American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Isaiah 44
2
Thus said the LORD that made you, and formed you from the womb, which will help you; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and you, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Reference
Creation
Isaiah 43:1
Isaiah 43:7
Isaiah 49:1
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 1:5
Ephesians 1:4
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 8:30
Psalm 71:6
Isaiah 43:21
References Lord
Isaiah 44:24
3
For I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground: I will pour my spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring:
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:6
Acts 2:39
Spirit
Joel 2:28
Acts 2:17
Isaiah 59:21
Proverbs 1:23
Zechariah 12:10
Ezekiel 39:29
Isaiah 32:15
Acts 10:45
5
One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand to the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Peter 2:9
References Israel
Galatians 6:16
References Lord
Zechariah 13:9
2 Corinthians 8:5
6
Thus said the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:13
Redemption
Isaiah 48:17
Isaiah 44:24
References God
Isaiah 44:8
Deuteronomy 32:39
Deuteronomy 6:4
References Israel
Isaiah 48:12
References Lord
Isaiah 41:4
Revelation 1:8
Isaiah 42:8
7
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show to them.
Reference
8
Fear you not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? you are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yes, there is no God; I know not any.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 10:30
References God
1 Samuel 2:2
Deuteronomy 4:35
Deuteronomy 4:39
Psalm 18:31
2 Samuel 22:32
Isaiah 44:6
John 1:1
Deuteronomy 32:39
Witness
Isaiah 43:10
9
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
Reference
11
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
Reference
12
The smith with the tongs both works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails: he drinks no water, and is faint.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:19
13
The carpenter stretches out his rule; he marks it out with a line; he fits it with planes, and he marks it out with the compass, and makes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
Reference
14
He hews him down cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest: he plants an ash, and the rain does nourish it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:20
15
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread; yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down thereto.
Reference
References God
2 Chronicles 25:14
16
He burns part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied: yes, he warms himself, and said, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17
And the residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image: he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and said, Deliver me; for you are my god.
Reference
Prayer
Isaiah 45:20
18
They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
Reference
19
And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
Reference
20
He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
Reference
21
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Zechariah 10:9
Isaiah 43:7
Isaiah 42:23
Deuteronomy 32:18
Deuteronomy 4:23
References Israel
Isaiah 43:1
Isaiah 43:15
22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 6:20
Isaiah 55:7
Redemption
Isaiah 43:1
Isaiah 48:20
Isaiah 1:27
Sin
Isaiah 43:25
Psalm 103:12
Jeremiah 33:8
Psalm 51:9
Psalm 51:1
23
Sing, O you heavens; for the LORD has done it: shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Reference
24
Thus said the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 45:12
Job 9:8
Isaiah 40:22
Redemption
Isaiah 54:5
Revelation 5:9
Isaiah 43:14
References Lord
Isaiah 42:5
Isaiah 51:13
Isaiah 45:18
Isaiah 44:2
25
That frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners mad; that turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
Reference
26
That confirms the word of his servant, and performes the counsel of his messengers; that said to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 60:10
Isaiah 42:9
Jeremiah 30:18
Jeremiah 33:7
Ezra 2:70
Nehemiah 2:3
References Jerusalem
Nehemiah 1:3
Zechariah 2:4
Zechariah 12:6
Word
Zechariah 1:6
Summary of Isaiah 44
Isaiah 44 continues the message of comfort and restoration, beginning with God's assurance that Israel is His chosen servant and that He has not forgotten His people.
God promises to pour out water on thirsty ground and His Spirit upon Israel's descendants, using the transformation of dry land into fertile ground as a picture of spiritual and national renewal.
Israel will regain a strong sense of identity as God's people, and God declares Himself to be their King, Redeemer, and only true God.
A large portion of the chapter then contrasts the living God with human-made idols.
Isaiah describes the process in almost humorous detail: a craftsman cuts down a tree, uses part of the wood for fire and cooking, and then takes the remaining piece and makes it into an idol.
The same material that provides warmth and food is treated as a god that supposedly has the power to save.
Isaiah's point is that idols cannot see, hear, understand, predict the future, or rescue anyone because they are simply products of human hands.
This argument becomes especially significant in the 6th century BC, when Judah's exiles were living within the Babylonian world and surrounded by powerful religious traditions and temple images.
In contrast, the Lord is the Creator of heaven and earth, the God who knows the future, directs history, forgives sin, and restores His people.
God therefore tells Israel that their sins have been erased and calls them to return to Him.
The chapter then moves toward a remarkable promise of restoration.
Jerusalem will again be inhabited, Judah's cities will be rebuilt, and God will remove the obstacles standing in the way of His people's return.
The final verse names Cyrus, the Persian ruler, as God's chosen instrument for accomplishing this purpose.
Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, and Persian policy allowed displaced peoples to return to their homelands and restore their sanctuaries.
Isaiah 44 therefore connects spiritual restoration with a major political transformation in the ancient Near East.
The central message is that God's people should not fear because their Creator and Redeemer has not forgotten them; unlike powerless idols created by human hands, the living God controls the future, forgives His people's sins, raises rulers to accomplish His purposes, and can transform a nation that appears destroyed into a restored people with a rebuilt Jerusalem and renewed worship.
God promises to pour out water on thirsty ground and His Spirit upon Israel's descendants, using the transformation of dry land into fertile ground as a picture of spiritual and national renewal.
Israel will regain a strong sense of identity as God's people, and God declares Himself to be their King, Redeemer, and only true God.
A large portion of the chapter then contrasts the living God with human-made idols.
Isaiah describes the process in almost humorous detail: a craftsman cuts down a tree, uses part of the wood for fire and cooking, and then takes the remaining piece and makes it into an idol.
The same material that provides warmth and food is treated as a god that supposedly has the power to save.
Isaiah's point is that idols cannot see, hear, understand, predict the future, or rescue anyone because they are simply products of human hands.
This argument becomes especially significant in the 6th century BC, when Judah's exiles were living within the Babylonian world and surrounded by powerful religious traditions and temple images.
In contrast, the Lord is the Creator of heaven and earth, the God who knows the future, directs history, forgives sin, and restores His people.
God therefore tells Israel that their sins have been erased and calls them to return to Him.
The chapter then moves toward a remarkable promise of restoration.
Jerusalem will again be inhabited, Judah's cities will be rebuilt, and God will remove the obstacles standing in the way of His people's return.
The final verse names Cyrus, the Persian ruler, as God's chosen instrument for accomplishing this purpose.
Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, and Persian policy allowed displaced peoples to return to their homelands and restore their sanctuaries.
Isaiah 44 therefore connects spiritual restoration with a major political transformation in the ancient Near East.
The central message is that God's people should not fear because their Creator and Redeemer has not forgotten them; unlike powerless idols created by human hands, the living God controls the future, forgives His people's sins, raises rulers to accomplish His purposes, and can transform a nation that appears destroyed into a restored people with a rebuilt Jerusalem and renewed worship.