Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just a general challenge to predict the future; it's a specific demand for divine proof. God challenges the idols to do two things: either recall and prove past predictions were accurate, or reveal specific details about upcoming events so their outcome can be verified. This highlights that true divinity is tested not by vague pronouncements, but by concrete, verifiable foresight.
Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of God's powerful argument against the idols and the nations that worship them. He's challenging them to prove their divine nature by predicting the future, contrasting their inability to do so with His own foreknowledge. Isaiah is effectively laying out a case, calling for evidence of supernatural insight from the idols or their followers, which God knows they cannot provide.
Imagine a courtroom where God Himself is the prosecutor. He's not just asking for evidence; He's demanding undeniable proof of divinity. What kind of proof would convince you?
In Isaiah 41:22, God issues a bold challenge to the idols and their worshippers. He demands they 'show us what shall happen' and 'declare to us the things to come.' This isn't a casual request; it's a divine courtroom drama. God is asserting that the ability to accurately predict the future is an exclusive trait of the one true God. The idols, and by extension, their creators and worshippers, are dared to do what only God can do: unveil the future with certainty.
This challenge highlights a core difference between the Creator and the created. Idols are mere human constructs, unable to see beyond the present moment. God, however, possesses perfect knowledge of all time – past, present, and future. His ability to declare 'former things' (events already past and verified) and 'things to come' (future events) serves as the ultimate evidence of His unique power and authority.
What if someone could show you the past not just as history, but as a testament to their power? Isaiah's challenge goes beyond mere prediction; it's about seeing the end of things.
The challenge in Isaiah 41:22 isn't just about foretelling the future. It specifically asks the idols to 'show the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know their latter end.' This is a crucial detail. God isn't just asking for prophecies; He's asking for predictions about past events that have already unfolded and can be verified.
This is a sophisticated legal argument. If the idols could accurately predict past events (or events that happened long ago but are being revealed now), it would be a form of proof. However, the context, especially with the scholarly debate about 'former things' referring to past that have come to pass, suggests God is saying: 'Show me your past predictions that have been fulfilled. Let's examine them and see if they truly came to pass as you said.'
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The ultimate goal is to 'know their outcome.' God wants the observable reality of fulfilled predictions to serve as the undeniable evidence that distinguishes Him from all false gods. This emphasizes that true divinity is not based on vague pronouncements or hidden knowledge, but on verifiable acts and accurate foresight.
c. 740-700 BC
Prophecies of Isaiah of Jerusalem
Isaiah, the prophet after whom the book is named, delivered prophecies during a time of Assyrian expansion and political instability.
c. 621 BC
Josiah's Religious Reforms
Following the discovery of the Book of the Law, King Josiah instituted widespread religious reforms, purging idolatry and centralizing worship.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians at Carchemish, establishing Babylonian dominance over Judah and leading to the first deportation of Judeans.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, and a significant portion of the Judean elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylon.
589-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, its temple was destroyed, and the majority of the remaining population was exiled.
c. 550-539 BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great's Rise and Conquest
Cyrus of Persia rose to power, conquered the Median and Lydian empires, and eventually overthrew the Babylonian empire, paving the way for the exiles' return.
This verse directly challenges the idols, stating they will perish, mirroring Isaiah's demand for idols to prove their divine nature by predicting the future, contrasting with the true God's power.
Isaiah 44:7-8This passage echoes the challenge in Isaiah 41:22 by asking who can proclaim the future and has declared it, explicitly stating that only God can do so, thereby establishing His unique divinity.
Isaiah 48:3-5Here, God recounts how He has declared former and future things to prevent His people from claiming their deliverance was due to their own or their idols' foresight, reinforcing the theme of God's exclusive prophetic knowledge.
Job 38:4-7This passage presents God questioning Job about the foundations of the earth and the morning stars, highlighting God's omniscient power and involvement in creation, which underpins His authority to predict future events.
Daniel 2:27-28Daniel, when asked to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, explains that only God in heaven can reveal mysteries and foretell future events, echoing Isaiah's challenge to idols and human diviners.
cambridgeIsaiah 41:22: "Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come."
22 . bring them forth and shew ] It is assumed that the “strong arguments” must be predictions. the former things] i.e. “things past” (from the standpoint of the speaker) as opposed to things still future ( things to come ). The expression ( hâ-rî’shônôth ) occurs with great frequenc…
pulpitIsaiah 41:22: "Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come."
Verse 22. - Let them... show us what will happen. God claims that the power of predicting the future is his own inalienable prerogative. He defies the idol-gods and their votaries to give any clear prediction of future events. No doubt the claim to possess the power was made very ge…
This verse isn't just a general challenge to predict the future; it's a specific demand for divine proof. God challenges the idols to do two things: either recall and prove past predictions were accurate, or reveal specific details about upcoming events so their outcome can be verified. This highlights that true divinity is tested not by vague pronouncements, but by concrete, verifiable foresight.
This passage is part of God's powerful argument against the idols and the nations that worship them. He's challenging them to prove their divine nature by predicting the future, contrasting their inability to do so with His own foreknowledge. Isaiah is effectively laying out a case, calling for evidence of supernatural insight from the idols or their followers, which God knows they cannot provide.
This passage is part of God's powerful argument against the idols and the nations that worship them. He's challenging them to prove their divine nature by predicting the future, contrasting their inability to do so with His own foreknowledge. Isaiah is effectively laying out a case, calling for evidence of supernatural insight from the idols or their followers, which God knows they cannot provide.
"Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come." — This verse isn't just a general challenge to predict the future; it's a specific demand for divine proof. God challenges the idols to do two things: either recall and prove past predictions were accu…
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Last reviewed October 2026