Yesaya 44:15

44:15 A man uses it to make a fire; ¹ 

he takes some of it and warms himself.

Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

Then he makes a god and worships it;

he makes an idol and bows down to it. ² 

Yesaya 57:13

57:13 When you cry out for help, let your idols ³  help you!

The wind blows them all away, ⁴ 

a breeze carries them away. ⁵ 

But the one who looks to me for help ⁶  will inherit the land

and will have access to ⁷  my holy mountain.”

[44:15]  ¹ tn Heb “and it becomes burning [i.e., firewood] for a man”; NAB “to serve man for fuel.”

[44:15]  ² tn Or perhaps, “them.”

[57:13]  ³ tn The Hebrew text has קִבּוּצַיִךְ (qibbutsayikh, “your gatherings”), an otherwise unattested noun from the verbal root קָבַץ (qavats, “gather”). Perhaps this alludes to their religious assemblies and by metonymy to their rituals. Since idolatry is a prominent theme in the context, some understand this as a reference to a collection of idols. The second half of the verse also favors this view.

[57:13]  ⁴ tn Heb “all of them a wind lifts up.”

[57:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “a breath takes [them] away.”

[57:13]  ⁶ tn Or “seeks refuge in me.” “Seeking refuge” is a metonymy for “being loyal to.”

[57:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “possess, own.” The point seems to be that he will have free access to God’s presence, as if God’s temple mount were his personal possession.