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Isaiah 41:29
Behold, theyare all vanity; their worksare nothing: their molten imagesare wind and confusion.

Isaiah 44:9,10
They that make a graven imageare all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and theyare their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed…

Psalm 115:8
They that make them are like unto them;so is every one that trusteth in them.

of nothing.

Isaiah 66:24
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Deuteronomy 7:26
Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it:but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for itis a cursed thing.

Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursedbe the man that makethany graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puttethit ina secretplace. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

and your work is of no value
The "work" refers to the actions and supposed miracles attributed to these idols, which are ultimately worthless. Historically, the surrounding nations of Israel, such as Babylon and Assyria, were known for their idol worship, often attributing their military and economic successes to these deities. However, God declares these works as having no real value or power. This is consistent with the biblical narrative that true power and creation belong to God alone, as seen inGenesis 1:1, where God is the sole creator of the heavens and the earth.

Anyone who chooses you is detestable
Choosing idols over God is described as detestable, indicating a moral and spiritual corruption. This aligns with the first commandment inExodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before Me," underscoring the exclusivity of worship that God demands. The term "detestable" is often used in the Old Testament to describe practices that are abominable to God, such as idolatry and child sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:31). This phrase serves as a warning to the Israelites and a call to remain faithful to the covenant relationship with God, who is the only true source of life and blessing.

“Behold, you are nothing…” (Isaiah 41:24)

• God opens with a commanding “Behold,” drawing His people’s eyes away from the clamor of idols and back to Him. The same urgent call rings out inIsaiah 40:9, “Behold your God!” and again inJohn 1:29 when John the Baptist cries, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”

• Each “behold” in Scripture functions like a divine highlighter—stop, look, listen—because what follows is not opinion but revelation from the Creator who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10).

• In the larger context (Isaiah 41:21–29), the Lord places idols on trial, challenging them to predict the future if they indeed are gods. This opening word signals the verdict is about to be read.

“…you are nothing…”

• God’s assessment of idols is not hyperbole; it is literal fact. They are nothing—powerless, lifeless, speechless.

•Psalm 115:4-7 describes them: “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands… they have mouths but cannot speak.” Paul echoes, “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world” (1 Corinthians 8:4).

• By contrast, the Lord is “the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 40:28). In the face of His majesty, idols are exposed as empty fabrications.

“…and your work is of no value.”

• Any supposed “work” produced by idols—predictions, protections, prosperity—amounts to zero.Habakkuk 2:18 asks, “What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it?”

• Isaiah later revisits the futility: “Those who fashion an idol… they are blind to their own shame” (Isaiah 44:9-10).

• InGalatians 4:8-9, Paul warns believers not to return to “weak and worthless principles.” The phrase mirrors Isaiah’s language: what idols do is worthless because idols themselves are worthless.

“Anyone who chooses you is detestable.”

• Choosing idols is not a harmless habit; it is an affront to a holy God.Deuteronomy 7:25-26 calls the carved images of nations “an abomination,” commanding Israel, “Do not bring a detestable thing into your house.”

• The moral weight falls on the chooser: the idol is nothing, but the deliberate heart-turning toward it is repulsive.1 Kings 14:24 records that Judah provoked the Lord to jealousy by following detestable practices.

•Revelation 21:8 lists “the idolaters” among those consigned to the lake of fire. From Old to New Testament, God’s stance is unchanged: to embrace an idol is to embrace what God hates.

Isaiah 41:24 pronounces God’s decisive verdict on idols: they are nothing, their works amount to nothing, and those who align themselves with them become detestable. The passage calls every reader to shift from worthless substitutes to the living God who alone speaks truth, acts with power, and is worthy of all trust and worship.