And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
Parallel translations
- WEB and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.
- NASB and have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.
- NLT And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The nations' gods were not gods but mere wood and stone made by human hands, so they were easily destroyed. This explains why Assyria's victories say nothing against the Lord.
Overview
Hezekiah distinguishes the idols of the nations, which are lifeless human craftsmanship, from the living God who made all things. Assyria conquered powerless images, not deities. This biblical critique of idolatry magnifies the Creator and prepares for the demonstration that he alone saves.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Jer 10:11Thus 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.
- Isa 44:9–10They 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.
- Isa 41:7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
- Isa 10:9–11Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
- Isa 36:18–20Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
- Exod 32:20And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.
- Isa 46:1–2Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
- Hos 8:6For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
- Isa 41:29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
- 2 Sam 5:21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
- Isa 44:17And 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.
- Isa 26:14They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
- Ps 115:4–8Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
- Isa 40:19–21The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
- Isa 41:24Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
- Jer 10:3–6For 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 37:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.