The Meaning of Isaiah 44:25 Explained

Isaiah 44:25

KJV: That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

YLT: Making void the tokens of devisers, And diviners it maketh mad, Turning the wise backward, And their knowledge it maketh foolish.

Darby: he that frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

ASV: that frustrateth the signs of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That frustrateth  the tokens  of the liars,  and maketh diviners  mad;  that turneth  wise  [men] backward,  and maketh their knowledge  foolish; 

What does Isaiah 44:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God embarrasses astrologers, diviners, and fortunetellers by controlling history in ways that deviate from past patterns. Ancient and modern prognosticators usually base their predictions on the belief that things will work out in the future as they have in the past. But Yahweh can move future events in entirely new directions. Archaeologists have discovered many predictions of the future of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires among Babylonian writings, but they are consistently optimistic; none are messages announcing the fall of these kingdoms. [1] He can do things never before done.

Context Summary

Isaiah 44:21-28 - The Promise Of Redemption
What divine comfort there is in these gracious words! Notwithstanding all their wanderings and sins, the Chosen People were Jehovah's elect race. Nothing could make Him forget them; He had redeemed them with the saving strength of His right hand. He could never forget them, but He would forget their sins. Their transgressions had melted into the blue azure of His love. If sought for, they could not be found. Nature was asked to be one great orchestra of praise. And notice that our redemption brings more glory to Jehovah than our undoing would.
In Isaiah 45:1-25 the people are assured that they would return from captivity, to rebuild Jerusalem and reinhabit the cities of Judah. They probably expected that their return would be marked by miracles as marvelous as those through which their fathers emerged from Egyptian bondage. But God never repeats Himself; and His purposes would work out through a heathen monarch, Cyrus, whom God was preparing as the executor of His purpose, Isaiah 44:28. "Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will." [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 44

1  God comforts the church with his promises
7  The vanity of idols
9  And folly of idol makers
21  He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 44:25 mean?

Who frustrates the signs of the babblers and diviners drives mad who turns wise men backward and their knowledge makes foolishness
מֵפֵר֙ אֹת֣וֹת בַּדִּ֔ים וְקֹסְמִ֖ים יְהוֹלֵ֑ל מֵשִׁ֧יב חֲכָמִ֛ים אָח֖וֹר וְדַעְתָּ֥ם יְשַׂכֵּֽל

מֵפֵר֙  Who  frustrates 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּרַר 
Sense: to break, frustrate.
אֹת֣וֹת  the  signs 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
בַּדִּ֔ים  of  the  babblers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בַּד 
Sense: empty talk, idle talk, liar, lie.
וְקֹסְמִ֖ים  and  diviners 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: קָסַם  
Sense: (Qal) to practice divination, divine.
יְהוֹלֵ֑ל  drives  mad 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
מֵשִׁ֧יב  who  turns 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
חֲכָמִ֛ים  wise  men 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חָכָם  
Sense: wise, wise (man).
אָח֖וֹר  backward 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָחֹור  
Sense: the back side, the rear.
וְדַעְתָּ֥ם  and  their  knowledge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: דַּעַת 
Sense: knowledge.
יְשַׂכֵּֽל  makes  foolishness 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָכַל  
Sense: to be foolish, be a fool.