Isaiah 44:19
New International Version
No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

New Living Translation
The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”

English Standard Version
No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”

Berean Standard Bible
And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

King James Bible
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon 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?

New King James Version
And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”

New American Standard Bible
No one remembers, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I bow down before a block of wood!”

NASB 1995
No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!”

NASB 1977
And no one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!”

Legacy Standard Bible
No one causes this to return to his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an abomination; I fall down before a block of wood!”

Amplified Bible
No one remembers, nor has knowledge and understanding [enough] to say [to himself], “I have burned half of this log in the fire, and also baked bread on its coals and have roasted meat and eaten it. Then I make the rest of it into an repulsive thing [to God]; I bow down [to worship] before a block of wood!”

Christian Standard Bible
No one comes to his senses; no one has the perception or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. Should I make something detestable with the rest of it? Should I bow down to a block of wood? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
No one reflects, no one has the perception or insight to say,” I burned half of it in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and ate. I will make something detestable with the rest of it, and I will bow down to a block of wood.”

American Standard Version
And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon 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?

Contemporary English Version
They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, "I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?"

English Revised Version
And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon 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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say, "I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood."

Good News Translation
The maker of idols hasn't the wit or the sense to say, "Some of the wood I burned up. I baked some bread on the coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And the rest of the wood I made into an idol. Here I am bowing down to a block of wood!"

International Standard Version
No one stops to think. No one has the knowledge or understanding to think—yes to think!— "Half of it I burned in the fire. I even baked bread on its coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And am I about to make detestable things from what is left? Am I about to bow down to blocks of wood?"

Majority Standard Bible
And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

NET Bible
No one thinks to himself, nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves: 'I burned half of it in the fire--yes, I baked bread over the coals; I roasted meat and ate it. With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol? Should I bow down to dry wood?'

New Heart English Bible
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; I have also baked bread upon its coals; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue of it an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

World English Bible
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And none turn [it] back to his heart, "" Nor has knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, "" Indeed, I have also baked bread over its coals, "" I roast flesh and I eat, "" And I make its remnant for an abomination, "" I fall down to the stock of a tree.”

Young's Literal Translation
And none doth turn it back unto his heart, Nor hath knowledge nor understanding to say, 'Half of it I have burned in the fire, Yea, also, I have baked bread over its coals, I roast flesh and I eat, And its remnant for an abomination I make, To the stock of a tree I fall down.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And none will set to his heart; and not knowledge, and not understanding to say, Half of it I burnt in the fire; and also I baked bread upon its coals; I will roast flesh and eat: and its remainder shall I make for an abomination? shall I fall down to a trunk of wood?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They do not consider in their mind, nor know, nor have the thought to say: I have burnt part of it in the fire, and I have baked bread upon the coals thereof: I have broiled flesh and have eaten, and of the residue thereof shall I make an idol? shall I fall down before the stock of a tree?

Catholic Public Domain Version
They do not consider in their mind, nor do they know, nor do they think to say: “I have burned part of it in the fire, and I have baked bread upon its coals. I have cooked flesh and I have eaten. And from its remainder, should I make an idol? Should I fall prostrate before the trunk of a tree?”

New American Bible
He does not think clearly; he lacks the wit and knowledge to say, “Half the wood I burned in the fire, on its embers I baked bread, I roasted meat and ate. Shall I turn the rest into an abomination? Shall I worship a block of wood?”

New Revised Standard Version
No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and have eaten. Now shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they considered not in their heart, neither did they know nor did they reason, saying, Half of it we burned in the fire; yea, also we have baked bread on its coals; we have roasted meat and eaten it; and from the rest of it we have made for ourselves an idol of wood and worshipped it.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they have not brought upon their heart and they have not known and they have not considered and said that half of it they burned in fire, and upon its coals they baked bread, and they roasted meat and they ate, and its remainder they made an idol of wood for themselves and they bowed to it
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And none considereth in his heart, Neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say: 'I have burned the half of it in the fire; Yea, also I have baked bread upon 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?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And one has not considered in his mind, nor known in his understanding, that he has burnt up half of it in the fire, and baked loaves on the coals thereof and has roasted and eaten flesh, and of the rest of it he has made an abomination, and they worship it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD has Chosen Israel
18They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. 19And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” 20He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”…

Cross References
Jeremiah 10:14-15
Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

Habakkuk 2:18-19
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

1 Kings 18:26-29
And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...

Acts 17:29-30
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination. / Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Hosea 4:12
My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.

2 Kings 19:18
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Jeremiah 2:27-28
say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces. Yet in the time of trouble, they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ / But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Ezekiel 14:3-5
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way? / Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry, / so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’


Treasury of Scripture

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?

considereth in his heart.

Isaiah 46:8
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Exodus 7:23
And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.

Deuteronomy 32:46
And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

an abomination

Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

1 Kings 11:5,7
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites…

2 Kings 23:13
And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

the stock of a tree.

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Abomination Baked Bow Bread Burned Coals Considereth Eaten Fall Fire Heart Meat Part Residue Rest Roasted Stock Thinks Tree Trunk Understanding
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Abomination Baked Bow Bread Burned Coals Considereth Eaten Fall Fire Heart Meat Part Residue Rest Roasted Stock Thinks Tree Trunk Understanding
Isaiah 44
1. God comforts the church with his promises
7. The vanity of idols
9. And folly of idol makers
21. He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence














No one considers in his heart
The phrase "considers in his heart" suggests a deep, introspective reflection that is absent in the people being described. In Hebrew, the heart (לֵב, "lev") is often seen as the seat of thought and will, not just emotion. This indicates a profound lack of spiritual insight or self-awareness. The heart, in biblical terms, is where true understanding and wisdom reside, and the absence of consideration here points to a spiritual blindness that prevents individuals from recognizing the futility of idolatry.

nor has he the knowledge or understanding
The terms "knowledge" (דַּעַת, "da'at") and "understanding" (בִּינָה, "binah") are often paired in Scripture to denote a comprehensive grasp of truth. Knowledge refers to the accumulation of facts, while understanding implies the ability to discern their meaning and implications. The absence of these qualities in the people highlights a spiritual deficiency, where they fail to perceive the absurdity of worshiping man-made objects. This lack of discernment is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature, emphasizing the need for divine revelation to truly comprehend God's ways.

to say, 'I have burned half of it in the fire
This phrase illustrates the irrationality of idol worship. The act of burning half of the wood in the fire is a practical use of the material, yet it sets the stage for the absurdity of using the remainder for worship. The Hebrew word for "burned" (שָׂרַף, "saraf") often connotes destruction or consumption by fire, which is a common biblical metaphor for judgment. Here, it underscores the irony of using something so transient and perishable as an object of devotion.

I have also baked bread on its coals
Baking bread on the coals is a mundane, everyday activity, emphasizing the ordinary nature of the wood. The coals, remnants of the fire, serve a practical purpose in sustaining life through food preparation. This highlights the contrast between the utilitarian use of the wood and the misguided spiritual significance attributed to it. The Hebrew culture, deeply rooted in agrarian and domestic life, would recognize the absurdity of elevating such a common element to divine status.

I have roasted meat and eaten
Roasting meat and eating it is another example of the wood's practical use. The act of eating is a basic human necessity, and the wood serves as a means to fulfill this need. This further underscores the folly of idol worship, as the same material that provides for physical sustenance is inappropriately revered as a deity. The Hebrew verb for "roasted" (צָלָה, "tzalah") is used here to emphasize the normalcy and routine nature of the action, contrasting sharply with the spiritual significance wrongly attributed to the idol.

Shall I make an abomination of the rest of it?
The term "abomination" (תּוֹעֵבָה, "to'evah") is a strong word in Hebrew, often used to describe practices that are detestable or repugnant to God. This rhetorical question highlights the moral and spiritual repulsiveness of idol worship. The use of the word "abomination" underscores the severity of the sin, as it is not merely a misguided act but an affront to the holiness of God. The prophet Isaiah calls the people to recognize the inherent contradiction and offense in their actions.

Shall I bow down to a block of wood?
Bowing down is an act of worship and submission, and the absurdity of doing so to a "block of wood" (עֵץ, "etz") is the climax of the prophet's argument. The Hebrew word for "wood" is the same used for trees and timber, emphasizing the material's mundane nature. This phrase encapsulates the folly of idolatry, as it involves attributing divine power and authority to something lifeless and crafted by human hands. The rhetorical question serves as a powerful indictment of the people's spiritual blindness and calls them to return to the worship of the one true God.

Verse 19. - None considereth in his heart; literally, recalls it to his heart; i.e. returns to a sound way of thinking upon the subject. It is implied that the idolaters had once had it in their power to think and reason justly upon the absurdity of such conduct as that which was now habitual to them. But they had lost the power. They had suffered themselves little by little to be deluded. The stock of a tree. The marginal rendering, "that which comes of a tree," is preferable.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And no one
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

considers
יָשִׁ֣יב (yā·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his heart,
לִבּ֗וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

no
וְלֹ֨א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one has the knowledge
דַ֥עַת (ḏa·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

or insight
תְבוּנָה֮ (ṯə·ḇū·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8394: Intelligence, an argument, caprice

to say,
לֵאמֹר֒ (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I burned
שָׂרַ֣פְתִּי (śā·rap̄·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8313: To be, on fire

half
חֶצְי֞וֹ (ḥeṣ·yōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2677: The half, middle

of it in
בְמוֹ־ (ḇə·mōw-)
Preposition
Strong's 1119: In, with, by

the fire,
אֵ֗שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

and I
וְ֠אַף (wə·’ap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

baked
אָפִ֤יתִי (’ā·p̄î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 644: To cook, to bake

bread
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

its coals,
גֶּחָלָיו֙ (ge·ḥā·lāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1513: An ember

I roasted
אֶצְלֶ֥ה (’eṣ·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6740: To roast (flesh)

meat
בָשָׂ֖ר (ḇā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

and I ate.
וְאֹכֵ֑ל (wə·’ō·ḵêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 398: To eat

Shall I make
אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה (’e·‘ĕ·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

something detestable
לְתוֹעֵבָ֣ה (lə·ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

with the rest of it?
וְיִתְרוֹ֙ (wə·yiṯ·rōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3499: An overhanging, an excess, superiority, remainder, a small rope

Shall I bow down
אֶסְגּֽוֹד׃ (’es·gō·wḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5456: To prostrate oneself (in worship)

to a block
לְב֥וּל (lə·ḇūl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 944: Produce, outgrowth

of wood??
עֵ֖ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 44:19 No one thinks neither is there knowledge (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 44:18
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