1 The idols of Babylon could not save themselves
3 God saves his people to the end
5 Idols are not comparable to God for power
12 Or present salvation.

Bel. Bel, called Belus by the Greek and Roman writers, is the same as Baal; and Nebo is interpreted by Castell and Norberg of Mercury; the two principal idols of Babylon. When that city was taken by the Persians, these images were carried in triumph. Isa 21:9 41:6,7 Ex 12:12 1Sa 5:3 Jer 48:1 50:2 51:44,47,52

a burden Isa 2:20 Jer 10:5

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

they could Isa 36:18,19 37:12,19 44:17 45:20

but Jud 18:17,18,24 2Sa 5:21 Jer 43:12,13 48:7

themselves are. Heb. their soul is

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

hearken Isa 44:1,21 48:1,17,18 51:1,7 Ps 81:8-13

the remnant Isa 1:9 10:22 11:11 37:4

borne Isa 44:1,2 49:1,2 63:9 Ex 19:4 De 1:31 32:11,12 Ps 22:9,10 71:6 Eze 16:6-16

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

even to your Isa 41:4 43:13,25 Ps 92:14 102:26,27 Mal 2:16 3:6 Ro 11:29 Heb 1:12 13:8 Jas 1:17

even to hoar Ps 48:14 71:18

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

Isa 40:18,25 Ex 15:11 Ps 86:8 89:6,8 113:5 Jer 10:6,7,16 Php 2:6 Col 1:15 Heb 1:3

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.

lavish Isa 40:19,20 41:6,7 44:12-19 45:20 Ex 32:2-4 Jud 17:3,4 1Ki 12:28 Jer 10:3,4,9,14 Ho 8:4-6 Hab 2:18-20 Ac 17:29

they fall Isa 2:8 44:17 Da 3:5-15

7 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.

they carry him 1Sa 5:3 Jer 10:5 Da 3:1

one shall cry Isa 37:38 45:20 Jud 10:12-14 1Ki 18:26,40 Jer 2:28 Jon 1:5,14-16

8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

remember Isa 44:18-21 De 32:29 Ps 115:8 135:18 Jer 10:8 1Co 14:20

Bring Isa 47:7 Eze 18:28 Hag 1:5,7 Lu 15:17 Eph 5:14

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

the former Isa 42:9 65:17 De 32:7 Ne 9:7 Ps 78:1 105:1 106:1 111:4 Jer 23:7,8 Da 9:6-15

I am God Isa 45:5,6,14,18,21,22

and there is none like Isa 46:5 De 33:26

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

the end Isa 41:22,23 44:7 45:21 Ge 3:15 12:2,3 49:10,22-26 Nu 24:17-24 De 4:24-31 28:15 Ac 15:18

my counsel Isa 46:11 43:13 Ps 33:11 135:6 Pr 19:21 21:30 Da 4:35 Ac 3:23 4:27,28 5:39 Ro 11:33,34 Eph 1:9-11 Heb 6:17

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

calling Isa 13:2-4 21:7-9 41:2,25 45:1-6 Jer 50:29 51:20-29

a ravenous bird. Or, 'an eagle', a very proper emblem for Cyrus, says Bp. Lowth, as in other respects, so particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle. Eze 39:4

the man Isa 44:28 45:13 48:14,15 Ezr 1:2 Ps 76:10 Ac 4:28

that executeth my counsel. Heb. of my counsel Ps 119:24

I have spoken Isa 14:24-27 38:15 Nu 23:19 Job 23:13 Jer 50:45 Ac 5:39 Eph 1:11 3:11

12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

hearken Isa 46:3 28:23 45:20 Ps 49:1 Pr 1:22,23 8:1-5 Eph 5:14 Re 3:17,18

ye stouthearted Isa 48:4 Ps 76:5 Zec 7:11,12 Mal 3:13-15 Ac 7:51

that Ps 119:150,155 Jer 2:5 Eph 2:13

13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

bring Isa 51:5 61:11 Ro 1:17 3:21-26 10:3-15

shall not tarry Ps 14:7 46:1,5 Hab 2:3 Heb 10:37

salvation Isa 12:2 28:16 61:3 62:11 Joe 3:17 1Pe 2:6

Israel Isa 43:7 44:23 60:21 61:3 Jer 33:9 Hag 1:8 Joh 17:10 Eph 1:6 2Th 1:10,12