Isaiah 41:22 "Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.

◄ Isaiah 41:22 ►

New International Version
“Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come,

New Living Translation
“Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen.

English Standard Version
Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.

Berean Standard Bible
“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.

King James Bible
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

New King James Version
“Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come.

New American Standard Bible
Let them bring them forward and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, So that we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;

NASB 1995
Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;

NASB 1977
Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them, and know their outcome; Or announce to us what is coming.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let them bring it forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may establish our heart on them and know their outcome. Or cause us to hear of what is coming;

Amplified Bible
Let them bring forward [their evidence] and tell us what is going to happen. Regarding the former events, tell what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome; Or announce to us the things that are going to come.

Christian Standard Bible
“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell us the past events, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome, or tell us the future.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell us the past events, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome, or tell us the future.

American Standard Version
Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.

Contemporary English Version
Come near me, you idols. Tell us about the past, and we will think about it. Tell us about the future, so we will know what is going to happen.

English Revised Version
Let them bring them forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or shew us things for to come.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Bring [your idols] so they can tell us what's going to happen. Explain past events that your idols told you about so that we may consider them and know what their outcome will be. Tell us about future events.

Good News Translation
Come here and predict what will happen, so that we will know it when it takes place. Explain to the court the events of the past, and tell us what they mean.

International Standard Version
Let them approach and ask us, 'What will happen? As to the former things, what were they? Tell us, so that we may consider them and know. Or the latter things or the things to come— let us hear.

Majority Standard Bible
?Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.

NET Bible
"Let them produce evidence! Let them tell us what will happen! Tell us about your earlier predictive oracles, so we may examine them and see how they were fulfilled. Or decree for us some future events!

New Heart English Bible
"Let them come near and declare to us what shall happen. Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they are that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare to us things to come.

World English Bible
“Let them announce and declare to us what will happen! Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
They bring [them] near, and declare to us that which happens, "" Declare the first things—what they [are], "" And we set our heart, and know their latter end, "" Or cause us to hear the coming things.

Young's Literal Translation
They bring nigh, and declare to us that which doth happen, The first things -- what they are declare ye, And we set our heart, and know their latter end, Or the coming things cause us to hear.

Smith's Literal Translation
They shall draw near and announce to us what shall happen: shewed they the former things, what they were, and we will set our heart, and we shall know their latter state; or did we hear things coming?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let them come, and tell us all things that are to come: tell us the former things what they were: and we will set our heart upon them, and shall know the latter end of them, and tell us the things that are to come.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let them approach and announce to us the things that will occur. Announce to us the things that were before. And we will apply our heart to them, and we will know their end. And so, reveal to us the things that will occur.

New American Bible
Let them draw near and foretell to us what it is that shall happen! What are the things of long ago? Tell us, that we may reflect on them and know their outcome; Or declare to us the things to come,

New Revised Standard Version
Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, so that we may consider them, and that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Let them come near and show us the things that are to come; show us the former things, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare to us the things that are to come.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Let them approach and let them show those things that are going to be; show us what the former things are, and we shall put it in our heart and we shall know the end of them, or cause us to hear what is coming

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Let them bring them forth, and declare unto us The things that shall happen; The former things, what are they? Declare ye, that we may consider, And know the end of them; Or announce to us things to come.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let them draw nigh, and declare to you what things shall come to pass; or tell us what things were of old, and we will apply our understanding, and we shall know what are the last and the future things:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Meaningless Idols
21“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob. 22“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming. 23Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 44:7
Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.

Isaiah 46:9-10
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. / I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Deuteronomy 18:21-22
You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” / When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

Jeremiah 10:10-11
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. / Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”

Daniel 2:27-28
Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. / But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

Acts 17:23-31
For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you. / The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ...

Isaiah 43:9
All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

Isaiah 45:21
Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.

1 Kings 18:24
Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”

Jeremiah 28:9
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, only if the word of the prophet comes true will the prophet be recognized as one the LORD has truly sent.”

John 13:19
I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.

John 14:29
And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.

Isaiah 48:3-5
I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. / For I knew that you are stubborn; your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze. / Therefore I declared it to you long ago; I announced it before it came to pass, so that you could not claim, ‘My idol has done this; my carved image and molten god has ordained it.’

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, / and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Treasury of Scripture

Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

and shew

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 43:9-12
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth…

Isaiah 45:21
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

consider them.

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Isaiah 41

1. God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church.
10. About his promises
21. And about the vanity of idols.

Berean Study Bible

Let them present
This phrase calls for a demonstration or presentation, suggesting a challenge to false gods or idols. The Hebrew root here is "נָגַשׁ" (nagash), which means to approach or come near. In the context of Isaiah, God is inviting the idols to step forward and prove their power or knowledge. This is a rhetorical device used to highlight the impotence of idols compared to the omnipotence of the God of Israel. Historically, this reflects the common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures where deities were often challenged to prove their divinity through signs or wonders.

and declare to us
The word "declare" comes from the Hebrew "נָגַד" (nagad), meaning to make known or announce. This is a call for the idols to reveal their knowledge or plans, emphasizing the expectation of divine insight. In the scriptural context, this underscores the prophetic tradition where true prophets of God reveal His will and future events. The challenge here is for the idols to match the prophetic revelation that only the true God can provide.

what is to happen
This phrase refers to the foretelling of future events, a common expectation of divine beings in ancient cultures. The Hebrew "אָתִיד" (atid) implies something that is destined or appointed to occur. The ability to predict the future is a hallmark of divine authority and wisdom. In the biblical narrative, God’s ability to declare the future is a testament to His sovereignty and omniscience, contrasting sharply with the powerless idols.

Tell us the former things
Here, the focus shifts to recounting past events, with "former things" translating from the Hebrew "רִאשׁוֹנוֹת" (rishonot), meaning things of old or ancient times. This phrase challenges the idols to demonstrate their understanding of history, which is crucial for establishing credibility and authority. In the biblical context, God often reminds Israel of past events to reinforce His faithfulness and the continuity of His covenant.

so that we may reflect on them
The purpose of recounting past events is for reflection and understanding. The Hebrew root "שׂוּם" (sum) means to set or place, implying a thoughtful consideration or meditation. This reflects the biblical principle of learning from history to gain wisdom and insight. It also serves as a reminder of God’s past actions and faithfulness, encouraging trust in His future promises.

and know their outcome
The phrase emphasizes understanding the results or consequences of past events. The Hebrew "אַחֲרִית" (acharit) refers to the end or outcome. This highlights the biblical theme of discerning God’s purposes through history. Understanding the outcome of past events is crucial for recognizing God’s hand in history and His ultimate plan for redemption.

Or announce to us the things to come
This final challenge reiterates the call for predictive prophecy. The Hebrew "בָּאוֹת" (ba'ot) means things that are coming or future events. This underscores the expectation that true divinity includes knowledge of the future. In the biblical worldview, God’s ability to declare what is to come is a powerful affirmation of His control over time and history, offering assurance to His people of His unchanging nature and the certainty of His promises.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) The former things.--Not, as the Authorised Version suggests, the things of the remote past, but those that lie at the head, or beginning of things to come--the near future. Can the false gods predict them as the pledge and earnest of predictions that go farther? Can they see a single year before them? We note that the challenge exactly corresponds to Isaiah's own method of giving "signs" that his words are not idly spoken (Isaiah 7:10-14; Isaiah 38:7-8). The other meaning is maintained, however, by some critics as more in harmony with Isaiah 43:18. The things "for to come" lie, as it were, in the middle future, the "hereafter" of Isaiah 41:23, in the more remote. All are alike hidden from the gods of the heathen oracles.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 22. - Let them... show us what will happen. God claims that the power of predicting the future is his own inalienable prerogative. He defies the idol-gods and their votaries to give any clear prediction of future events. No doubt the claim to possess the power was made very generally among the idolatrous nations, who almost universally practised divination, and in many cases possessed oracles. But it was a false claim, based upon fraud and cunning, which deceived men as often as dependence was placed upon it (Herod., 1:53, 91) and landed them in misfortune. The former things... things for to come. Some commentators regard "the former things" as things actually past - "the beginnings of history, for instance, which to the heathen nations were wrapped in darkness" (Kay); but it seems better, on the whole, to understand (with Vitringa, Stier, Hahn, Cheyne, and Delitzsch) by "the former things" those in the immediate future, by "things for to come" those about to happen in remoter times. The former are, of course, much the easier to predict, since they fall to some extent within the domain of human foresight; the latter are more difficult; but the idol-gods are challenged to produce either the one or the other. What they be. A definite and clear statement is required to preclude such vague and ambiguous utterances as the heathen oracles delighted to put forth. That we may consider them (or, lay them to heart), and know the latter end of them; i.e. compare them with the event, when the time comes.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Let them come
יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ (yag·gî·šū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

and tell
וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ (wə·yag·gî·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

us
לָ֔נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

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

will happen.
תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה (tiq·re·nāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 7136: To light upon, to bring about, to impose timbers

Tell
הַגִּ֜ידוּ (hag·gî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

the former things,
הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת ׀ (hā·ri·šō·nō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

so that we may reflect on
וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה (wə·nā·śî·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

them
לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ (lib·bê·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and know
וְנֵדְעָ֣ה (wə·nê·ḏə·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

the outcome.
אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן (’a·ḥă·rî·ṯān)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 319: The last, end, the future, posterity

Or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

announce to us
הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃ (haš·mî·‘u·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

what is coming.
הַבָּא֖וֹת (hab·bā·’ō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 41:22 Let them announce and declare to us (Isa Isi Is)