Isaiah 41:29

Webster's Bible (1833)

Behold, all of them, their works are vanity [and] 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, you are of nothing, and your work is of nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.
• Jer 5:13 : 13 and the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done to them.
• Jer 10:2-9 : 2 Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts 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 not move. 5 They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don't speak: they must be carried, because they can't go. Don't be afraid of them; for they can't do evil, neither is it in them to do good." 6 There is none like you, Yahweh; you are great, and your name is great in might. 7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? for to you does it appertain; because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like you. 8 But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock. 9 There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men. 10 But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall you say to them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens. 12 He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens: 13 when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasuries. 14 Every man is become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Yahweh of Hosts is his name.
• Hab 2:18 : 18 "What value does the engraved image have, that its maker has engraved it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he who fashions its form trusts in it, to make mute idols?
• Isa 44:9-9 : 9 Those who fashion an engraved image are all of them vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses don't see, nor know: that they may be disappointed. 10 Who has fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his fellows shall be disappointed; and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be put to shame together. 12 The smith [makes] an axe, and works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretches out a line; he marks it out with a pencil; he shapes it with planes, and he marks it out with the compasses, and shapes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest: he plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn; and he takes of it, and warms himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread: yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it an engraved image, and falls down to it. 16 He burns part of it in the fire; with part of it he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied; yes, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. 17 The residue of it he makes a god, even his engraved image; he falls down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me; for you are my god. 18 They don't know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can't see; and their hearts, that they can't understand. 19 None calls to mind, 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 of it; 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? 20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't 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 don't speak; They have eyes, but they don't see; 6 They have ears, but they don't hear; They have noses, but they don't smell; 7 They have hands, but they don't feel; They have feet, but they don't walk; Neither do they speak through their throat. 8 Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
• Ps 135:15-18 : 15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they can't speak; They have eyes, but they can't see; 17 They have ears, but they can't hear; Neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them will be like them; Yes, everyone who trusts in them.