They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

ISAIAH 46:7KJV
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Isaiah 46:7 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 46:7 mean?

Isaiah 46:7 describes how people carry their idols on their shoulders, set them in a fixed place, and then call out to them for help, but these idols cannot answer or save anyone from trouble. The verse points out the helplessness of man-made gods, showing that they are powerless and immobile.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, highlighting the contrast between the living God and lifeless idols. The setting is a warning against trusting in physical objects or images that people have created and worshipped. Isaiah uses vivid language to show that these idols depend entirely on their makers for movement and cannot respond or rescue anyone in distress, underscoring their complete inability to help.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 46:7

  • "bear" (נָשָׂא, nāśā’): This word means to lift or carry, emphasizing that the idol cannot move itself and must be transported by people.
  • "shoulder" (שְׁכֶם, shekhem): Refers to the physical act of carrying the idol on a person's shoulder, highlighting the burden and effort involved.
  • "cry" (צָעַק, tsa‘aq): Means to call out or cry for help, showing the desperation of those who look to the idol in times of trouble.
  • "answer" (עָנָה, ‘anah): Means to respond or reply, making it clear that the idol remains silent and unresponsive.
  • "save" (יָשַׁע, yasha‘): Means to deliver or rescue, underscoring that the idol has no power to help anyone in difficulty.
  • "trouble" (צָרָה, tsarah): Refers to distress or adversity, the very situation from which people hope to be saved but receive no help from their idols.

Why Isaiah 46:7 matters

  • Isaiah 46:7 clears up the common misunderstanding that idols or physical representations of gods have real power; it shows that they are completely dependent on humans and cannot act on their own.
  • The verse emphasizes the futility of trusting in anything man-made for deliverance, especially in times of crisis, contrasting this with the living God who is able to save.
  • This verse fits into the wider message of Isaiah 46, where God is challenging His people to recognize His uniqueness and superiority over all idols, urging them to rely on Him alone.

Where else these words appear

“carry” Hebrew H5445 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 49:15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
  • Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

“remove” Hebrew H4185 · used in 19 verses

  • Exodus 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
  • Psalms 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
  • Jeremiah 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

“cry” Hebrew H6817 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
  • Deuteronomy 26:7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
  • 2 Kings 8:3 And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.

“shoulder” Hebrew H3802 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 27:14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
  • Joshua 18:13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
  • Isaiah 49:22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.