Yesaya 44:6

The Absurdity of Idolatry

44:6 This is what the Lord, Israel’s king, says,

their protector, ¹  the Lord who commands armies:

“I am the first and I am the last,

there is no God but me.

Yesaya 44:24

The Lord Empowers Cyrus

44:24 This is what the Lord, your protector, ²  says,

the one who formed you in the womb:

“I am the Lord, who made everything,

who alone stretched out the sky,

who fashioned the earth all by myself, ³ 

[44:6]  ¹ tn Heb “his kinsman redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[44:24]  ² tn Heb “your redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[44:24]  ³ tn The consonantal text (Kethib) has “Who [was] with me?” The marginal reading (Qere) is “from with me,” i.e., “by myself.” See BDB 87 s.v. II אֵת 4.c.