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Selected Verse: Isaiah 44:20 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 44:20 |
Strong Concordance |
He feedeth [07462] on ashes [0665]: a deceived [02048] heart [03820] hath turned him aside [05186], that he cannot deliver [05337] his soul [05315], nor say [0559], Is there not a lie [08267] in my right hand [03225]? |
| |
King James |
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
feedeth on ashes--figuratively, for the idolater delights in what is vain (Pro 15:14; Hos 12:1). "Feedeth on wind." There is an allusion, perhaps, also, to the god being made of a tree, the half of which was reduced to ashes by fire (Isa 44:15-17); the idol, it is implied, was no better, and could, and ought, to have been reduced to ashes like the other half.
deceived heart--The heart and will first go astray, then the intellect and life (Rom 1:28; Eph 4:18).
lie in . . . right hand--Is not my handiwork (the idol) a self-deceit? |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
He feedeth on ashes - There have been various interpretations of this. Jerome renders it, 'A part of it is ashes;' the Chaldee, 'Lo! half of the god is reduced to ashes;' the Septuagint, 'Know thou that their heart is ashes.' The word rendered here 'feedeth' (רעה ro‛eh) means properly "to feed, graze, pasture"; and then, figuratively, to delight, or take pleasure in any person or thing Pro 13:20; Pro 15:14; Pro 28:7; Pro 29:3. In Hos 12:1, 'Ephraim feedeth on wind,' it means to strive after something vain or unprofitable; to seek that which will prove to be vain and unsatisfactory. So here it means, that in their idol-service they would not obtain that which they sought. It would be like a man who sought for food, and found it to be dust or ashes; and the service of an idol compared with what man needed, or compared with the true religion, would be like ashes compared with nutritious and wholesome diet. This graphic description of the effect of idolatry is just as true of the ways of sin, and of the pursuits of the world now. It is true of the frivolous and the fashionable; of those who seek happiness in riches and honors; of all those who make this world their portion, that they are feeding on ashes - they seek that which is vain, unsubstantial, unsatisfactory, and which will yet fill the soul itself with disgust and loathing.
A deceived heart hath turned him aside - This is the true source of the difficulty; this is the fountain of all idolatry and sin. The heart is first wrong, and then the understanding, and the whole conduct is turned aside from the path of truth and duty (compare Rom 1:28).
A lie in my right hand - The right hand is the instrument of action. A lie is a name often given to an idol as being false and delusive. The sense is, that that which they had been making, and on which they were depending, was deceitful and vain. The work of their right hand - the fruit of their skill and toil, was deceptive, and could not save them. The doctrine is, that that which sinners rely on to save their souls; that which has cost their highest efforts as a scheme to save them, is false and delusive. All schemes of religion of human origin are of this description: and all will be alike deceptive and ruinous to the soul. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| This exposure of the infatuation of idolatry closes with an epiphonem in the form of a gnome (cf., Isa 26:7, Isa 26:10). "He who striveth after ashes, a befooled heart has led him astray, and he does not deliver his soul, and does not think, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" We have here a complete and self-contained sentence, which must not be broken up in the manner proposed by Knobel, "He hunts after ashes; his heart is deceived," etc. He who makes ashes, i.e., things easily scattered, perishable, and worthless, the object of his effort and striving (compare rūăch in Hos 12:2), has bee led astray from the path of truth and salvation by a heart overpowered by delusion; he is so certain, that he does not think of saving his soul, and it never occurs to him to say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" All that belongs to idolatry is sheqer - a fabrication and a lie. רעה means primarily to pasture or tend, hence to be concerned about, to strive after. הותל is an attributive, from tâlal - hâtal, ludere, ludificare (see at Isa 30:10). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Ashes - An unprofitable and pernicious food, and no less unsatisfying and mischievous is the worship of idols. Deceived heart - A mind corrupted and deceived by deep prejudice, gross error, and especially by his own lusts. Turned - From the way of truth. Deliver - From the snares and dangers of idolatry. Is there not - What is this idol which I set at my right - hand, as the true God is said in scripture to be at the right - hand of his people; which I highly honour, for the most honourable place was on the right - hand; to which I look for relief and assistance, which God in scripture is said to afford to his people, by being at and holding their right - hand. What, I say, is this idol? Is it not a lie, which tho' it pretends to be a god, yet, in truth is nothing but vanity and falsehood? |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| He feedeth on ashes - He feedeth on that which affordeth no nourishment; a proverbial expression for using ineffectual means, and bestowing labor to no purpose. In the same sense Hosea says, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." Hos 12:1. |
18 Having the understanding [1271] darkened [4654], being [5607] alienated [526] from the life [2222] of God [2316] through [1223] the ignorance [52] that is [5607] in [1722] them [846], because [1223] of the blindness [4457] of their [846] heart [2588]:
28 And [2532] even as [2531] they did [1381] not [3756] like [1381] to retain [2192] God [2316] in [1722] their knowledge [1922], God [2316] gave [3860] them [846] over [3860] to [1519] a reprobate [96] mind [3563], to do [4160] those things which are [2520] not [3361] convenient [2520];
15 Then shall it be for a man [0120] to burn [01197]: for he will take [03947] thereof, and warm [02552] himself; yea, he kindleth [05400] it, and baketh [0644] bread [03899]; yea, he maketh [06466] a god [0410], and worshippeth [07812] it; he maketh [06213] it a graven image [06459], and falleth down [05456] thereto.
16 He burneth [08313] part [02677] thereof in [01119] the fire [0784]; with part [02677] thereof he eateth [0398] flesh [01320]; he roasteth [06740] roast [06748], and is satisfied [07646]: yea, he warmeth [02552] himself, and saith [0559], Aha [01889], I am warm [02552], I have seen [07200] the fire [0217]:
17 And the residue [07611] thereof he maketh [06213] a god [0410], even his graven image [06459]: he falleth down [05456] unto it, and worshippeth [07812] it, and prayeth [06419] unto it, and saith [0559], Deliver [05337] me; for thou art my god [0410].
1 Ephraim [0669] feedeth [07462] on wind [07307], and followeth [07291] after the east wind [06921]: he daily [03117] increaseth [07235] lies [03577] and desolation [07701]; and they do make [03772] a covenant [01285] with the Assyrians [0804], and oil [08081] is carried [02986] into Egypt [04714].
14 The heart [03820] of him that hath understanding [0995] seeketh [01245] knowledge [01847]: but the mouth [06310] [06440] of fools [03684] feedeth [07462] on foolishness [0200].
28 And [2532] even as [2531] they did [1381] not [3756] like [1381] to retain [2192] God [2316] in [1722] their knowledge [1922], God [2316] gave [3860] them [846] over [3860] to [1519] a reprobate [96] mind [3563], to do [4160] those things which are [2520] not [3361] convenient [2520];
1 Ephraim [0669] feedeth [07462] on wind [07307], and followeth [07291] after the east wind [06921]: he daily [03117] increaseth [07235] lies [03577] and desolation [07701]; and they do make [03772] a covenant [01285] with the Assyrians [0804], and oil [08081] is carried [02986] into Egypt [04714].
3 Whoso [0376] loveth [0157] wisdom [02451] rejoiceth [08055] his father [01]: but he that keepeth company [07462] with harlots [02181] spendeth [06] his substance [01952].
7 Whoso keepeth [05341] the law [08451] is a wise [0995] son [01121]: but he that is a companion [07462] of riotous [02151] men shameth [03637] his father [01].
14 The heart [03820] of him that hath understanding [0995] seeketh [01245] knowledge [01847]: but the mouth [06310] [06440] of fools [03684] feedeth [07462] on foolishness [0200].
20 He that walketh [01980] with wise [02450] men shall be wise [02449]: but a companion [07462] of fools [03684] shall be destroyed [07321].
10 Which say [0559] to the seers [07200], See [07200] not; and to the prophets [02374], Prophesy [02372] not unto us right things [05229], speak [01696] unto us smooth things [02513], prophesy [02372] deceits [04123]:
2 The LORD [03068] hath also a controversy [07379] with Judah [03063], and will punish [06485] Jacob [03290] according to his ways [01870]; according to his doings [04611] will he recompense [07725] him.
10 Let favour be shewed [02603] to the wicked [07563], yet will he not [01077] learn [03925] righteousness [06664]: in the land [0776] of uprightness [05229] will he deal unjustly [05765], and will not [01077] behold [07200] the majesty [01348] of the LORD [03068].
7 The way [0734] of the just [06662] is uprightness [04339]: thou, most upright [03477], dost weigh [06424] the path [04570] of the just [06662].
1 Ephraim [0669] feedeth [07462] on wind [07307], and followeth [07291] after the east wind [06921]: he daily [03117] increaseth [07235] lies [03577] and desolation [07701]; and they do make [03772] a covenant [01285] with the Assyrians [0804], and oil [08081] is carried [02986] into Egypt [04714].