Isaiah 2:20
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
Original Language Analysis
בַּיּ֤וֹם
In that day
H3117
בַּיּ֤וֹם
In that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַהוּא֙
H1931
הַהוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
2 of 17
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ
shall cast
H7993
יַשְׁלִ֣יךְ
shall cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
3 of 17
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
הָאָדָ֔ם
a man
H120
הָאָדָ֔ם
a man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
4 of 17
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֱלִילֵ֣י
and his idols
H457
אֱלִילֵ֣י
and his idols
Strong's:
H457
Word #:
6 of 17
good for nothing, by analogy vain or vanity; specifically an idol
כַסְפּ֔וֹ
of silver
H3701
כַסְפּ֔וֹ
of silver
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
7 of 17
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
וְאֵ֖ת
H853
וְאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֱלִילֵ֣י
and his idols
H457
אֱלִילֵ֣י
and his idols
Strong's:
H457
Word #:
9 of 17
good for nothing, by analogy vain or vanity; specifically an idol
זְהָב֑וֹ
of gold
H2091
זְהָב֑וֹ
of gold
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
10 of 17
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָֽשׂוּ
which they made each one for himself
H6213
עָֽשׂוּ
which they made each one for himself
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
12 of 17
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֔ת
to worship
H7812
לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֔ת
to worship
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
14 of 17
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
Cross References
Isaiah 30:22Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.Isaiah 31:7For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
Historical Context
Silver and gold idols represented significant investment and devotion. Their abandonment to cave-dwelling creatures illustrates the desperation of recognizing too late that idols are impotent.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'silver and gold' idols will we eventually recognize as worthless, better suited for 'moles and bats'?
- How does present disillusionment with idolatry spare us future desperation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
In desperation, idolaters cast away their silver and gold idols to 'moles and bats'—creatures dwelling in darkness, emphasizing the idols' worthlessness. What was once cherished for worship is now discarded as useless. This dramatic reversal exposes idolatry's futility when crisis reveals false gods cannot save. The imagery anticipates Jesus' teaching that treasure stored on earth proves worthless (Matthew 6:19-20) and Paul's counting all as refuse compared to Christ (Philippians 3:8).