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

ISAIAH 44:25KJV
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Isaiah 44:25 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 44:25 mean?

Isaiah 44:25 says that God exposes and defeats those who pretend to have supernatural insight—He frustrates the signs of liars, makes fortune-tellers confused, and turns the wisdom of supposedly wise people into foolishness. The verse shows that human claims to secret knowledge or power are nothing compared to God’s true wisdom and authority.

In this part of Isaiah, God is speaking through the prophet to the people of Israel, who are surrounded by nations that trust in diviners, false prophets, and wise men for guidance. The verse emphasizes that God alone can reveal truth and control the future, while those who claim to have special powers apart from Him are ultimately proven wrong and powerless.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 44:25

  • "frustrateth" (פָּרַר, parar): This word means to break, nullify, or thwart. It highlights how God actively undoes the plans and predictions of false prophets and magicians.
  • "tokens" (אוֹת, 'ot): This word refers to signs or omens, often used by so-called seers or magicians to claim authority. God shows these signs to be empty.
  • "mad" (הָלַל, halal): Here, it means to make someone act foolishly or irrationally. God causes the diviners to lose credibility by making their predictions fail.
  • "wise" (חָכָם, chakam) and "knowledge" (דַּעַת, da‘at): These words refer to those considered intelligent or learned. God turns their supposed wisdom into foolishness, showing that true understanding comes only from Him.

Why Isaiah 44:25 matters

  • Isaiah 44:25 clears up the idea that human wisdom, magic, or fortune-telling can rival God’s knowledge or power; it shows that such efforts are ultimately empty.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage, where God is reassuring Israel that He alone is the true God, able to predict and control the future, unlike idols or false prophets.
  • This verse highlights a recurring theme in the Bible: God humbles those who trust in their own wisdom or in deceptive practices, and He alone is the source of truth.

Where else these words appear

“liars” Hebrew H907 · used in 6 verses

  • Job 11:3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
  • Job 41:12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
  • Jeremiah 48:30 I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.

“foolish” Hebrew H5528 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
  • 1 Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
  • 2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

“diviners” Hebrew H7080 · used in 20 verses

  • Deuteronomy 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
  • Isaiah 3:2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
  • Ezekiel 21:23 And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.

“backward” Hebrew H268 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 49:17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
  • Psalms 44:10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.
  • Isaiah 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.