Bible Strands
Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks in a self-declaration (Isa 44:24–26), listing His actions as Creator and Redeemer; verse 25 is one item in that catalogue.
The words — בַּדִּים (ba.Dim, H907) means "empty ones" or "those of nothing," a rare term applied to false prophets; אָחוֹר ('a.Chor, H268) means "backwards," so the wise are turned to their own opposite.
The thread — The same pattern of God thwarting human schemes appears in Psalms 33:10, Job 5:12, and 2 Samuel 15:31, where David prays that Ahithophel's counsel be turned to folly.
Why it lands — It asks the reader to name which "signs," "diviners," or "wise counsel" they currently trust and to weigh them against a God who has already declared them empty.
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
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
Cross-references
- Psalms 33:10 The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.
- Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- 2 Samuel 15:31 Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
- Jeremiah 50:36 A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.
- Isaiah 47:12 So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!
- Jeremiah 51:57 I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Isaiah 29:14 Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”
- Isaiah 19:11 The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”?
- Jeremiah 27:9 But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’