Isaiah 31:7
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Isaiah 31:7
7 For 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.
Chapter Context
Isaiah 31 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of obedience, covenant, righteousness. Written during the Assyrian and pre-exilic periods (c. 740-680 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Addressed Judah during Assyria's rise, Babylon's threat, and anticipated restoration.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-9: Development of key themes
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Isaiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Isaiah 31:7
7 For 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.
Analysis
For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold (כִּי בַיּוֹם הַהוּא יִמְאָסוּן אִישׁ אֱלִילֵי כַסְפּוֹ וֶאֱלִילֵי זְהָבוֹ, ki vayom hahu yim'asun ish eleley kaspo ve'eleley zehavo)—each אִישׁ (ish, man) will מָאַס (ma'as, reject, despise, cast away) his אֱלִילִים (elilim, idols, worthless things). Which your own hands have made unto you for a sin (אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ לָכֶם יְדֵיכֶם חֵטְא, asher asu lakhem yedekhem chet)—which your יָדַיִם (yadayim, hands) made as חֵטְא (chet, sin).
True repentance involves idol-abandonment. The irony: humans fashion gods from precious metals, then worship their own handicraft. Isaiah repeatedly mocks idol-making folly (Isaiah 44:9-20). The idols are expensive (כֶּסֶף, kesef, silver and זָהָב, zahav, gold) but worthless (אֱלִיל, elil, can mean 'nothing, worthless'). Repentance means recognizing that what you made, trusted, and invested in is fundamentally חֵטְא (chet, sin). Conversion involves renouncing former idols (1 Thessalonians 1:9)—whether literal statues or metaphorical false-trust objects (money, success, approval, comfort).
Historical Context
Hezekiah's reforms included destroying idols and high places (2 Kings 18:4). Josiah later intensified this idol-purge (2 Kings 23). At individual and national levels, repentance required physically destroying false gods. In Acts, new converts in Ephesus burned valuable magic books (Acts 19:19). True turning to God requires turning from idols—not merely mental assent but concrete renunciation.
Reflection
- What 'silver and gold idols'—valuable but false objects of trust—do you need to 'cast away'?
- How does recognizing that we create our own idols ('your hands made them') expose the folly of idolatry?
- What would it look like for you to physically, practically renounce and destroy your functional idols?
Word Studies
- Sin: חַטָּאת (Chatta'ah) H2399 - Sin, missing the mark
Cross-References
- Creation: Isaiah 2:20
- Parallel theme: Isaiah 30:22, Deuteronomy 7:25, Ezekiel 36:25, Hosea 14:8