He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "feeds on ashes" isn't just about eating something worthless; it highlights a profound emptiness, like a shepherd tending a flock on burnt land, finding no sustenance or life in what they pursue. This imagery emphasizes how the idolater’s "deceived heart" leads them to chase after utterly unsatisfying and ultimately destructive illusions, unable to help themselves.
He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse continues Isaiah's critique of idolatry, contrasting the futile worship of false gods with the true power and faithfulness of Yahweh. The preceding verses describe the creation of idols and the foolishness of those who make and worship them. This verse directly addresses the idolater, highlighting their self-deception and the powerlessness of their chosen deities to offer any true salvation or sustenance.
What does it mean to 'feed on ashes'? This verse paints a stark picture of spiritual starvation and delusion.
The imagery of 'feeding on ashes' is a powerful metaphor for pursuing things that offer no true nourishment or satisfaction. It speaks to the futility of seeking fulfillment in idols, whether they be literal statues or the modern-day equivalents of wealth, power, or fleeting pleasures. Like ashes, these things are the remnants of what was once useful but now provides no sustenance. The heart that turns to them is inherently 'deceived,' leading one further into a spiritual desert where true sustenance is impossible to find.
This 'feeding on ashes' represents a fundamental misdirection of our deepest desires. We are created with a hunger for God, the source of all life and sustenance. When we attempt to satisfy that hunger with anything less, we are like someone trying to eat dust – it only leaves us feeling more empty and disillusioned.
The verse asks, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' What does this reveal about the nature of idols and our own creations?
The phrase 'a lie in my right hand' points to the deceptive nature of what we create or rely upon, especially when it is elevated to the status of an idol. Our 'right hand' is often seen as the instrument of our strength, our skill, and our work. When what we've made with our own hands or what we trust in fails to deliver, it reveals itself to be a 'lie' – something false, empty, and ultimately powerless.
Idolatry, in this context, is not just about worshipping statues. It's about investing our trust, our hope, and our energy in things that cannot save, sustain, or deliver us. This can include anything we elevate above God: our own abilities, our possessions, our reputation, or even our carefully constructed plans. The verse implies a dawning realization, or a question that be asked, about the true nature of these things we hold dear – are they reliable, or are they ultimately deceiving us?
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Understand the original words
ta'ah · Hebrew Verb/Adjective
A state of spiritual error, deception, or wandering away from the truth. It implies a departure from the right path or the distortion of reality due to sin.
sheqer · Hebrew Noun
A falsehood, a deceptive thing that lacks substance or reality. In the context of idolatry, it is the fundamental nature of that which pretends to be a god but is not.
The verse speaks to the utter futility of relying on idols for deliverance. These idols, made by human hands, are described as 'ashes' – offering no sustenance or salvation. This imagery resonates deeply with the exiles in Babylon, who had witnessed the destruction of their Temple and homeland due to their misplaced trust in false gods and their own deceptive practices, contrasting sharply with the true God who alone can deliver.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Hezekiah's successful defense against Sennacherib's siege, highlighting Jerusalem's perceived inviolability.
621 BC
Josiah's Reformation and Discovery of the Law
A period of religious renewal and national confidence following the discovery of the Book of the Law.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Following his victory at Carchemish, Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of Judah's elite, including Ezekiel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem again, exiling King Jehoiachin and more of the population, including many craftsmen and officials.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon, marking the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus conquers the Median Empire and begins his campaign against Babylon, signaling a potential shift in power and the eventual end of the exile.
This passage directly parallels the imagery of 'feeding on ashes' by stating 'Ephraim feeds on wind, pursuing the east wind.' Both verses highlight the futility and emptiness of seeking sustenance or satisfaction in things that offer no real nourishment.
Jeremiah 10:14This verse describes the futility of idols, stating, 'Every goldsmith is disgraced by his idols; for his molten images are false, and there is no spirit in them.' This connects with Isaiah's theme of idolatry being a 'lie in my right hand,' emphasizing the powerlessness and deception inherent in man-made gods.
Romans 1:21-23This New Testament passage explains how 'futile became their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.' This mirrors Isaiah's 'deceived heart' that leads people astray, showing a consistent biblical theme of how rejecting God leads to spiritual and intellectual confusion.
1 John 5:21The warning 'Little children, keep yourselves from idols' directly addresses the danger and deception inherent in idolatry, which is central to Isaiah's depiction of someone 'feeding on ashes' and holding 'a lie in my right hand.'
cambridgeIsaiah 44:20: "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
20 . He feedeth on ashes ] lit., “a shepherd of ashes”. Duhm rather fancifully suggests that the image may be that of a man trying to feed his flock on a pasture that has been reduced to ashes: “A shepherd of (or on) ashes is he whom a deceived heart hath turned aside” (from the ways of reason). Another rendering might be: “One who finds sat…
clarkeIsaiah 44:20: "He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
He feedeth on ashes - He feedeth on that which affordeth no nourishment; a proverbial expression for using ineffectual means, and bestowing labor to no purpose. In the same sense Hosea says, "Ephraim feedeth on wind." Hosea 12:1 .
The phrase "feeds on ashes" isn't just about eating something worthless; it highlights a profound emptiness, like a shepherd tending a flock on burnt land, finding no sustenance or life in what they pursue. This imagery emphasizes how the idolater’s "deceived heart" leads them to chase after utterly unsatisfying and ultimately destructive illusions, unable to help themselves.
This verse continues Isaiah's critique of idolatry, contrasting the futile worship of false gods with the true power and faithfulness of Yahweh. The preceding verses describe the creation of idols and the foolishness of those who make and worship them. This verse directly addresses the idolater, highlighting their self-deception and the powerlessness of their chosen deities to offer any true salvation or sustenance.
This verse continues Isaiah's critique of idolatry, contrasting the futile worship of false gods with the true power and faithfulness of Yahweh. The preceding verses describe the creation of idols and the foolishness of those who make and worship them. This verse directly addresses the idolater, highlighting their self-deception and the powerlessness of their chosen deities to offer any true salvation or sustenance.
"He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”" — The phrase "feeds on ashes" isn't just about eating something worthless; it highlights a profound emptiness, like a shepherd tending a flock on burnt land, finding no sustenance or life in what they…
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Last reviewed October 2026