Isaiah 46:2

They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

Cross-reference

Isaiah 45:20 explicitly states idols 'cannot save'—directly parallel to them bowing and going captive here.

Isaiah 44:17 mocks praying to an idol for deliverance—same irony: the idol cannot save even itself, as seen in 46:2.

Isaiah 37:19 shows idols cast into fire as mere human works—echoing how these idols stoop and are carried away, powerless.

In Isaiah 37:12, the same theme: the gods of conquered nations could not save them—just as idols here cannot save themselves from captivity.

Isaiah 36:18 questions if any god can deliver, echoing the inability of idols to save in Isaiah 46:2.

Isaiah 36:18 questions if any god can deliver, echoing the inability of idols to save in Isaiah 46:2.

Isaiah 44:9 Parallel

In Isaiah 44:9, the same verdict is passed on idol makers: they are vanity and cannot profit — reinforcing that idols are helpless.

Isaiah 19:1 Parallel

Isaiah 19:1: idols of Egypt tremble before God — similar to the bowing down of idols in Isaiah 46:2.

Isaiah 21:9 Parallel

Isaiah 21:9: Babylon's gods shattered to ground — parallels the captivity of idols in Isaiah 46:2.

Judges 18:17 depicts idols being stolen—like here, they are carried away, unable to protect themselves or their worshippers.

Jeremiah 48:7 shows Chemosh going into exile with his priests — same theme of idols being carried off as captives, unable to save.

Jeremiah 43:12: Egyptian idols are burned and carried away captive—directly parallel to the idols here going into captivity.

2 Samuel 5:21: Philistines abandon their idols, which are burned—illustrating the same powerlessness as idols bowing in captivity.

Judges 18:24: Micah laments his gods are stolen—showing they cannot save themselves, matching the captivity here.

Judges 18:18 continues the theft of Micah's idols—another example of idols being taken, powerless to resist.

Habakkuk 2:18 questions the profit of a dumb idol, echoing the futility of idols that cannot save or deliver in Isaiah 46:2.

Psalm 115:4 Parallel

Psalm 115:4 notes idols are handiwork of men — underlies why they cannot save, as in Isaiah 46:2.

Nahum 1:14 Parallel

Nahum 1:14 declares God will cut off graven images, reinforcing the theme that idols are powerless and will be destroyed.

Hosea 10:6 Parallel

Hosea 10:6 speaks of Israel's idol being carried to Assyria as a gift — the same humiliation of idols depicted in Isaiah 46:2.

Daniel 11:8 Parallel

Daniel 11:8 describes a king carrying idols into captivity, mirroring the imagery of Isaiah 46:2 where idols themselves are taken captive.

Jeremiah 51:47 announces judgment on Babylon's graven images, directly linking to the fate of idols described in Isaiah 46:2.

Jeremiah 51:44 specifically names Bel, the Babylonian idol mentioned in Isaiah 46:1, and predicts its punishment — confirming its downfall.

Jeremiah 48:13 says Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the idols in Isaiah 46:2 are humiliated when carried away.

Jeremiah 2:28 taunts idols to save their worshippers, echoing Isaiah 46:2's claim that idols cannot deliver from trouble.

1 Samuel 5:3 has Dagon fallen before the ark — parallels the stooping and bowing of idols in Isaiah 46:2.

2 Kings 19:18 describes idols as man-made and destroyed — reinforces the impotence shown in Isaiah 46:2.

2 Chronicles 25:15: the prophet says those gods couldn't deliver their own people — mirrors the failure of idols to save in Isaiah 46:2.

Psalm 96:5 Parallel

Psalm 96:5 declares all gods are worthless idols — echoes the theme of idol incapability in Isaiah 46:2.

Genesis 31:30 involves stolen household gods — a different context but similar idea of idols being taken away, powerless to prevent it.