Isaiah 42:17
ESV
They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, "You are our gods."
NIV
But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.
NASB
They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame, Who trust in idols, Who say to cast metal images, 'You are our gods.'
CSB
They will be turned back and utterly ashamed— those who trust in an idol and say to a cast image, ‘You are our gods!’
NLT
But those who trust in idols, who say, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned away in shame.
KJV
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
NKJV
They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, ‘You are our gods.’
What does Isaiah 42:17 mean?
Isaiah has described how God will use His limitless power to rescue His people. This will happen in two ways, when He determines that the time is right. The first way is destructive. The Lord will be like a mighty warrior. He will destroy all obstacles in His path to save His people (Isaiah 42:13–15).The second way God will act is constructive. His people are helpless in their humanity—just as much as a blind person trapped in an unfamiliar wilderness. The Lord will guide them and be their light, safely bringing them home.
Isaiah finishes the section by comparing God to the false deities and idols of the other nations. Those who trust carved idols and metal images as if they were truly gods will be humiliated for their foolishness. Continuing to use blindness as a metaphor for spiritual ignorance and error, Isaiah compares idol worshippers to blind people who trust unseeing hunks of metal to guide them through the darkness. They will remain lost. This is not so for those who follow the One True God (Psalm 25:2–3)
