---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 46"
description: "CHAPTER 46   :-. BABYLON"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46"
---

CHAPTER 46

. BABYLON'S
IDOLS COULD
NOT SAVE
THEMSELVES, MUCH
LESS HER.
BUT GOD
CAN AND WILL
SAVE ISRAEL:
CYRUS IS
HIS INSTRUMENT.

**1. Bel**—the same as the
Phoelignician Baal, that is, lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it
was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the center of one
of the two parts into which the city was divided, the palace being in
the center of the other. Identical with the *sun,* worshipped on
turrets, housetops, and other high places, so as to be nearer the
heavenly hosts (*Saba*) ([Jeremiah 19:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/19/13);
[Jeremiah 32:29](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32/29); [Zephaniah 1:5](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/5)).
GESENIUS identifies Bel
with the planet Jupiter, which, with the planet Venus (under the name
Astarte or Astaroth), was worshipped in the East as the god of
fortune, the most propitious star to be born under (see on [Zephaniah 1:5](../../../kjv/zephaniah/1/5)). According to the Apocryphal book, *Bel and the Dragon,*
Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
**boweth . . . stoopeth**—falleth
prostrate ([Isaiah 10:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/4); [1 Samuel 5:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/5/3);
[1 Samuel 5:4](../../../kjv/1-samuel/5/4); [Psalms 20:8](../../../kjv/psalms/20/8)).
**Nebo**—the planet Mercury
or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of heaven, answering to the
Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is shown by the many
proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzar-adan,
Nabonassar, c.
**were upon**—that is, were
*a burden* (supplied from the following clause) upon. It was
customary to transport the gods of the vanquished to the land of the
conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually to keep down the
subject people ([1 Samuel 5:1](../../../kjv/1-samuel/5/1) [Jeremiah 48:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/7);
[Jeremiah 49:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/3); [Daniel 11:8](../../../kjv/daniel/11/8)).
**carriages**—in the Old
English sense of *the things carried, the images borne by you:*
the lading ([Acts 21:15](../../../kjv/acts/21/15)),
"carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the
images *which used to be carried by you* formerly in your solemn
processions [MAURER].
**were heavy loaden**—rather,
*are put as a load on* the beasts of burden [MAURER].
HORSLEY translates, "They
who should have been your *carriers* (as Jehovah is to His
people, [Isaiah 46:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/3); [Isaiah 46:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/4))
are become *burdens*" (see on [Isaiah 46:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/4)).

**2. deliver**—from the enemies'
hands.
**burden**—their images
laid on the beasts ([Isaiah 46:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/1)).
**themselves**—the *gods,*
here also distinguished from their images.

**3.** in contrast to what precedes:
Babylon's idols, so far from *bearing* its people safely are
themselves *borne off, a burden* to the laden beast; but Jehovah
*bears* His people in safety even from the womb to old age
([Isaiah 63:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/9); [Deuteronomy 32:11](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/11);
[Psalms 71:6](../../../kjv/psalms/71/6); [Psalms 71:18](../../../kjv/psalms/71/18)).
God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast
Moses' language ([Numbers 11:12](../../../kjv/numbers/11/12)).

**4. old age**—As
"your"—"you"—"you," are not in the
*Hebrew,* the sentiment is more general than *English Version,*
though of course it *includes* the Jews from the infancy to the
more advanced age of their history ().
**I am he**—that is, the
same ([Psalms 102:27](../../../kjv/psalms/102/27); [John 8:24](../../../kjv/john/8/24);
[Hebrews 13:8](../../../kjv/hebrews/13/8)).
**I will bear . . . carry**—Not
only do I not need to be *borne* and *carried* Myself, as
the idols ([Isaiah 46:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/1)).

**5.** ([Isaiah 40:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/18);
[Isaiah 40:25](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/25)).

**6.** ([Isaiah 40:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/19);
[Isaiah 40:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/20); [Isaiah 41:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/7).)
They lavish gold out of their purses and spare no expense for their
idol. Their profuseness shames the niggardliness of professors who
worship God with what cost them nothing. Sin is always a costly
service.

**7. cry . . . can . . . not . . .
save**— ([Isaiah 45:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/20), with
which contrast [Isaiah 45:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/19)).

**8. show yourselves men**—Renounce
the *childishness* of idolatry as shown in what precedes
([1 Corinthians 14:20](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/14/20); [1 Corinthians 16:13](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/16/13);
[Ephesians 4:14](../../../kjv/ephesians/4/14)). In order to be *manly*
we must be *godly;* for man was made "in the image of God,"
and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; *virtue*
is derived from the *Latin vir,* "a man."
**bring . . . to mind**—rather,
"lay it to heart."
**transgressors**—addressed
to the idolaters among the Jews.

**9. former**—namely, proofs of
the sole Godship of Jehovah, from predictions fulfilled, and
interpositions of God in behalf of Israel ().

**10.** ([Isaiah 45:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/21);
[Isaiah 41:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/22); [Isaiah 41:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/23);
[Isaiah 44:26](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/26)).
**yet**—not in the *Hebrew.*
Translate, "What had not been done" [HORSLEY].
**do all my pleasure**—
([Isaiah 53:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/10); [Romans 9:19](../../../kjv/romans/9/19)).

**11. ravenous bird**—Cyrus so
called on account of the rapidity of his marches from the distant
regions of Persia to pounce on his prey (see on ; [Isaiah 46:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/4); [Isaiah 46:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/4); [Isaiah 46:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/4)). The standard
of Cyrus, too, was a golden *eagle* on a spear (see the heathen
historian, XENOPHON, 7,
where almost the same word is used, *aetos,* as here, *ayit*).
**executeth my counsel**—
([Isaiah 44:28](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/28); [Isaiah 45:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/45/13)).
Babylon represents, mystically, the apostate faction: the destruction
of its idols symbolizes the future general extirpation of all
idolatry and unbelief.
**purposed . . . also do it**—
([Isaiah 43:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/43/13)).

**12. stout-hearted**—stubborn in
resisting God ([Psalms 76:5](../../../kjv/psalms/76/5); [Acts 7:51](../../../kjv/acts/7/51)).
**far from righteousness**—
([Isaiah 59:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/9); [Habakkuk 2:4](../../../kjv/habakkuk/2/4)).

**13. near**—antithetical to "far"
([Isaiah 46:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/46/12); [Isaiah 51:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/51/5);
[Isaiah 56:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/1); [Isaiah 61:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/10);
[Isaiah 61:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/11); [Romans 10:6-8](../../../kjv/romans/10/6-8)).
**righteousness**—answering
to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means
here, "my righteous deliverance"; righteous, because
proving the *truth* of God's promises, and so contrived as to
not compromise, but vindicate, His righteousness ([Isaiah 42:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/21);
[Romans 3:26](../../../kjv/romans/3/26)).
**Zion . . . my glory**—rather,
"I will give salvation in Zion; to Israel (I will give) my
glory" [HORSLEY].
([Isaiah 63:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/11); [Psalms 14:7](../../../kjv/psalms/14/7);
[Luke 2:32](../../../kjv/luke/2/32)).

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 46"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 46","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 46   :-. BABYLON'S\nIDOLS COULD\nNOT SAVE\nTHEMSELVES, MUCH\nLESS HER.\nBUT GOD\nCAN AND WILL\nSAVE ISRAEL:\nCYRUS IS\nHIS INSTRUMENT. 1. Bel—the same as t","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","name":"Isaiah"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/46","name":"46"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```