Isaiah 41:29

Authorized King James Version (1611)

Behold, they [are] all vanity; their works [are] nothing: their molten images [are] wind and confusion.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הֵ֣ן כֻּלָּ֔ם אָ֥וֶן אֶ֖פֶס מַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם ר֥וּחַ וָתֹ֖הוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶֽם׃

Transliteration

Behold kullām ʾāwen ʾepes maʿăśêhem rûaḥ wātōhû niskêhem

Grammar Details

• *kullām*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - all of them
• *ʾāwen*: noun, masculine singular - iniquity/wickedness
• *ʾepes*: noun, masculine singular - nothing/end
• *maʿăśêhem*: noun, masculine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their works
• *rûaḥ*: noun, feminine singular - wind/breath
• *wātōhû*: conjunction + noun, masculine singular - and emptiness/chaos
• *niskêhem*: noun, masculine plural + 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their molten images

Word Meanings

• *kullām*: all of them/every one of them
• *ʾāwen*: iniquity/wickedness/trouble/nothingness
• *ʾepes*: nothing/nonexistence/worthlessness/end
• *maʿăśêhem*: their works/deeds/actions
• *rûaḥ*: wind/breath/emptiness
• *wātōhû*: and emptiness/chaos/formlessness/void
• *niskêhem*: their molten images/idols/metal statues

Referenced Verses

• Isa 41:24 : 24 Behold, ye [are] of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination [is he that] chooseth you.
• Jer 5:13 : 13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word [is] not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
• Jer 10:2-9 : 2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They [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. 6 Forasmuch as [there is] none like unto thee, O LORD; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might. 7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, [there is] none like unto thee. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock [is] a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple [is] their clothing: they [are] all the work of cunning [men]. 10 But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish in [his] knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image [is] falsehood, and [there is] no breath in them. 15 They [are] vanity, [and] the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob [is] not like them: for he [is] the former of all [things]; and Israel [is] the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.
• Hab 2:18 : 18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
• Isa 44:9-9 : 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. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing? 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. 12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it]. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god. 18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19 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? 20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not a lie in my right hand?
• Ps 115:4-8 : 4 Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them.
• Ps 135:15-18 : 15 ¶ The idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there [any] breath in their mouths. 18 They that make them are like unto them: [so is] every one that trusteth in them.