וְעַתָּה שְׁמַע יַעֲקֹב עַבְדִּי וְיִשְׂרָאֵל בָּחַרְתִּי בוֹ

God knows that according to the strict rules of justice, the people of Israel cannot be exonerated for their sins. Nevertheless, He will forgive them, and in His divine grace He will allow them to begin again with a clean slate: Now hear, Jacob, My servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen,

כֹּה אָמַר ה' עֹשֶׂךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ מִבֶּטֶן יַעְזְרֶךָּ אַל תִּירָא עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב וִישֻׁרוּן — בָּחַרְתִּי בוֹ

so said the Lord, your Maker, and may your Fashioner from the womb help you. Since before you were born as a nation, as the children of Jacob, or possibly even before that, I have watched over you and cared for you. Do not fear, Jacob, My servant, despite the fact that you sinned, and Yeshurun,another name for Israel, whom I have chosen.

כִּי אֶצָּק מַיִם עַל צָמֵא וְנֹזְלִים עַל יַבָּשָׁה אֶצֹּק רוּחִי עַל זַרְעֶךָ וּבִרְכָתִי עַל צֶאֱצָאֶיךָ

Just as I will pour water upon the desiccated and liquids upon dry ground, which are immediately absorbed therein; so too, I will pour My spirit upon your descendants and My blessing upon your offspring, and it will trickle in and be absorbed by them.

וְצָמְחוּ בְּבֵין חָצִיר כַּעֲרָבִים עַל יִבְלֵי מָיִם

They, the seed of Israel, will grow among the grass, like the grass, which grows close together quickly in large quantities, like willows that grow by streams of water, where willows flourish.

זֶה יֹאמַר לַה' אָנִי וְזֶה יִקְרָא בְשֵׁם יַעֲקֹב וְזֶה יִכְתֹּב יָדוֹ לַה' וּבְשֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֶּה

At that time, this one will say: I am the Lord’s, that one will call in the name of Jacob, and this one will write with his hand that he is connected to the Lord, and he will name himself with the name of Israel.

כֹּה אָמַר ה' מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגֹאֲלוֹ ה' צְבָאוֹת אֲנִי רִאשׁוֹן וַאֲנִי אַחֲרוֹן וּמִבַּלְעָדַי אֵין אֱלֹהִים

So said the Lord, King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of hosts, the phrases used prominently in the book of Isaiah to describe God (see 33:22, 41:14, 21, 49:7, 54:5): I am first and I am last, there is no other before or after Me, and besides Me there is no God.

וּמִי כָמוֹנִי יִקְרָא וְיַגִּידֶהָ וְיַעְרְכֶהָ לִי מִשּׂוּמִי עַם עוֹלָם וְאֹתִיּוֹת וַאֲשֶׁר תָּבֹאנָה יַגִּידוּ לָמוֹ !

Given that reality, who like Me can proclaim the history of the world? Alternatively, if there is someone like Me, let him come. And he should tell it, and order it for Me since My setting, creating, of all the world’s people. If there is anyone who can do so, let them tell of that event which approaches (see commentary on 41:23), and of that which will come. No one other than Me is capable of establishing the events of the past and prophesying about the future.

אַל תִּפְחֲדוּ וְאַל תִּרְהוּ הֲלֹא מֵאָז הִשְׁמַעְתִּיךָ וְהִגַּדְתִּי וְאַתֶּם עֵדָי הֲיֵשׁ אֱלוֹהַּ מִבַּלְעָדַי! וְאֵין צוּר בַּל יָדָעְתִּי

Do not be afraid and do not fear the idols or the threats of their worshippers; wasn’t it from then, long ago, that I announced to you and declared, and you are My witnesses with regard to what I have told you, due to both what you have seen yourselves and the very fact that you still exist and experience a miraculous redemption: Is there a god besides Me? There is no rock I do not know. There is no power with which I am not familiar, and there is no god like Me.

יֹצְרֵי פֶסֶל – כֻּלָּם תֹּהוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶם – בַּל יוֹעִילוּ וְעֵדֵיהֶם הֵמָּה בַּל יִרְאוּ וּבַל יֵדְעוּ לְמַעַן יֵבֹשׁוּ

Many believe in false gods, and their falseness is self-evident: Fashioners of idols, they are all emptiness and the objects of their admiration, their false gods, are of no avail; they are their witnesses, the idols and their worshippers each testify with regard to the inauthenticity of the other. They, the idols, do not see and they do not know, so that they, the makers and worshippers of idols, will be ashamed.

מִי יָצַר אֵל וּפֶסֶל נָסָךְ לְבִלְתִּי הוֹעִיל!

Who fashioned a god, or cast an idol to no avail? Who are those that fashion these idols which are not beneficial in any way?

הֵן כָּל חֲבֵרָיו יֵבֹשׁוּ וְחָרָשִׁים הֵמָּה מֵאָדָם יִתְקַבְּצוּ כֻלָּם יַעֲמֹדוּ יִפְחֲדוּ יֵבֹשׁוּ יָחַד

Behold, all his colleagues who participate in the sculpting of the idol will be ashamed, and the craftsmen, they are people, those that fashion the idol are human; let them, the craftsmen, all gather, stand, be afraid, be ashamed together of their handiwork.

חָרַשׁ בַּרְזֶל מַעֲצָד וּפָעַל בַּפֶּחָם וּבַמַּקָּבוֹת יִצְּרֵהוּ וַיִּפְעָלֵהוּ בִּזְרוֹעַ כֹּחוֹ גַּם רָעֵב וְאֵין כֹּחַ לֹא שָׁתָה מַיִם וַיִּיעָף

The prophet expresses his opinion of idolatry using a satirical example: An ironsmith with an adze, and he works with coal in order to melt the iron and cast it, and subsequently fashions it, the idol, with hammers; he wields it with his strength of arm, he fashions it with all of his strength. The prophet adds an additional derisive comment: Even hungry and having no strength; he does not drink water and he tires. The craftsman himself becomes weak due to his hard work, while purporting to fashion an idol that supposedly has the power to influence others, including its maker.

חָרַשׁ עֵצִים נָטָה קָו יְתָאֲרֵהוּ בַשֶּׂרֶד יַעֲשֵׂהוּ בַּמַּקְצֻעוֹת וּבַמְּחוּגָה יְתָאֳרֵהוּ וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ כְּתַבְנִית אִישׁ כְּתִפְאֶרֶת אָדָם לָשֶׁבֶת בָּיִת

Likewise, the carpenter stretches a line upon the wood to measure it; he marks it, the contours of the figure, with dye [sered]. Others claim that sered is a carpenter’s tool, perhaps related to [sirtut], meaning sketch. If so, the sered is a drafting pencil or stylus. He then makes it with planes, and with a compass, marks it, he uses a utensil designed to mark circles for cutting; he makes it, the piece of wood, like the form of a man, like the splendor of a person, to sit in a house. When the idol is finished being made, it remains in a dignified location inside the house and is not moved elsewhere.

לִכְרָת לוֹ אֲרָזִים וַיִּקַּח תִּרְזָה וְאַלּוֹן וַיְאַמֶּץ לוֹ בַּעֲצֵי יָעַר נָטַע אֹרֶן וְגֶשֶׁם יְגַדֵּל

After describing the work of the carpenter in fashioning the idol, the prophet describes the raw materials used during the process: He cuts cedars for it and takes arbutus and oak, trees that can be used for woodworking or fuel. He exerts himself among the trees of the forest, he attempts to choose a quality tree for his work. Cedar trees were generally not planted, but were found in the forests. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow on its own, without additional watering.

וְהָיָה לְאָדָם לְבָעֵר וַיִּקַּח מֵהֶם וַיָּחָם אַף יַשִּׂיק וְאָפָה לָחֶם אַף יִפְעַל אֵל וַיִּשְׁתָּחוּ עָשָׂהוּ פֶסֶל וַיִּסְגָּד לָמוֹ

After chopping down the tree, it will be for a person for fuel; he takes of it and is warmed; he burns it and bakes bread. He uses a portion of the wood to heat his house, another for igniting the oven, and with a third portion, he even makes a god and prostrates himself; he makes it into an idol and worships it. The prophet illustrates the various human needs for which the chopped wood provides, and one of them is the need for an idol.

חֶצְיוֹ שָׂרַף בְּמוֹ אֵשׁ עַל חֶצְיוֹ בָּשָׂר יֹאכֵל יִצְלֶה צָלִי וְיִשְׂבָּע אַף יָחֹם וְיֹאמַר הֶאָח! חַמּוֹתִי רָאִיתִי אוּר

Half of it he burns in fire; on half of it he eats meat, he roasts a roast upon it, and is satiated; he even warms himself and says: Ah, I am warm, I see the flame. Once he has warmed himself, he exclaims how wonderful it is to see the fire burning in front of him.

וּשְׁאֵרִיתוֹ לְאֵל עָשָׂה לְפִסְלוֹ יִסְגָּד לוֹ וְיִשְׁתַּחוּ וְיִתְפַּלֵּל אֵלָיו וְיֹאמַר הַצִּילֵנִי כִּי אֵלִי אָתָּה

Its remainder he makes into a god; his idol, he worships it and prostrates himself and prays to it and says: Deliver me, for you are my god.

לֹא יָדְעוּ וְלֹא יָבִינוּ כִּי טַח מֵרְאוֹת עֵינֵיהֶם מֵהַשְׂכִּיל לִבֹּתָם

They do not know and they do not understand, for their eyes are sealed from seeing, and their hearts are also covered, from understanding.

וְלֹא יָשִׁיב אֶל לִבּוֹ וְלֹא דַעַת וְלֹא תְבוּנָה לֵאמֹר חֶצְיוֹ שָׂרַפְתִּי בְמוֹ אֵשׁ וְאַף אָפִיתִי עַל גֶּחָלָיו לֶחֶם אֶצְלֶה בָשָׂר וְאֹכֵל וְיִתְרוֹ לְתוֹעֵבָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לְבוּל עֵץ אֶסְגּוֹד

He does not reflect in his heart and it, his heart, has no knowledge and no understanding, saying: Half of it, the tree, I burned in fire, and I even baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and ate it; the rest of it I will make into an abomination, an idol, I will worship the stock of a tree. The term “abomination” here is the language of the prophet, not that of the speaker, who fashions the idol. Now that my body has derived benefit from two parts of the tree, I will transform the remainder of the wood into a sacred image for myself, from which it is forbidden to derive benefit. To this image I will prostrate myself, and from it I will request assistance. The prophet emphasizes the absurdity of using the very same wood both for his physical needs, such as consuming meat and warming himself, and for creating a supposedly powerful idol.

רֹעֶה אֵפֶר לֵב הוּתַל הִטָּהוּ וְלֹא יַצִּיל אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ וְלֹא יֹאמַר הֲלוֹא שֶׁקֶר בִּימִינִי

He, the person described in the previous verses, is guided by ashes, items that are worth no more than ashes; a foolish heart has led him astray and he does not deliver his soul and does not say: Is there not falsehood in my right hand? It is obvious that the creation and worshipping of these idols is futile, yet people continue to do so.

זְכָר אֵלֶּה יַעֲקֹב וְיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי עַבְדִּי אָתָּה יְצַרְתִּיךָ עֶבֶד לִי אַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא תִנָּשֵׁנִי

Remember these, Jacob and Israel, for you are My servant. Remember your identity and your mission; I fashioned you as My servant, Israel, do not abandon Me, and I will not forsake you.

מָחִיתִי כָעָב פְּשָׁעֶיךָ וְכֶעָנָן חַטֹּאותֶיךָ שׁוּבָה אֵלַי כִּי גְאַלְתִּיךָ

I have wiped away your transgressions like a thick cloud that is dispelled by the wind, and your sins like a cloud are dispersed. You are not fixed in a state of sin. Therefore, return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

רָנּוּ שָׁמַיִם כִּי עָשָׂה ה' הָרִיעוּ תַּחְתִּיּוֹת אָרֶץ פִּצְחוּ הָרִים רִנָּה יַעַר וְכָל עֵץ בּוֹ – כִּי גָאַל ה' יַעֲקֹב וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל יִתְפָּאָר

Sing and rejoice, heavens, as the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth; mountains, break into song, forest and every tree in it, for all will see that the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and in Israel He is glorified.

כֹּה אָמַר ה' גֹּאֲלֶךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ מִבָּטֶן אָנֹכִי ה' עֹשֶׂה כֹּל נֹטֶה שָׁמַיִם לְבַדִּי רֹקַע הָאָרֶץ מֵאִתִּי

So says the Lord, your Redeemer, Israel, and your Fashioner from the womb: I am the Lord, who made everything, who stretched the heavens alone, who spreads the earth by Myself, through My power alone;

מֵפֵר אֹתוֹת בַּדִּים וְקֹסְמִים יְהוֹלֵל מֵשִׁיב חֲכָמִים אָחוֹר וְדַעְתָּם יְסַכֵּל

who negates the omens of deceivers and leads diviners astray, who turns around the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness by causing them to discover eventually that their ideas are unfounded.

מֵקִים דְּבַר עַבְדּוֹ וַעֲצַת מַלְאָכָיו יַשְׁלִים הָאֹמֵר לִירוּשָׁלִַם תּוּשָׁב וּלְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה תִּבָּנֶינָה וְחָרְבוֹתֶיהָ אֲקוֹמֵם

In the same way, it is He who confirms the word of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers the prophets; who says of Jerusalem through those prophets: It will be inhabited once again, and of the cities of Judah: They will be rebuilt and I will reestablish its, Jerusalem’s, ruins;

הָאֹמֵר לַצּוּלָה חֳרָבִי וְנַהֲרֹתַיִךְ אוֹבִישׁ

who says to the depths, the deep waters: Desiccate, and I will dry up your rivers. God can overturn the entire natural order. Just as He can transform the wilderness into an irrigated, blossoming oasis (see 41:18), so too, He can dry up areas submerged underwater. Likewise, God will destroy the built-up city of Babylon and cause the ruined city of Jerusalem to thrive.

הָאֹמֵר לְכוֹרֶשׁ רֹעִי וְכָל חֶפְצִי יַשְׁלִם וְלֵאמֹר לִירוּשָׁלִַם תִּבָּנֶה וְהֵיכָל תִּוָּסֵד

It is Hewho says of Cyrus: He is My shepherd, a king over My people, and he will fulfill all My desires, saying of Jerusalem: It will be built; and the Sanctuary will be established.