Bible Strands
Isaiah 44:20
He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the idolater who burns wood for cooking and bows to the remainder, while simultaneously reminding Jacob and Israel of their covenant relationship with God.
The words — רֹעֶה (ro.'Eh) literally means "[he is] feeding," and אֵפֶר ('E.fer) means "ashes," depicting the idolater's literal consumption of worthless remains.
The thread — The motif of feeding on emptiness or ashes appears in Job 15:31 regarding self-deception, Psalm 102:9 describing literal mourning through eating ashes and drinking tears, and Hosea 12:1 regarding Ephraim pursuing the wind and multiplying lies.
Why it lands — The text states that a deluded heart leads to spiritual blindness and self-imposed helplessness, demanding the reader examine whether their own trust rests on tangible reality or fabricated certainty.
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 feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
Cross-references
- Job 15:31 Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
- Psalms 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears
- Hosea 12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
- Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- Hosea 4:12 My people consult their wooden idols, and their divining rods inform them. For a spirit of prostitution leads them astray and they have played the harlot against their God.
- Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
- 2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
- 1 Kings 22:20 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one suggested this, and another that.
- Job 15:2 “Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
- Proverbs 15:14 A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.