Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 41:23
Show 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.
23. do good, or do evil ] i.e. “do anything whatever, good or bad” (Jer 10:5; Zep 1:12), give any sign of vitality or intelligence.
that we may be dismayed ] Rather: that we may stare (in astonishment). (The same word in Isa 41:10.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That we may know that ye are gods – The prediction of future events is the highest evidence of omniscience, and of course of divinity. In this passage it is admitted that if they could do it, it would prove that they were worthy of adoration; and it is demanded, that if they were gods they should be able to make such a prediction as would demonstrate that they were invested with a divine nature.
Yea, do good, or do evil – Do something; show that you have some power; either defend your friends, or prostrate your foes; accomplish something – anything, good or bad, that shall prove that you have power. This is said in opposition to the character which is usually given to idols in the Scriptures – that they were dumb, deaf, dead, inactive, powerless (see Psa 95:1-11) The command here to do evil, means to punish their enemies, or to inflict vengeance on their foes; and the idea is, that they had no power to do anything; either to do good to their worshippers, or harm to their enemies; and that thus they showed that they were no gods. The same idea is expressed in Jer 10:3-5 : They (idols) are upright as the palm-tree, but speak not; they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
That we may be dismayed – (See the note at Isa 41:10). The word we here refers to those who were the friends and worshippers of Yahweh. That I, Yahweh, and my friends and worshippers, may be alarmed, and afraid of what idols may be able to do. God and his people were regarded as the foes of idols, and God here calls on them to prove that there is any reason why he and his people should be afraid of their power.
And behold it together – That we may all see it; that I and my people may have full demonstration of your power.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 23. That we may be dismayed, and behold it together – “Then shall we be struck at once with admiration and terror.”] The word venere is written imperfectly in the Hebrew text; the Masoretes supply he at the end; and so it is read in twenty-two MSS. and four editions; that is, venireh, and we shall see. But the true reading seems to be venira, and we shall fear, with yod supplied, from yara.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That we may know that ye are gods; that we may have, if not a certain proof, yet at least a probable argument, of your deity. It may be objected that the devil hath foretold future events by idols; but it may be answered, that such predictions were but rare, and oftentimes were false, and confuted by the event; and generally were dark and doubtful, as hath been noted; and when they were verified by the event, that was only done by Divine permission and revelation, for the trial or punishment of wicked men, of which we have an instance, Deu 13:1-3, and therefore doth no more prove them to be gods than the predictions made known by God unto the prophets proved them to be gods.
Do good, or
do evil; protect and bless your worshippers whom I intend to destroy, and destroy my people whom I intend to save, and then you have some colour to assert your deity. But, alas! you can neither do good nor evil.
That we may be dismayed, and behold it together; that I and my people may be astonished, and confounded, and forced to acknowledge your godhead.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. do good . . . evilgiveany proof at all of your power, either to reward your friends orpunish your enemies (Ps115:2-8).
that we may be dismayed, andbehold it togetherMAURERtranslates, “That we (Jehovah and the idols) may look oneanother in the face (that is, encounter one another, 2Ki 14:8;2Ki 14:11), and see” ourrespective powers by a trial. HORSLEYtranslates, “Then the moment we behold, we shall be dismayed.””We” thus, and in English Version, refers to Jehovahand His worshippers.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Show the things that are to come hereafter,…. From henceforward to the consummation of all things: so the Targum,
“show what shall come to the end;”
or at the end, the end of all things; or show wonderful things, which shall be hereafter; so Jarchi interprets the word; a word like this having the signification of signs and wonders:
that we may know that ye are gods; as ye are said to be; that we may own and acknowledge you to be such, there being this clear proof of it, if it can be made out, foretelling things to come, both near and far off. The Targum is,
“that we may know whether ye worship idols, in whom there is any profit;”
as if the words were spoken not to the idols, but to the worshippers of them: “yea, do good, or do evil”; not in a moral, but in a civil sense; do good to your friends, to your worshippers; bestow favours upon them, as I do on mine; or inflict punishment on your enemies, such as despise your deity, and will not worship you, as I do on those that despise me, and will not regard my service and worship:
that we may be dismayed, and behold it together: that when we see your deity, and are convinced of it by the above proofs, we may be amazed and astonished, as not expecting such proof, and be confounded, and have no more to object unto it. The Targum is,
“that we may consider and reason together;”
and bring the matter in controversy to an issue, as it is in the next verse.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
23. Do good, or do evil. It must not be supposed that to do evil denotes, in this passage, to commit injustice, which is contrary to the nature of God; but it means to inflict punishment, and to send adversity, which ought to be ascribed to the providence of God, and not to idols or fortune. In this sense it is very frequently found in Scripture.
“
Is there evil in a city which the Lord hath not done?” (Amo 3:6.)
In like manner Jeremiah accuses the people of not acknowledging God to be “the author of good and of evil.” (Lam 3:38) By “evils” of that kind, therefore, such as wars, pestilence, famine, poverty, disease, and others of the same kind, the Lord punishes the sins of the people, and wishes to be acknowledged as the author of them all. Now, Isaiah does not bring forward all the examples and arguments by which God could be distinguished from idols, for that would have required a very long discourse; but he is at present satisfied with those which would give a short and yet clear demonstration; for he has not yet concluded his argument.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(23) Do good, or do evil.The challenge reminds us of Elijahs on Mount Carmel (1Ki. 18:27). Can the heathen point to any good or evil fortune which, as having been predicted by this or that deity, might reasonably be thought of as his work? It lies in the nature of the case that every heathen looked to his gods as having sent blessings, or the reverse, but it was only Jehovah who could give the proof supplied by prediction.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 41:23 Shew 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.
Ver. 23. Show the things that are to come. ] This first argument is much insisted on. God alone can properly predict; and Testimonium divinitatis est veritas divinationis. a Cato Major was wont to say, that he wondered how one diviner could look upon another and not laugh, as knowing themselves to be no better than deceivers of the people.
Yea, do good or evil.
a Tertul. Apol., cap. 20.
b Vide etiam, Aug. De Civlt. Dei, lib. ii. cap. 22, 25, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
that we may know: Isa 42:9, Isa 44:7, Isa 44:8, Isa 45:8, Isa 46:9, Isa 46:10, Joh 13:19, Act 15:18
do good: Isa 45:7, Isa 46:7, Jer 10:5
Reciprocal: Gen 41:25 – God Jdg 6:31 – if he be 1Sa 12:21 – cannot profit 1Ki 18:27 – for he is a god 2Ki 1:6 – Thus saith Isa 19:12 – let them Isa 41:26 – righteous Isa 45:3 – that thou Isa 45:21 – who hath declared Dan 2:9 – I shall Dan 2:28 – that revealeth Dan 10:21 – I will Mat 12:17 – it Joh 16:4 – that when Rev 5:2 – Who