In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a stark picture: worthless idols, crafted by human hands and once revered, are tossed away into dark, forgotten places. This isn't just about discarding objects; it's a dramatic, visceral rejection of something that failed to offer any real protection or substance. It highlights the utter futility of relying on anything we create for ultimate security or meaning, especially when faced with God's awesome power.
In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the preceding verses, Isaiah describes a future day of judgment and humbling for all prideful things, even mountains and cedars. This passage continues that theme, shifting to the ultimate worthlessness of idols. When the terrifying power of God is revealed, people will abandon their manufactured gods, made of precious metals, and cast them into desolate, dark places inhabited by creatures like moles and bats.
What happens to the things we once cherished when faced with ultimate reality? Isaiah paints a vivid picture of worthlessness.
In this future 'day,' the idols of silver and gold, once so revered and painstakingly crafted, will be utterly discarded. They won't be respectfully dismantled or placed in a museum. Instead, they'll be flung into dark, neglected places, becoming companions to creatures associated with darkness and decay: moles and bats. This imagery highlights the ultimate futility and worthlessness of anything created by human hands when confronted by the true glory and power of God. These idols, meant to represent divine power, will ultimately reside in the most lowly and obscure corners of the earth, a testament to their creators' misguided devotion.
Why are moles and bats the perfect symbols for where idols will end up? It speaks volumes about the nature of idolatry itself.
The choice of moles and bats is deeply symbolic. Moles live underground, in darkness, and are known for their poor eyesight. Bats also dwell in dark, often ruinous places and are active at night. These creatures represent the spiritual blindness and the love of darkness inherent in idolatry. Those who worship idols turn away from the true light of God and embrace the hidden, corrupting practices of their own making. When God's glory is fully revealed, this blindness will become unbearable, and the idols—along with the flawed trust they represent—will be relegated to the dark, obscure places that mirror the spiritual state of those who worshipped them.
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This prophecy by Isaiah, though given before the Babylonian exile, speaks powerfully to the utter worthlessness of idols. It anticipates a future 'day' when people will see their idols for what they are – worthless objects to be discarded into dark, forgotten places, a consequence that became starkly real for many during the exiles and subsequent periods of oppression.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's prophetic ministry begins
Isaiah begins prophesying in Judah during a time of both internal spiritual decay and external political tension with rising empires like Assyria.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers and deports the northern Kingdom of Israel, serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, begins deporting Judean elites and skilled workers to Babylon, including figures like Daniel, signaling the decline of Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian army destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, marking the end of the southern Kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus, overthrows Babylon, allowing Jewish exiles to begin returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Temple.
c. 332 BC
Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire
The Hellenistic era begins as Alexander's conquests spread Greek culture and influence throughout the Near East, impacting Jewish religious and cultural life.
c. 167 BC
Maccabean Revolt begins
The Maccabean Revolt breaks out against the Seleucid Empire's forced Hellenization, a period of intense religious persecution and warfare.
This passage directly contrasts the futility of idols made by human hands with the living God, echoing Isaiah's theme of idols being worthless and cast aside.
Isaiah 30:22This verse describes idols as 'defiled' and 'filthy rags,' reinforcing the idea that they are not only worthless but also spiritually corrupt, aligning with their being cast away to unclean creatures.
Hosea 2:13This passage speaks of God punishing Israel for their idolatry by destroying their religious festivals and ornaments, which mirrors the abandonment and rejection of idols described in Isaiah.
1 Kings 18:26-27The story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal shows the helplessness and absurdity of idols when faced with the true power of God, demonstrating why people would eventually cast them away in despair or shame.
Revelation 11:1This passage depicts the destruction of the Temple and the city, a context of judgment that aligns with the 'day' mentioned in Isaiah when idols are discarded due to divine wrath.
gillIsaiah 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;"
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols o gold,.... Being frightened at the terrible shaking of the earth, and at the glory and majesty of Christ, which will be seen in his witnesses and people, at the time of his spiritual coming, and the destruction of antichrist; insomuch that they shall cast away their…
barnesIsaiah 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;"
In that day - That is, in the time when God would come forth to inflict punishment. Probably the day to which the prophet refers here was the time of the captivity at Babylon. A man shall cast ... - That is, "all" who have idols, or who have been trusting in them. Valuable as they may be - made of gold and silver; and much as he m…
The verse paints a stark picture: worthless idols, crafted by human hands and once revered, are tossed away into dark, forgotten places. This isn't just about discarding objects; it's a dramatic, visceral rejection of something that failed to offer any real protection or substance. It highlights the utter futility of relying on anything we create for ultimate security or meaning, especially when faced with God's awesome power.
In the preceding verses, Isaiah describes a future day of judgment and humbling for all prideful things, even mountains and cedars. This passage continues that theme, shifting to the ultimate worthlessness of idols. When the terrifying power of God is revealed, people will abandon their manufactured gods, made of precious metals, and cast them into desolate, dark places inhabited by creatures like moles and bats.
In the preceding verses, Isaiah describes a future day of judgment and humbling for all prideful things, even mountains and cedars. This passage continues that theme, shifting to the ultimate worthlessness of idols. When the terrifying power of God is revealed, people will abandon their manufactured gods, made of precious metals, and cast them into desolate, dark places inhabited by creatures like moles and bats.
"In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats," — The verse paints a stark picture: worthless idols, crafted by human hands and once revered, are tossed away into dark, forgotten places. This isn't just about discarding objects; it's a dramatic, vis…
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Last reviewed October 2026