The big picture
Isaiah 46 opens in verse 1 with “Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he…”, and closes in verse 13 with “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not…” Repeated or prominent terms include carry, place, bear, burden, counsel. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 13Isaiah 46:1-7
1–7: Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and…
Isaiah 46:1–7 opens with “Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your…” and reaches “They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 46 develops its own movement around carry, place, bear, burden, counsel, with particular weight carried by carry, bear, burden.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy…” Naming Bel and Nebo keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.” The line’s distinctive content terms include burden, captivity, deliver. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 46:1-7
King James Version1Bel 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.
2They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3Hearken 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:
4And 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.
5To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6They 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.
7They 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.
Isaiah 46:8-13
8–13: Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye…
Isaiah 46:8–13 opens with “Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.” and reaches “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 46 develops its own movement around carry, place, bear, burden, counsel, with particular weight carried by counsel, Remember, righteousness.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.” Naming Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” Naming Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 46:8-13
King James Version8Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10Declaring 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:
11Calling 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.
12Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
13I 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 46:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 46:5 forms a natural hinge: “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?”
The final note
Isaiah 46:13 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words carry, place, bear, burden, counsel, deliver help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why is the vision before departure significant?
Jacob receives reassurance that leaving the promised land does not mean leaving God's presence or purpose.
What does the long list contribute?
It gives names and relationships to the people who will become the nation in Exodus.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.