Isaiah 2:20
New International Version
In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.

New Living Translation
On that day of judgment they will abandon the gold and silver idols they made for themselves to worship. They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats,

English Standard Version
In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,

Berean Standard Bible
In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship.

King James Bible
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

New King James Version
In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats,

New American Standard Bible
On that day people will throw away to the moles and the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves to worship,

NASB 1995
In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves to worship,

NASB 1977
In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves to worship,

Legacy Standard Bible
In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves to worship,

Amplified Bible
In that day men will throw away to the moles and to the bats Their idols of silver and their idols of gold, Which they made for themselves [as objects] to worship,

Christian Standard Bible
On that day people will throw their worthless idols of silver and gold, which they made to worship, to the moles and the bats.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On that day people will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made to worship, to the moles and the bats.

American Standard Version
In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

Contemporary English Version
On that day everyone will throw to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold they made to worship.

English Revised Version
In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made for him to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On that day people will throw to the moles and the bats the silver and gold idols that they made for themselves to worship.

Good News Translation
When that day comes, they will throw away the gold and silver idols they have made, and abandon them to the moles and the bats.

International Standard Version
At that time, mankind will throw their silver and gold idols that their fingers have made as objects of worship to the moles and to the bats.

Majority Standard Bible
In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold?the idols they made to worship.

NET Bible
At that time men will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made for themselves to worship, into the caves where rodents and bats live,

New Heart English Bible
In that day, people will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold to the rodents and to the bats, which have been made for themselves to worship;

Webster's Bible Translation
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

World English Bible
In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In that day man casts his idols of silver, "" And his idols of gold, "" That they have made for him to worship, "" To moles, and to bats,

Young's Literal Translation
In that day doth man cast his idols of silver, And his idols of gold, That they have made for him to worship, To moles, and to bats,

Smith's Literal Translation
In that day man shall cast the nothings of his silver and the nothings of his gold which they made for him to worship, to the digging of moles and to bats.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which he had made for himself to adore, moles and bats.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In that day, man shall cast aside his idols of silver and his images of gold, which he had made for himself, as if to reverence the moles and the bats.

New American Bible
On that day people shall throw to moles and bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold which they made for themselves to worship.

New Revised Standard Version
On that day people will throw away to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
In that day a man shall cast away to the moles and to the bats his idols of gold and his idols of silver, which they made each one for themselves to worship,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In that day men shall throw idols of gold and of silver, that they had made for themselves to worship, to nothingness and to the bats
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In that day a man shall cast away His idols of silver, and his idols of gold, Which they made for themselves to worship, To the moles and to the bats;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For in that day a man shall cast forth his silver and gold abominations, which they made in order to worship vanities and bats;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Day of Reckoning
19Men will flee to caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth. 20In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold— the idols they made to worship. 21They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.…

Cross References
Revelation 6:15-16
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

Hosea 10:8
The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

Matthew 24:29-30
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ / At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Jeremiah 16:19-20
O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. / Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”

Micah 5:13-14
I will also cut off the carved images and sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow down to the work of your own hands. / I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst and demolish your cities.

2 Kings 17:15-16
They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate. / They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.

Isaiah 31:7
For on that day, every one of you will reject the idols of silver and gold that your own hands have sinfully made.

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Revelation 18:11-17
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. ...

Isaiah 30:22
So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”

Habakkuk 2:18-19
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”


Treasury of Scripture

In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

cast

Isaiah 30:22
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Isaiah 31:7
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.

Isaiah 46:1
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

his idols of silver.

Isaiah 46:6
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

each one for himself to.

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Beasts Cast Dark Forth Gold Idols Images Keeping Silver Themselves Throw Worship
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Beasts Cast Dark Forth Gold Idols Images Keeping Silver Themselves Throw Worship
Isaiah 2
1. Isaiah prophesies the coming of Christ's kingdom
6. Wickedness is the cause of God's forsaking
10. He exhorts to fear, because of the powerful effects of God's majesty














In that day
This phrase refers to a specific time of divine intervention and judgment. In the prophetic literature of the Bible, "that day" often signifies the "Day of the Lord," a time when God will act decisively in human history. The Hebrew term "yom" (day) is used to denote a period of time characterized by God's direct involvement, often bringing both judgment and salvation. This phrase sets the stage for a dramatic shift in human behavior and priorities, emphasizing the urgency and inevitability of God's coming action.

men will cast away
The act of casting away implies a deliberate and forceful rejection. The Hebrew verb "shalakh" conveys the idea of throwing or discarding something with intent. This action signifies a profound change of heart and mind, where people recognize the futility of their previous attachments. It suggests a moment of clarity and repentance, where individuals turn away from their former idols and false securities.

to the moles and bats
Moles and bats are creatures associated with darkness and hidden places. In the ancient Near Eastern context, these animals were often seen as unclean or undesirable. The imagery here is powerful, suggesting that the idols, once valued and revered, are now deemed worthless and fit only for the dark, forgotten places of the earth. This reflects a complete reversal of values, where what was once treasured is now discarded as refuse.

their idols of silver and gold
Silver and gold were materials commonly used in the creation of idols, symbolizing wealth and human craftsmanship. The Hebrew words "kesef" (silver) and "zahav" (gold) highlight the material wealth and effort invested in these objects of worship. Despite their material value, these idols are ultimately powerless and empty. This phrase underscores the futility of trusting in material wealth and human creations over the living God.

the idols they made to worship
This phrase emphasizes the human origin of these idols, crafted by human hands for the purpose of worship. The Hebrew word "asah" (made) indicates intentionality and effort in their creation. The act of worshiping these man-made objects reveals the misplaced devotion and spiritual blindness of the people. It serves as a reminder of the first commandment, which prohibits the worship of anything other than God Himself. This highlights the folly of idolatry and the need for true worship directed towards the Creator, not the created.

(20) A man shall cast his idols of silver . . .--The picture of the earthquake is still continued. The men who have taken refuge in the caves fling away the idols, that they have found powerless to help them, to the moles and bats which had their dwelling there. It is perhaps significant that the animals thus named were proverbial for their blindness and love of darkness. Such, the prophet seems to say, were the fit custodians of the idols whom none could worship except those that hated the light and were spiritually blind.

Which they made each one for himself.--Better, which they (the carvers of the idol) made for him (the worshipper).

Verse 20. - In that day a man shall cast, etc, When the idols disappoint their worship-pets, and prove to be unable to save them, they are treated with scorn and ignominy. The African beats his fetish on such occasions. The Israelites would fling theirs to the moles and the bats. Idols of silver... idols of gold (comp. Exodus 20:23; Psalm 115:4: 135:15; Isaiah 30:22; Isaiah 31:7; Hosea 8:4; Hosea 13:2). A passage of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:19) shows that sometimes the main bulk of the idol was of stone, which was overlaid with a coating of one or other of the two precious metals; but it would seem that ordinarily the entire image was either of gold or silver (comp. Exodus 32:4, 24; 1 Kings 12:28). No doubt it was thought that the god worshipped through the image was more honored, and therefore better pleased, by the more costly material. Which they made each one for himself; rather, which they (i.e. the manufacturers) have made for him. Idol-making was a trade, as we see by the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 19:24-27). To the moles; literally, to the dig-holes. The metaphor must not be pressed. They would throw the idols into holes and corners, pits and caverns, where moles and bats might be expected to be the only visitants. Some idea of the blindness implied in any regard for idols may have prompted the imagery.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In that
הַהוּא֙ (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֤וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

men
הָאָדָ֔ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

will cast away
יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ (yaš·lîḵ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

their idols
אֱלִילֵ֣י (’ĕ·lî·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 457: Good for, nothing, by anal, vain, vanity, an idol

of silver
כַסְפּ֔וֹ (ḵas·pōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

and
וְאֵ֖ת (wə·’êṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

gold—
זְהָב֑וֹ (zə·hā·ḇōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

[the idols]
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

they made
עָֽשׂוּ־ (‘ā·śū-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

to worship—
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֔ת (lə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

away to the moles
לַחְפֹּ֥ר (laḥ·pōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2661: A burrower, a rat

and bats.
וְלָעֲטַלֵּפִֽים׃ (wə·lā·‘ă·ṭal·lê·p̄îm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5847: A bat


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 2:20 In that day men shall cast away (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 2:19
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