be firm.” Of proposed emendations the easiest is Lagarde’s, “be ye ashamed” (hithbôshâshû, after Gen_2:25). Others, hithbônânû, “consider” (ch. Isa_43:18).
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bring it again to mind] as ch. Isa_44:19.
O ye transgressors] Rather rebels (Isa_48:8, Isa_53:12, Isa_66:24). From ch. Isa_45:9 onwards there seems to be a growing sense of antagonism between the prophet and at least a section of his audience (see Isa_46:12 and on Isa_48:1-11).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (8) Shew yourselves men.—As elsewhere, the prophet’s challenge is…
(8) Shew yourselves men.—As elsewhere, the prophet’s challenge is couched in the language of irony. The worshippers of idols should at least have the courage of their convictions. A conjectural emendation gives the opposite meaning, Be ye deeply ashamed.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Remember this, and show yourselves men; or, remember this,…
Remember this, and show yourselves men; or, remember this, and stand firm. Isaiah is addressing those who waver between true religion and idolatry. Hitherto they have not fallen away, but they are in danger of so doing. Remember, he says to them, or "bear in mind constantly the impotence of the idols, and the power of Jehovah, and then stand firm remain in your old faith do not be drawn over to so foolish a thing as idolatry." O ye transgressors. It is to be a "transgressor" even to contemplate the turning from Jehovah to idolatry. Israel has been already "called a transgressor from the beginning". (Isa_48:8)
God"s call to exercise right reason.
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"Show yourselves men." This is the language of irony. Worshippers of idols should have the courage of their convictions. They should not be such children as to confound the spiritual God with dumb, senseless idols, who can neither counsel nor save. "Remember this, that has often been told you, what senseless, helpless things idols are, and show yourselves men men, and not brutes; men, and not babes. Act with reason, act with resolution, act for your own interest. Do a wise thing, do a brave thing, and scorn to disparage your own judgment, as you do when you worship idols" (Matthew Henry). The point presented for consideration is that God is served by the diligent and faithful use of our faculties, and not by crushing them.
I GOD IS BEST SERVED BY MAN AT HIS BEST. A very curious perversion of St. Paul"s glorying in his infirmities is the notion, which prevails in some quarters, that the more ignorant, weak, and foolish we are, the better we can serve God"s purposes. It is the universal truth that God works out his best purposes through the consecration of man"s best and most cultured powers to his service. It is only the exception of Divine grace that God is pleased sometimes to use man"s feebleness. Sometimes, indeed, it is so, that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings God perfects praise;" and his so doing efficiently persuades us of the absolute sovereignty of Divine grace; but the normal law is that God shall be served by the best culture and the wisest use of just those powers and faculties which he has himself given us. Let babes be babes, and honour God with infant songs. Since we are men, it is the best-cultured and most fully matured manhood that we must lay upon his altar. When reproached by a mere sentimentalist that "God had no need of his learning," the cultured divine very wisely as well as smartly replied, "And he has as little need of your ignorance." We must be in every way the best possible for God, and this includes our mental best.
II MAN AT HIS BEST IS BUT A SERVANT OF GOD. This conviction will keep him in his place, whatsoever his attainments may be. It is the constantly observed fact that fulness of learning and a genuine humility go together hand-in-hand. It is a "little knowledge" that puffeth up, a "little culture" that nourishes self-will. The things we have in the household and family life, for daily use, need not be chipped, ugly, or inefficient things; they may be in the best shapes, and may be artistic in appearance, pleasant to the eye, without losing their practical usefulness. So we can be the truest, wisest, most cultured, most beautiful men and women, and yet keep in perfect simplicity the humility and the joy of our service. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain A Reproof of Israel’s Refusal to Believe the Divine…
A Reproof of Israel’s Refusal to Believe the Divine Promises
v. 8. Remember this, keeping in mind what the Lord was now about to proclaim, and show yourselves men, renouncing the childishness of idolatry; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors, those who were forgetting the covenant and forsaking the true God.
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v. 9. Remember the former things of old, the miracles of God which happened in the earliest history of Israel, 43:18; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, this point being made again over against the danger of idolatrous practices,
v. 10. declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, the foretelling of future events in the manner in which it was done by Jehovah being one of the chief proofs of His divinity, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure, namely, as now set forth:
v. 11. calling a ravenous bird, a falcon, eagle, or bird of prey, from the East, this being Cyrus himself, the man that executeth My counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass, actually setting his plan in motion; I have purposed it, I will also do it, so that it will he an accomplished fact. The unquestioned authority of the Lord is combined with his ability to carry out his plans, to realize His projects, something in which He differed most radically from the dead idols.
v. 12. Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, those who were willingly hardening their hearts against the influence of the Lord, that are far from righteousness, who have excluded themselves from the salvation promised in the Lord’s covenant.
v. 13. I bring near My righteousness, the salvation of Israel; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry, He would surely bring deliverance to those who believe in Him, to the everlasting disgrace of the reprobates, and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel, My glory. Salvation in Zion, glory and honor in Israel, in the midst of his Church, all of this sets forth the happy condition of the Messianic period.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to his people.
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translationWords
rebel
God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 46:8-13 Many of the exiles would be completely discouraged…
46:8-13 Many of the exiles would be completely discouraged and not believe the prediction of God’s rescue. God challenged this unbelief.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.