Bible Strands
Isaiah 44:16
He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses Israel regarding their reliance on idols, describing a man’s practical use of a felled tree before fashioning the remainder into an object of worship.
The words — The text highlights חֶצְיוֹ (chetzY/o), meaning “half of it,” and שָׂרַף (saRaf), meaning “he burns,” to emphasize the physical division of the timber for fuel and cooking.
The thread — This sequence of practical wood use precedes idolatry in Isaiah 44:15 and 44:17, where the same timber is first consumed for warmth and food before the leftover portion is carved into a graven image.
Why it lands — It demands recognition that the same material sustaining physical life is treated as a deity, exposing the logical contradiction of worshipping an object crafted from common fuel.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: