The Meaning of Isaiah 2:8 Explained

Isaiah 2:8

KJV: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

YLT: And its land is full of idols, To the work of its hands it boweth itself, To that which its fingers have made,

Darby: And their land is full of idols; they bow themselves down to the work of their own hands, to that which their fingers have made.

ASV: Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Their land  also is full  of idols;  they worship  the work  of their own hands,  that which their own fingers  have made: 

What does Isaiah 2:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 2:1-11 - A Vision Of World Peace
This and the four following chapters must be classed together as a distinct portion of this book, belonging to the earliest years of Isaiah's ministry. Their date is 735 b.c.; about the time of the accession of Ahaz to the throne. Isaiah 2:2-4 are evidently an ancient prophecy by some unknown seer, for Micah also quotes it. This section presents a fair vision of the future, when the beloved city must become the center of the religious life of the world, the seat of the theocracy, the burning nucleus of a reign of love and peace. We cherish this ancient prophecy as our guiding star in the present storm. But it can be realized only when the Son of God, riding forth on His white horse, has subdued His enemies. Then Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-21 will fulfill this ancient dream. The contrast between the ideal city and the actual is terrible, Isaiah 2:6-9. But let us not despair. The exalted Lord, from the right hand of power, is hastening the coming of the day of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 2

1  Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ's kingdom
6  Wickedness is the cause of God's forsaking
10  He exhorts to fear, because of the powerful effects of God's majesty

What do the individual words in Isaiah 2:8 mean?

And is full of their land idols the work of their own hands they worship that which have made their own fingers
וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א אַרְצ֖וֹ אֱלִילִ֑ים לְמַעֲשֵׂ֤ה יָדָיו֙ יִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו

וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א  And  is  full 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
אַרְצ֖וֹ  of  their  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אֱלִילִ֑ים  idols 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלִיל  
Sense: of nought, good for nothing, worthless.
לְמַעֲשֵׂ֤ה  the  work 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יָדָיו֙  of  their  own  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יִֽשְׁתַּחֲו֔וּ  they  worship 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  that  which 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָשׂ֖וּ  have  made 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶצְבְּעֹתָֽיו  their  own  fingers 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶצְבַּע  
Sense: finger, toe.