And the idols shall utterly pass away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse powerfully states that idols will "utterly pass away." This isn't just about their physical destruction, but about their complete irrelevance and disappearance, so much so that people will cast them away as worthless objects to the moles and bats.
And the idols shall utterly pass away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger prophecy describing the coming Day of the Lord, a time when God's judgment and glory will be revealed, humbling human pride. Isaiah has just described how all natural and man-made things that people rely on for pride and security will be brought low. This verse specifically zeroes in on the ultimate fate of idols, emphasizing their complete removal in contrast to other things that might be damaged or diminished.
What happens when something that is fundamentally 'nothing' is confronted by the Almighty? Isaiah offers a striking prediction about the ultimate fate of idols.
Isaiah declares that idols will "utterly pass away." This isn't just about physical destruction, but about a complete disappearance from human devotion and relevance. The Hebrew word used here, 'elilim, literally means 'non-gods' or 'things of naught.' It’s a powerful description that highlights their emptiness and ultimate futility.
This prophecy points to a future where the very concept of worshipping created things or human-made objects will cease. It’s a future secured by God’s sovereign action, where He Himself "causes them to pass away."
How can a prediction made thousands of years ago still resonate with such finality? This verse speaks to the irreversible power of God’s judgment.
The word "abolish" or "utterly pass away" in this verse signifies a definitive end. It was a prediction that found remarkable fulfillment, especially after the Babylonian exile. Prior to this event, the Israelites were prone to idolatry, but after their severe punishment, their susceptibility to worship idols largely ceased.
This shows that God's judgment, while often corrective, can also be absolutely final concerning certain sins, especially those that represent a fundamental rejection of Him. The 'no-gods' will not just fade away; they will be completely removed from the landscape of true worship.
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elil · Hebrew Noun
False gods or physical representations of deities created by human hands. Biblically, idols represent the displacement of the true God in the human heart and are destined for total destruction under divine judgment.
This prophecy speaks to the ultimate eradication of idolatry, a sin deeply ingrained in Judah's history, particularly before the Babylonian exile. The exile itself served as a severe, divinely ordained consequence that fundamentally altered the Jewish people's relationship with idols, fulfilling the prophet's word that they would 'utterly pass away' from their practice.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins prophesying in Judah during a period of relative peace and prosperity, but also spiritual decay and reliance on foreign alliances.
c. 730s BC
Assyrian Imperial Expansion
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III is aggressively expanding its influence, leading to political instability and fear in the region.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people and a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of idolatry and disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, besieging many cities and threatening Jerusalem. Despite the siege, Jerusalem is miraculously spared, partly due to divine intervention.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Babylonian Exile of Judah
The Babylonians, successors to the Assyrians, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the population. This event marks a turning point, as the Jews return from exile largely free from idolatry.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple.
2nd Century BC onwards
Rise of Hellenistic and Roman Idolatry
Following Alexander the Great and the subsequent Roman Empire, the ancient Near East is saturated with diverse pagan deities and idol worship, against which the monotheistic faith of Judaism stands in stark contrast.
This verse directly addresses the futility and worthlessness of idols, echoing Isaiah's declaration that they will 'utterly pass away'.
1 Corinthians 8:4Paul's assertion that 'an idol is nothing in the world' reinforces Isaiah's message by explaining the inherent nothingness of these objects that are destined to disappear.
Zechariah 13:2This passage prophesies a future cleansing from idols, aligning with Isaiah's vision of their complete removal and the establishment of God's true worship.
1 John 5:21John's urgent warning to 'keep yourselves from idols' speaks to the ongoing spiritual battle against idolatry, a battle Isaiah declares will ultimately be won with the complete abolition of idols.
gillIsaiah 2:18: "And the idols he shall utterly abolish."
And the idols he shall utterly abolish. The images of saints worshipped by the Papists: after the destruction of antichrist, and when the spiritual reign of Christ takes place, there will be no idolatry or worshipping of images any more, see Zechariah 13:2 . The word used for "idols", signifies things that are not, for an idol is nothing in the world, 1 Corinthians 8:4 these the Lord "will cause to pass away", even all of them, they shall…
barnesIsaiah 2:18: "And the idols he shall utterly abolish."
And the idols - Note, Isaiah 2:8 . Abolish - Hebrew, 'Cause to pass away or disappear.' He shall entirely cause their worship to cease. This prediction was most remarkably fulfilled. Before the captivity at Babylon, the Jews were exceedingly prone to idolatry. It is a remarkable fact that no such propensity was ever evinced "after" that. In their own land they were entirely free from it; and scattered as they have been into all lands, they…
The verse powerfully states that idols will "utterly pass away." This isn't just about their physical destruction, but about their complete irrelevance and disappearance, so much so that people will cast them away as worthless objects to the moles and bats.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy describing the coming Day of the Lord, a time when God's judgment and glory will be revealed, humbling human pride. Isaiah has just described how all natural and man-made things that people rely on for pride and security will be brought low. This verse specifically zeroes in on the ultimate fate of idols, emphasizing their complete removal in contrast to other things that might be damaged or diminished.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy describing the coming Day of the Lord, a time when God's judgment and glory will be revealed, humbling human pride. Isaiah has just described how all natural and man-made things that people rely on for pride and security will be brought low. This verse specifically zeroes in on the ultimate fate of idols, emphasizing their complete removal in contrast to other things that might be damaged or diminished.
"And the idols shall utterly pass away." — The verse powerfully states that idols will "utterly pass away." This isn't just about their physical destruction, but about their complete irrelevance and disappearance, so much so that people will…
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Last reviewed October 2026