The Meaning of Isaiah 42:17 Explained

Isaiah 42:17

KJV: They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

YLT: Removed backward -- utterly ashamed, Are those trusting in a graven image, Those saying to a molten image, 'Ye are our gods.'

Darby: They shall be turned back, they shall be covered with shame, that confide in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

ASV: They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They shall be turned  back,  they shall be greatly  ashamed,  that trust  in graven images,  that say  to the molten images,  Ye [are] our gods. 

What does Isaiah 42:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

That deliverance would spell humiliation for idolaters because they, and others, would see the impotence of their gods compared to Yahweh. Return from the Exile provided a sign of what God would do for His people in the eschaton. Both acts of God seem to be in view here.
The rest of this chapter addresses Israel"s present condition of blindness (cf. Romans 10). Yahweh now disputed with His people, not with pagan idolaters, as formerly. Motyer analyzed the structure of this part of Isaiah differently and saw a parallel between national redemption in Isaiah 42:18 to Isaiah 43:21 and spiritual redemption in Isaiah 43:22 to Isaiah 44:23. [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 42:14-25 - A Deaf And Blind Messenger
There are times in our lives when God seems to hold His peace. Evil is rife, bad men prosper, society lies under the spell of vice. It is only temporary, however. Then God comes forth out of the silence, and shows Himself "strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." He brings the blind "by a way that they knew not," and makes "the crooked places straight."
These wonderful things are wrought not for the wise and holy alone, but for the blind and the deaf, who nevertheless desire to serve Him. See Isaiah 42:19. God's help is not conditioned by our merit, but by our faith. In the eyes of men we may be the least fit to claim divine succor. But our deficiencies and failures constitute our most eloquent claim-God knew what we were, before He ever stooped to identify Himself with us. He is pleased to help us "for His righteousness' sake." His name and character must be maintained. Therefore He has magnified the law and made it honorable by the matchless obedience and death of His only begotten Son. See Galatians 4:4-5. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 42

1  The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy
5  God's promise unto him
10  An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13  God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18  He reproves the people of incredulity

What do the individual words in Isaiah 42:17 mean?

They shall be turned back they shall be greatly ashamed they shall be greatly who trust in carved images who say to the molded images You [are] our gods' -
נָסֹ֤גוּ אָחוֹר֙ יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ בֹ֔שֶׁת הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בַּפָּ֑סֶל הָאֹמְרִ֥ים לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה אַתֶּ֥ם אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ ס

נָסֹ֤גוּ  They  shall  be  turned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: סוּג  
Sense: to move, go, turn back, move away, backslide.
אָחוֹר֙  back 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָחֹור  
Sense: the back side, the rear.
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ  they  shall  be  greatly  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
בֹ֔שֶׁת  they  shall  be  greatly 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים  who  trust 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
בַּפָּ֑סֶל  in  carved  images 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּסֶל  
Sense: idol, image.
הָאֹמְרִ֥ים  who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה  to  the  molded  images 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַסֵּכָה 
Sense: a pouring, libation, molten metal, cast image, drink offering.
אַתֶּ֥ם  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ  our  gods' 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation