Isaiah 41:28
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And when I look, there is no man: even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And I saw that there was no man, even no wise man among them, who might give an answer to my questions.
Webster's Revision
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
World English Bible
When I look, there is no man; even among them there is no counselor who, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And when I look, there is no man; even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
Clarke's Isaiah 41:28 Bible Commentary
Among them "Among the idols" - For ומאלה umeelleh, I read ומאלים umeellim, with the Septuagint, και απο των ειδωλων, "and from or among the idols. "See Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 57:5.
R. D. Kimchi has many good observations on this chapter. Bishop Lowth follows him in applying it to Abraham, and not to Cyrus; the whole being spoken in the past tense, which is not used, or rarely, in such a case for the future. Almost the whole of the rabbins understand it of Abraham. On Kimchi's plan, the following is a paraphrase.
The righteous man - Abram, from the east - the land of his nativity, called the land of the children of the east, Genesis 29:1.
Brought him to his feet - Whithersoever his feet went, he preached righteousness and truth; as it is written, "There he proclaimed in the name of Jehovah," Genesis 21:31. And he called it ויקראהו vaiyikraehu - that is, צרק tsedek, righteousness, to his feet, enabled him to hold it forth wherever he went.
He called the nations - To leave their idols and worship him who made the universe. He taught them the way of righteousness, truth, and faith. Was there ever a prodigy like to this? A man who had been an idolater, rising up against all the nations of the earth, reproving their faith, and not fearing before them nor their kings! Who stirred up his heart to do this? Was it not the Lord?
Gave the nations before him - And made him rule over kings - Chedorlaomer, and the kings which were with him: whom the Lord gave as dust to his sword, and stubble to his bow.
He pursued them - He and his three hundred and eighteen servants.
He passed safely - שלום shalom for בשלום beshalom, in safety; so said, because he lost not one of his men in this expedition. See Kimchi.
Barnes's Isaiah 41:28 Bible Commentary
For I beheld - I looked upon the pagan world, among all the pretended prophets, and the priests of pagan idolatry.
And there was no man - No man among them who could predict these future events.
No counselor - No one qualified to give counsel, or that could anticipate by his sagacity what would take place.
That, when I asked of them - In the manner referred to in this chapter. There is no one of whom it could be inquired what would take place in future times.
Could answer a word - They were unable to discern what would come to pass, or to predict the events which are referred to here.
Wesley's Isaiah 41:28 Bible Commentary
41:28 For - I looked to see if I could find any man that could foretel future events. No man - Not any, of the idols; for the word man is sometimes used by the Hebrews of brute creatures, and even of lifeless things. No counsellor - Though these idols were often consulted, yet none of them were able to give any solid and certain advice concerning future things.