Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 24. Behold, ye are of no value, and your making is of nought: man hath chosen an abomination by them.

Vers. 24. Behold, yee are of no value, and your making is of nought: man hath chosen an abomination by them.

Now he scorns the idols, that he might confirm the faithful in the confidence and obedience of God, seeing by this comparison, that idolaters are miserably blinded and beguiled. The word making, ought here to be taken in the passive signification: as if he should say; It is a vain imagination or invention of nought. But it seems he speaks improperly, Object. in calling the idols things of nothing: for are they not made of gold, silver, brass, Ans. wood, stone, or such like matter? The solution is easy, for Isaiah considered not the matter, but the quality; that is to say, the opinion of divinity which men gave unto them. For the superstitious do not simply worship the wood, brass, or metal, but the majesty of God,¹ which they fondly and blasphemously tie to the corruptible idol: so as in effect here is nothing but a vain imagination. To which purpose Paul saith, that an idol is nothing: 1. Cor. 8.4. For what can that be, or what name shall be given to a work of vanity?

NOw he scornes the idols, that he might confirme the faithfull in the confidence and obedience of God, seeing by this comparison, that idolaters are miserably blinded and beguiled. The word making, ought heere to be taken in the passiue signification: as if he should say; It is a vaine imagination or inuention of nought. But it seemes he speakes improperly, Obiect. in calling the idols things of nothing: for are they not made of gold, siluer, brasse, Ans. vvood, stone, or such like matter? The solution is easie, for Isaiah considered not the matter, but the qualitie; that is to say, the opinion of diuinitie which men gaue vnto them. For the superstitious doe not simplie worship the wood, brasse, or mettall, but the maiestie of God,