That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
25, 26. The overthrow of heathen soothsaying and the establishment of true prophecy as it existed in Israel.
the tokens of the liars ] Or, the signs of the praters (cf. Jer 50:36, and See on ch. Isa 16:6 where the word means “pratings”). The “signs” (see Deu 13:1 f.) referred to are the omens on which the diviners based their forecasts of the future. How much reliance was placed on these prognostications by the Babylonians will be seen from ch. 47.
diviners ] See on ch. Isa 3:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That frustrateth – Hebrew, Breaking: that is, destroying, rendering vain. The idea is, that that which necromancers and diviners relied on as certain demonstration that what they predicted would be fulfilled, God makes vain and inefficacious. The event which they predicted did not follow, and all their alleged proofs that they were endowed with divine or miraculous power he rendered vain.
The tokens – Hebrew, ‘othoth – Signs. This word is usually applied to miracles, or to signs of the divine interposition and presence. Here it means the things on which diviners and soothsayers relied; the tricks of cunning and sleight-of-hand which they adduced as miracles, or as demonstrations that they were under a divine influence. See the word more fully explained in the notes at Isa 7:2.
The liars – Deceivers, boasters – meaning conjurers, or false prophets (compare Jer 50:36; see also the note at Isa 16:6).
And maketh diviners mad – That is, makes them foolish, or deprives them of wisdom. They pretend to foretell future events, but the event does not correspond with the prediction. God orders it otherwise, and thus they are shown to be foolish, or unwise.
That turneth wise men backward – Lowth renders this, Who reverseth the devices of the sages. The sense is, he puts them to shame. The idea seems to be derived from the fact that when one is ashamed, or disappointed, or fails of performing what he promised, he turns away his face (see 1Ki 2:16, margin) The wise men, here denote the sages; the diviners, the soothsayers; and the sense is, that they were not able to predict future events, and that when their prediction failed, they would be suffused with shame.
And maketh their knowledge foolish – He makes them appear to be fools. It is well known that soothsayers and diviners abounded in the East; and it is not improbable that the prophet here means that when Babylon was attacked by Cyrus, the diviners and soothsayers would predict his defeat, and the overthrow of his army, but that the result would show that they were utterly incapable of predicting a future event. The whole passage here has reference to the taking of Babylon by Cyrus, and should be interpreted accordingly.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars; of the magicians, and astrologers, and sorcerers, who were numerous, and greatly employed and esteemed in Babylon, Isa 47:12,13; Da 2:2,48, and who had foretold the long continuance and prosperity of the Chaldean empire. But, saith God, I will confute their tokens or predictions, and prove them to be liars.
And maketh diviners mad with grief for the disappointment of their hopes and predictions, and their disgrace and loss which followed it.
That turneth wise men backward; stopping their way, thwarting and blasting their designs, so as they can proceed no further, but are forced to retreat and take new counsels, and giving them up to such counsels and courses as are foolish and pernicious to themselves.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
25. tokensprognostics; thepretended miracles which they gave as proofs of theirsupernatural powers.
liars (Jer50:36). Conjurers; or, astrologers; men leading a retiredcontemplative life in order to study divination by the signs of thestars [VITRINGA].
backwardwith shame attheir predictions not being verified. “To turn away the face”is to frustrate defeat (Isa 36:9;1Ki 2:15). The “wise men”are the diviners who, when Babylon was attacked by Cyrus, predictedhis overthrow.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars,…. Struck dumb the oracles of the Heathens, disappointed their lying priests, and made void all the signs and tokens they gave the people, that such and such things would come to pass, which did not, and which proved them to be liars:
and maketh diviners mad; soothsayers, astrologers, and such sort of persons, who pretended to foretell future events; but these not answering to their predictions, they became mad, because their credit was ruined, and they lost their reward:
that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolishness; the wise philosophers among the Gentiles, and their schemes of philosophy, which were confounded and destroyed, and proved foolish, through the ministration of the Gospel, 1Co 1:20.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25. Frustrating the signs. The Prophet expressly added this, because Babylon surpassed other nations not only in the force of arms, and in troops and resources, but likewise in some remarkable sagacity, by which she appeared to penetrate even to heaven. What injury could befall those who foresaw at a distance future events, and could easily, as was commonly supposed, ward off imminent dangers? The astrologers, who were celebrated among them, foretold all events; and from them sprung that bastard Astrology which is called Judicial, by which even now many persons of great abilities are led astray. They assumed the name of Mathematicians, in order to recommend themselves more to the approbation of the people. The Egyptians boasted of being the authors of that science, and of being the first who taught it; but let us leave them to settle their dispute. It is certain that the Babylonians practiced that art from the very commencement, and esteemed it highly, so that both the Greeks and the Romans gave to those astrologers the name of Chaldees. Since, therefore, they placed much confidence in that science, the Lord threatens that he will overthrow all that belongs to it.
By the word signs he means the positions, conjunctions, and various aspects of the stars, about which Astrologers speculate; and he afterwards says that he maketh them mad Some take the word בדים (baddim) to mean lies, as if he had said that the divinations to which the Astrologers pretend are nothing but absolute delusions; but I choose rather to interpret it diviners, as we frequently find it used in that sense.
It is asked, “Does he condemn the astrology of the Chaldeans universally, or only the abuse and corruption of it?” I reply, in this passage he merely condemns those signs by means of which the Chaldeans prophesied, and imagined that they knew future events; for the Lord declares that they are absolutely worthless. It was not without good reason that he forbade the people to consult Chaldeans, astrologers, diviners, soothsayers, or any other kind of fortune-tellers, and commanded that no one who practiced that art should be permitted to dwell among the people. (Deu 18:10.) Now, if any certain information could have been obtained from the position and aspect of the stars, the Lord undoubtedly would not thus have condemned that science. Since, therefore, he forbade it without exception, he shewed that it contains nothing but absolute delusion, which all believers ought to detest.
But the defenders of that absurdity argue that the Lord gave the planets and stars “for signs.” (Gen 1:14.) Granting this principle, I reply, that we ought to inquire of what, things they are the “signs;” for we do not condemn that Astronomy (189) which surveys the courses of the planets, in which we ought to acknowledge the wonderful majesty of God. But we condemn men addicted to curiosity, who wish to learn from them how long any government shall last, and what shall befall this city or that people, or even this or that man; for they go beyond limits, and abuse “signs,” which were not given for the purpose of being omens of future events. I do acknowledge that we are sometimes warned by heavenly signs, to see that we have provoked the Lord’s anger, or that chastisements are hanging over our heads, but not to venture to give minute explanations or conclusions, or to determine those hidden and secret events which we have no right to search and explore. But above all, we ought to observe the cause and origin of impiety; for, as soon as that error prevails, that the life of man is governed by the influence of the stars;, the judgment-seat of God is overthrown, so that he is not the judge of the world in inflicting punishments, or in restoring to life by his mercy those who were perishing. They who think that the stars, by their irresistible influence, control the life of men, immediately become hardened to the imagination of destiny, so that they now leave nothing to God. Thus the tribunals of God are buried, and consequently piety is extinguished, and calling on God is altogether at an end.
He calls them wise men, and speaks of their knowledge, by way of admission, because they boasted greatly of the title of “wisdom,” when they uttered those things which they had learned from the stars, as if they had been admitted into the counsel of God; and therefore he means that those empty masks of “wisdom” will not hinder the Lord from overturning their whole estate; for all their contrivances and tricks shall be brought to nothing.
(189) The Latin word Astrologia has a wider signification than the English word Astrology; for it sometimes denotes, as it undoubtedly does in this instance, “Astronomy,” which belongs to the lawful domains of calculation and science. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(25) That frustrateth the tokens of the liars.Better, of the pratersi.e., the false prophets of Babylon. It is implied that they, after the manner of the false seers of Judah (Jer. 23:16-17), predicted for the kings of Babylon a time of prosperity and peace.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Ver. 25. That frustrateth the tokens of the liars. ] Their false prognostics of the long lastingness of the Babylonian empire, and therefore no likelihood of the Jews’ enlargement.
And maketh diviners mad.
That turneth wise men backward.
a In Encyclop.
tokens = signs. See note on Isa 7:11.
liars: i.e. the false prophets of the heathen.
diviners: i.e. the astrologers, &c, of Assyria. See note on Isa 47:13.
wise. Figure of speech Antiphrasis (App-6) = accounted wise.
frustrateth: Isa 47:12-14, 1Ki 22:11, 1Ki 22:12, 1Ki 22:22-25, 1Ki 22:37, 2Ch 18:11, 2Ch 18:34, Jer 27:9, Jer 27:10, Jer 28:9-17, Jer 50:36
maketh: Exo 9:11, Dan 1:20, Dan 2:10-12, Dan 4:7, Dan 5:6-8
turneth: Isa 19:11-14, Isa 29:14, 2Sa 15:31, 2Sa 16:23, 2Sa 17:23, Job 5:12-14, Psa 33:10, Jer 49:7, Jer 51:57, 1Co 1:20-27, 1Co 3:19, 1Co 3:20
Reciprocal: Gen 2:9 – tree of knowledge Num 22:38 – have I Num 23:8 – General 1Ki 22:38 – and the dogs Neh 4:15 – God Isa 16:6 – but Isa 19:3 – and they Isa 47:13 – Let now Jer 28:17 – Hananiah Jer 50:35 – her wise men Jer 50:38 – mad Eze 21:29 – they see Dan 2:4 – tell Dan 2:9 – for Dan 2:27 – cannot Dan 5:7 – to bring Mic 3:7 – the seers Act 8:11 – he had
44:25 That frustrateth the {c} tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
(c) He arms them against the soothsayers of Babylon, who would have said that they knew by the stars that God would not deliver Israel, and that Babylon would stand.
God embarrasses astrologers, diviners, and fortunetellers by controlling history in ways that deviate from past patterns. Ancient and modern prognosticators usually base their predictions on the belief that things will work out in the future as they have in the past. But Yahweh can move future events in entirely new directions. Archaeologists have discovered many predictions of the future of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires among Babylonian writings, but they are consistently optimistic; none are messages announcing the fall of these kingdoms. [Note: See C. Westermann, Isaiah 40-66, pp. 156-57.] He can do things never before done.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)