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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 44:14 He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/44-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/23_Isa_44_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 44:14 - The LORD has Chosen Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/44-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/44-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/44.htm">Chapter 44</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/44-13.htm" title="Isaiah 44:13">◄</a> Isaiah 44:14 <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm" title="Isaiah 44:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/44.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/44.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/44.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/44.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish <i>it</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/44.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures <i>it</i> for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes <i>it.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/44.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He will cut cedars for himself, and he takes a holm-oak or <i>another</i> oak and lets <i>it</i> grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/44.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/44.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak, and raises <i>it</i> for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/44.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />In order to cut cedars for himself, he takes a cypress or an oak and raises <i>it</i> for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/44.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain nourishes it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/44.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars for his use, or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/44.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars for his use, or he takes a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/44.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the holm-tree and the oak, and strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest: he planteth a fir-tree, and the rain doth nourish it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/44.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Either cedar, cypress, oak, or any tree from the forest may be chosen. Or even a pine tree planted by the woodcarver and watered by the rain. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/44.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the holm tree and the oak, and strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest: he planteth a fir tree, and the rain doth nourish it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/44.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />They cut down cedars for themselves. Then they choose fir trees or oaks. They let them grow strong among the trees in the forest. Then they plant cedars, and the rain makes them grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/44.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He might cut down cedars to use, or choose oak or cypress wood from the forest. Or he might plant a laurel tree and wait for the rain to make it grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/44.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars, or chooses a cypress tree or an oak, and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. Or he plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/44.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/44.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/44.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/44.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He heweth down cedars for himself, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/44.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a cypress tree, and the rain nourishes it. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/44.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Cutting down cedars for himself, "" He also takes a cypress, and an oak, "" And he strengthens [it] for himself "" Among the trees of a forest, "" He has planted an ash, and the shower nourishes [it].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/44.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Cutting down to himself cedars, He taketh also a cypress, and an oak, And he strengtheneth it for himself Among the trees of a forest, He hath planted an ash, and the shower doth nourish it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/44.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />To cut down for him cedars, and he will take the fir tree and the oak, and he will strengthen for himself among the trees of the forest: he planted an ash and the rain will cause to grow.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/44.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He hath cut down cedars, taken the holm, and the oak that stood among the trees of the forest: he hath planted the pine tree, which the rain hath nourished. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/44.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He has cut down cedars; he has taken the evergreen oak, and the oak that stood among the trees of the forest. He has planted the pine tree, which the rain has nourished.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/44.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He goes out to cut down cedars, takes a holm tree or an oak. He picks out for himself trees of the forest, plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/44.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He cuts down cedars or chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/44.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then he makes it to stand in the house, a piece of wood which was cut down out of the forest, something which the rain has nourished,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/44.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he sets it up in the house, a tree that was cut down from the forest that was grown in the rain<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/44.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />He heweth him down cedars, And taketh the ilex and the oak, And strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest; He planteth a bay-tree, and the rain doth nourish it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/44.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />He cuts wood out of the forest, which the Lord planted, <i>even</i> a pine tree, and the rain made it grow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/44-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=9808" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm">The LORD has Chosen Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3772.htm" title="3772: liḵ·rāṯ- (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To cut off, cut down. A primitive root; to cut; by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant.">He cuts down</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/730.htm" title="730: ’ă·rā·zîm (N-mp) -- A cedar. From 'araz; a cedar tree.">cedars</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">or retrieves</a> <a href="/hebrew/8645.htm" title="8645: tir·zāh (N-fs) -- (a tree) perhaps cypress. Probably from razah; a species of tree, perhaps the cypress.">a cypress</a> <a href="/hebrew/437.htm" title="437: wə·’al·lō·wn (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- An oak. A variation of 'elown.">or oak.</a> <a href="/hebrew/553.htm" title="553: way·’am·meṣ- (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be stout, strong, bold, alert. A primitive root; to be alert, physically or mentally.">He lets it grow strong</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6086.htm" title="6086: ba·‘ă·ṣê- (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- Tree, trees, wood. From atsah; a tree; hence, wood.">among the trees</a> <a href="/hebrew/3293.htm" title="3293: yā·‘ar (N-ms) -- From an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb.">of the forest.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5193.htm" title="5193: nā·ṭa‘ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To plant. A primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. Fix; specifically, to plant.">He plants</a> <a href="/hebrew/766.htm" title="766: ʾō·rɛn (N-ms) -- Fir, cedar. From the same as 'Aran; the ash tree.">a laurel,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1653.htm" title="1653: wə·ḡe·šem (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Rain, shower. From gasham; a shower.">and the rain</a> <a href="/hebrew/1431.htm" title="1431: yə·ḡad·dêl (V-Piel-Imperf-3ms) -- To grow up, become great. A primitive root; properly, to twist, i.e. To be large.">makes it grow.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/1-11.htm">Genesis 1:11-12</a></span><br />Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.” And it was so. / The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/104-16.htm">Psalm 104:16-17</a></span><br />The trees of the LORD have their fill, the cedars of Lebanon that He planted, / where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home in the cypresses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/31-3.htm">Ezekiel 31:3-9</a></span><br />Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/5-6.htm">1 Kings 5:6-10</a></span><br />Now therefore, order that cedars of Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever wages you set, for you know that there are none among us as skilled in logging as the Sidonians.” / When Hiram received Solomon’s message, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the LORD this day! He has given David a wise son over this great people!” / Then Hiram sent a reply to Solomon, saying: “I have received your message; I will do all you desire regarding the cedar and cypress timber. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/6-15.htm">1 Kings 6:15-18</a></span><br />He lined the interior walls with cedar paneling from the floor of the temple to the ceiling, and he covered the floor with cypress boards. / He partitioned off the twenty cubits at the rear of the temple with cedar boards from floor to ceiling to form within the temple an inner sanctuary, the Most Holy Place. / And the main hall in front of this room was forty cubits long. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/2-8.htm">2 Chronicles 2:8-9</a></span><br />Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum logs from Lebanon, for I know that your servants have skill to cut timber there. And indeed, my servants will work with yours / to prepare for me timber in abundance, because the temple I am building will be great and wonderful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-5</a></span><br />For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-13.htm">Hosea 4:13</a></span><br />They sacrifice on the mountaintops and burn offerings on the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant. And so your daughters turn to prostitution and your daughters-in-law to adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-18.htm">Habakkuk 2:18-19</a></span><br />What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-24.htm">Acts 17:24-25</a></span><br />The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a></span><br />Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-8.htm">Galatians 4:8-9</a></span><br />Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. / But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/2-8.htm">Colossians 2:8</a></span><br />See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He hews him down cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest: he plants an ash, and the rain does nourish it.</p><p class="hdg">heweth</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/40-20.htm">Isaiah 40:20</a></b></br> He that <i>is</i> so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree <i>that</i> will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, <i>that</i> shall not be moved.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3-8</a></b></br> For the customs of the people <i>are</i> vain: for <i>one</i> cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12</a></b></br> My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused <i>them</i> to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.</p><p class="hdg">strengtheneth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/113-7.htm">Ash</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-24.htm">Cedars</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-24.htm">Chooses</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-24.htm">Chooseth</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-12.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-14.htm">Cuts</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Cypress</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Fir</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Fir-Tree</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-24.htm">Forest</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-13.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-30.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-11.htm">Growth</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-16.htm">Heweth</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-20.htm">Holm-Oak</a> <a href="/isaiah/28-28.htm">Lets</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-13.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-4.htm">Nourish</a> <a href="/ephesians/5-29.htm">Nourishes</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-13.htm">Oak</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-4.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Pine</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-16.htm">Planteth</a> <a href="/isaiah/43-24.htm">Plants</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-30.htm">Rain</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-19.htm">Strengtheneth</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/7-19.htm">Strengthens</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-13.htm">Terebinth</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-19.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-4.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-13.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/lamentations/4-5.htm">Ash</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-7.htm">Cedars</a> <a href="/matthew/11-27.htm">Chooses</a> <a href="/genesis/13-11.htm">Chooseth</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-2.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Cuts</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-13.htm">Cypress</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-13.htm">Fir</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-13.htm">Fir-Tree</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-23.htm">Forest</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-26.htm">Gives</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-9.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Growth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-33.htm">Heweth</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-20.htm">Holm-Oak</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-5.htm">Lets</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/hosea/9-12.htm">Nourish</a> <a href="/matthew/6-26.htm">Nourishes</a> <a href="/ezekiel/6-13.htm">Oak</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-12.htm">Perhaps</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-13.htm">Pine</a> <a href="/isaiah/60-21.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/daniel/11-45.htm">Planteth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-5.htm">Plants</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-8.htm">Rain</a> <a href="/daniel/10-18.htm">Strengtheneth</a> <a href="/philippians/4-13.htm">Strengthens</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-24.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/genesis/12-6.htm">Terebinth</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-19.htm">Tree</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-23.htm">Trees</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-16.htm">Wood</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 44</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-1.htm">God comforts the church with his promises</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-7.htm">The vanity of idols</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">And folly of idol makers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-21.htm">He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new 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class="vheading"><a href="/study/isaiah/44.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>He cuts down cedars</b><br />The cedar tree, known in Hebrew as "erez," is a symbol of strength and durability. In ancient times, cedars were highly valued for their quality wood, used in construction and shipbuilding. The act of cutting down a cedar signifies human intervention in nature, a theme that resonates with the biblical narrative of man's dominion over creation (<a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>). This phrase also sets the stage for a discussion on idolatry, as the wood from these trees was often used to carve idols, highlighting the futility of worshipping created things rather than the Creator.<p><b>or retrieves a cypress or oak</b><br />The cypress and oak trees, "berosh" and "allon" in Hebrew, respectively, are also significant in biblical literature. Cypress wood was known for its resilience and was used in temple construction (<a href="/1_kings/6-15.htm">1 Kings 6:15</a>). The oak, a symbol of endurance and strength, often appears in the Bible as a place of significant events (<a href="/genesis/35-4.htm">Genesis 35:4</a>). The retrieval of these trees suggests a deliberate choice, emphasizing the human tendency to select and use God's creation for personal purposes, sometimes leading to idolatry.<p><b>He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest</b><br />This phrase reflects the natural process of growth and the providence of God in creation. The forest, a place of abundance and life, symbolizes the world in which God's creation thrives. The strength of the trees among the forest signifies the potential and beauty inherent in God's creation, which can be nurtured or misused by humanity. This imagery serves as a reminder of the responsibility to steward creation wisely, aligning with the biblical mandate to care for the earth.<p><b>He plants a laurel</b><br />The laurel, or "hadas" in Hebrew, is an evergreen shrub known for its aromatic leaves. In ancient cultures, the laurel was a symbol of victory and honor, often used to crown victors in athletic competitions. Planting a laurel signifies hope and future promise, a theme prevalent in the prophetic literature of the Bible. It suggests the potential for growth and renewal, pointing to the ultimate victory and restoration found in God.<p><b>and the rain makes it grow</b><br />Rain, a vital source of life, is often depicted in the Bible as a blessing from God (<a href="/deuteronomy/11-14.htm">Deuteronomy 11:14</a>). The growth of the laurel through rain underscores the dependence of creation on divine provision. This phrase highlights the sovereignty of God in nurturing and sustaining life, reminding believers of their reliance on God's grace and provision. It serves as an encouragement to trust in God's timing and care, knowing that He provides for all creation.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/44.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">He heweth him down cedars.</span>--The manufacture is traced further back, possibly by way of protest against the belief current in all nations that some archaic image had fallen from heaven (<a href="/acts/19-35.htm" title="And when the town cleark had appeased the people, he said, You men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?">Acts 19:35</a>). The "cypress" is probably the <span class= "ital">Quercus ilex, </span>and the "ash" a <span class= "ital">fig tree; </span>but the identification of trees in the language of a remote time and language is always somewhat uncertain.<p><span class= "bld">Which he strengtheneth for himself.</span>--Better, <span class= "ital">fixeth his choice among. </span>The eye travels, it will be noted, backward from the workshop.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/44.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Cedars... cypress... oak</span>. The second of the trees mentioned is more probably the ilex than the cypress, which does not grow either in Palestine or in Babylonia. Idols would be made of cedar on account of its fragrance, of flex and oak on account of their hardness and durability. Cedar was used as a material for carved figures in Egypt (Birch, 'Contents of British Museum,' p. 21). <span class="cmt_word">Which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest</span>. The meaning is obscure. Dr. Kay translates, "and he <span class="accented">encourages himself in</span> the trees of the forest," which conveys no very distinct idea; Delitzsch, "and he <span class="accented">chooses</span> for himself among the trees," etc., which is sufficiently clear, but scarcely obtainable from the Hebrew text; Knobel, "he makes himself secure among the trees" (by putting a mark on those which he intends to have), which imparts an idea certainly not contained in the original. <span class="cmt_word">He planteth an ash</span>. It is uncertain, and it does not greatly matter, what tree is intended. The point is that, before trees can grow up, they have to be planted, and that, for them to grow when planted, God's gift of rain is necessary (see the comment on ver. 13). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/44-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He cuts down</span><br /><span class="heb">לִכְרָת־</span> <span class="translit">(liḵ·rāṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3772.htm">Strong's 3772: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">cedars</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרָזִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·rā·zîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_730.htm">Strong's 730: </a> </span><span class="str2">A cedar tree</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or retrieves</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקַּ֤ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a cypress</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּרְזָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(tir·zāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8645.htm">Strong's 8645: </a> </span><span class="str2">A species of tree, the cypress</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or oak.</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַלּ֔וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’al·lō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_437.htm">Strong's 437: </a> </span><span class="str2">An oak, other strong tree</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He lets it grow strong</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְאַמֶּץ־</span> <span class="translit">(way·’am·meṣ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_553.htm">Strong's 553: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be stout, strong, bold, alert</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among the trees</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּעֲצֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(ba·‘ă·ṣê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6086.htm">Strong's 6086: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tree, trees, wood</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the forest.</span><br /><span class="heb">יָ֑עַר</span> <span class="translit">(yā·‘ar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3293.htm">Strong's 3293: </a> </span><span class="str2">A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He plants</span><br /><span class="heb">נָטַ֥ע</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṭa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5193.htm">Strong's 5193: </a> </span><span class="str2">To strike in, fix, to plant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a laurel,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֹ֖רֶן‪‬</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·ren)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_766.htm">Strong's 766: </a> </span><span class="str2">The ash tree</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the rain</span><br /><span class="heb">וְגֶ֥שֶׁם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḡe·šem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1653.htm">Strong's 1653: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rain, shower</span><br /><br /><span class="word">makes it grow.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְגַדֵּֽל׃</span> <span class="translit">(yə·ḡad·dêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1431.htm">Strong's 1431: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grow up, become great</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/44-14.htm">Isaiah 44:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/44-14.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 44:14 He cuts down cedars for himself (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/44-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 44:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 44:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 44:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 44:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>