The Meaning of Isaiah 45:20 Explained

Isaiah 45:20

KJV: Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

YLT: Be gathered, and come in, Come nigh together, ye escaped of the nations, They have not known, Who are lifting up the wood of their graven image, And praying unto a god that saveth not.

Darby: Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations. They have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

ASV: Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Assemble  yourselves and come;  draw near  together,  ye [that are] escaped  of the nations:  they have no knowledge  that set up  the wood  of their graven image,  and pray  unto a god  [that] cannot save. 

What does Isaiah 45:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord again summoned the people of the world, possibly after Cyrus" judgments, for a debate (cf. Isaiah 41:1; Isaiah 41:21; Isaiah 43:8-9). He claimed that pagan idol-worshippers were ignorant (cf. Isaiah 44:9). They carried their gods of wood, rather than being carried themselves by a personal God (cf1Samuel4-5). And they prayed to gods that could not save.
In the following segment ( Isaiah 45:20-25), God contrasted His salvation with that of the Babylonian idols.
"Throughout chs40-55 , the people of Israel are envisioned as being in bondage in Babylon.... Has not the God of Israel been thoroughly discredited? Should not Israel adopt the gods of her captors? ... Instead, he [1] insists that it is the captors, the Babylonians, who need to look to their deliverance. Far from Israel being concerned over whether their God can deliver them from Babylon, it is the mighty Babylonians who should be worrying over whether the gods whom they have served can deliver them!" [2]

Context Summary

Isaiah 45:14-25 - A Call To The Ends Of The Earth
As the prophet reviews God's method of delivering His people-so unexpected and so wonderful-he cannot restrain the ejaculation: Thou art a God that hidest thyself! "Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will." You do not see how God is going to save you; but most certainly His Angel will redeem you from all evil.
God contrasts Himself with idols, Isaiah 45:20. We can never seek His face in vain. They that trust in man or their own devices are doomed to disappointment; but faith and prayer make all the difference. He is "a just God and a Savior." This is the wonderful combination that the Cross reveals. See Romans 3:26; 1 John 1:9. Look to Him and be saved. Even if you dwell in a far land or at the ends of the earth, and even if you can only look toward Him with failing sight, remember that "there is life in a look." Dare to say, "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." You have none of your own! Your strength is weakness! Your righteousness is full of flaws! Look to Him; boast in Him; and men shall come to you for your secret. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 45

1  God calls Cyrus for his church's sake
5  By his omnipotence he challenges obedience
20  He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power

What do the individual words in Isaiah 45:20 mean?

Assemble yourselves and come Draw near together You [who have] escaped from the nations no they have knowledge who carry - the wood of their carved image and pray to a god [that] cannot save
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וָבֹ֛אוּ הִֽתְנַגְּשׁ֥וּ יַחְדָּ֖ו פְּלִיטֵ֣י הַגּוֹיִ֑ם לֹ֣א יָדְע֗וּ הַנֹּֽשְׂאִים֙ אֶת־ עֵ֣ץ פִּסְלָ֔ם וּמִתְפַּלְלִ֔ים אֶל־ אֵ֖ל לֹ֥א יוֹשִֽׁיעַ

הִקָּבְצ֥וּ  Assemble  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
וָבֹ֛אוּ  and  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הִֽתְנַגְּשׁ֥וּ  Draw  near 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
יַחְדָּ֖ו  together 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
פְּלִיטֵ֣י  You  [who  have]  escaped  from 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּלִיט 
Sense: refugee, fugitive, escaped one.
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָדְע֗וּ  they  have  knowledge 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
הַנֹּֽשְׂאִים֙  who  carry 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֵ֣ץ  the  wood 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
פִּסְלָ֔ם  of  their  carved  image 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּסֶל  
Sense: idol, image.
וּמִתְפַּלְלִ֔ים  and  pray 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine plural
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
אֵ֖ל  a  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
לֹ֥א  [that]  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יוֹשִֽׁיעַ  save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.