Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 42:17
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods.
17. The confusion of the idolaters, through the “revelation of the glory of God” (ch. Isa 40:5), the Babylonians being those specially referred to (cf. ch. Isa 46:1); they shall be utterly ashamed (as ch. Isa 41:11).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They shall be turned back – The phrases, to be turned back, and to be suffused with shame, are frequently used in the Scriptures to denote a state of disappointment in regard to an object of trust or confidence, and especially of those who had trusted in idols (see Psa 35:4; Psa 70:3; Psa 97:7; compare the notes at Isa 1:29; Isa 19:9; Isa 37:27; see also Eze 16:52). The sense here is, that they should find no such protection in their idol-gods as they had hoped, and that they should be covered with conscious guilt forever, having trusted in them and given to them the homage which was due to the true God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
This may be understood either,
1. Of the converted Gentiles; who shall be turned back from their former sinful course, and shall sincerely grieve, and be ashamed that they did trust, &c., as the word may be rendered; that they should ever be guilty of such wickedness and madness to worship and trust in idols. Or rather,
2. Of those Gentiles who, when their brethren embraced the true God and Christ, persisted obstinately in their idolatrous courses, who shall be confounded and destroyed; for this phrase of being turned back is generally used in Scripture in a bad sense; or of them who are overthrown, or put to flight in battle, as Psa 9:3; 35:4; 70:2,3, &c. And the like I may say of being ashamed, or confounded, or put to shame, especially where this phrase is joined with the other, as it is in the two places of the Psalms last quoted.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. turned back . . .ashameddisappointed in their trust; the same phrase occurs inPs 35:4.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They shall be turned back,…. Either from their former course, from their idolatry and their idols, and be converted, and turn to the living God; or it may be understood of such Gentiles as were not converted, when others were, who should be put to flight, and should fly to the rocks and mountains to hide and cover them from the wrath of God; for this phrase is used of the overthrow of enemies, of their being obliged to turn their backs and flee:
they shall be greatly ashamed that trust in graven images; as converted persons when they come to be convinced of the folly of their idolatrous practices are; and if not converted, yet are confounded when they find their idols cannot help and assist them, nor deliver them out of their trouble:
that say to the molten images, ye are our gods; as the Israelites did to the molten calf made by Aaron; and the stupidity of the one and the other is much alike; this of the Gentiles, and that of the Israelites.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In connection with this, the following v. declares what effect this double manifestation will produce among the heathen. “They fall back, are put deeply to shame, that trust in molten images, that say to the molten image, Thou art our God.” Bosheth takes the place of an inf. intens.; cf., Hab 3:9. Jehovah’s glorious acts of judgment and salvation unmask the false gods, to the utter confusion of their worshippers. And whilst in this way the false religions fall, the redemption of Israel becomes at the same time the redemption of the heathen. The first half of this third prophecy is here brought to a close.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
17. They shall be driven back. This enables us to see more clearly to whom the former doctrine relates, for it distinguishes between the worshippers of God and the worshippers of idols. The Lord will be a leader to his own people, but, on the other hand, they who worship idols shall be ashamed As if he had said, that here the Lord gives us a choice, either to be saved by his grace, or to perish miserably; for all that place their hope of salvation in idols shall perish, but they who trust in the word of God are certain of salvation; because, though they often are heavily afflicted, yet he will not allow their hope to be put to shame in the end, but by the result will prove that he did not in vain lay down this distinction.
And say to a molten image, Ye are our gods. It is certain that by these two marks are described all idolaters who place their hope in any one else than in God alone; for, although idolaters do not bow down before their idols, yet, by attaching divinity to them, they offer blasphemy to the only and true God; for the chief part of the worship of God consists in faith and calling upon him, both of which the Prophet here describes. It may be asked, Were they so stupid as to say to an image, “Thou art my god?” for all superstitious persons confessed that God is in heaven, and did not openly ascribe divinity to wood or stone. I reply, all idolaters ascribe to images the power of God, though they acknowledge that he is in heaven; for, when they flee to statues and images, when they make and perform vows to them, they undoubtedly ascribe to them what belongs to God. It is in vain for them, therefore, to cloak their ignorance under plausible excuses, for they reckon wood and stone to be gods, and offer the highest insult to God; and consequently, the Prophet did not employ exaggerated language, or falsely accuse them of being idolaters; for it is plainly testified by their words and speeches, when they call their idols and images gods. Even though they did not utter a word, their madness is openly manifested by their imagining that they cannot reach the hand or the ear of God without bowing down before images to utter their prayers. The object of these statements is, that all may understand that no man will be saved but, he who trusts in God alone.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) They shall be greatly ashamed . . .Manifestly the winding up of a section. The foretold victories of Cyrus shall bring shame and confusion on the worshippers of the idols which he, the representative of a purer faith, should overthrow.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. They shall be turned back It is true, many of the heathen will remain blind, but those who are “turned back” to the truth as originally given to all shall be greatly ashamed; or, ashamed with shame; that is, utterly mortified at their stupidity in ever having worshipped idols.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Sec. 3. GOD’S CONTROVERSY WITH ISRAEL, Isa 42:17 to Isa 44:5.
The controversy with heathendom closed. Its period is from Abraham’s call ideally to the last triumph of Messiah. The message is now again to Israel. It began in Isa 1:2, and has been scatteringly resumed ever since.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Here, as in the former chapters, the contrast is drawn between the Lord Jehovah, and the idols of the nations around; and the striking difference which marks the several worshippers is made between them that serve the Lord, and them that serve him not. And in the midst, a beautiful allusion is also made to the person of Christ. And who that reads the Prophet’s account, and compares it with the Evangelist’s, but must be struck with the wonderful agreement? Isa 50:4-6 ; Mat 27:28-31 . The chapter closeth with tracing up the desolations of our ruined nature to the source and origin of that ruin in man’s own apostacy and rebellion. The Lord is justified in all the righteous acts of his government. By the entrance of sin, misery followeth: and what can rescue and redeem from present and everlasting woe, but his righteousness, who hath thereby magnified the law, and made it honourable?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 42:17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods.
Ver. 17. They shall be greatly ashamed. ] Heb., Be ashamed with shame; because disappointed and defeated, as the Papists oft have been when they have fought against Protestants, in that Bellum Hussiticum in Germany especially; and yet Bellarmine hath the face to say that the Catholics were never yet worsted by the heretics, as they call us, in a set battle.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
trust = confide. Hebrew. batah. App-69.
that say, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 32:4). App-92.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
be greatly: Isa 1:29, Isa 44:11, Isa 45:16, Isa 45:17, Psa 97:7, Jer 2:26, Jer 2:27, Hab 2:18-20
say to: Isa 44:17, Exo 32:4, Exo 32:8
Reciprocal: Exo 20:4 – General Psa 115:4 – Their idols Isa 45:20 – they Jer 10:14 – brutish in his knowledge Jer 38:22 – they are Lam 1:13 – he hath turned Dan 5:4 – of gold Hos 4:19 – and Rev 9:20 – and idols
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
That deliverance would spell humiliation for idolaters because they, and others, would see the impotence of their gods compared to Yahweh. Return from the Exile provided a sign of what God would do for His people in the eschaton. Both acts of God seem to be in view here.
The rest of this chapter addresses Israel’s present condition of blindness (cf. Romans 10). Yahweh now disputed with His people, not with pagan idolaters, as formerly. Motyer analyzed the structure of this part of Isaiah differently and saw a parallel between national redemption in Isa 42:18 to Isa 43:21 and spiritual redemption in Isa 43:22 to Isa 44:23. [Note: Motyer, p. 326.]