Isaiah 44:20 · Bible study
Isaiah 44:20 Commentary: Feeding on Ashes
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Isaiah 44:20's graphic picture of idolatry as self-deception: a deceived heart, feeding on ashes, unable to see the lie in one's own right hand.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The idolater's futile trust in worthless things, driven by self-deception.
- Key words: רֹעֶה (feed), אֵפֶר (ashes), לֵב הוּתַל (deceived heart), שֶׁקֶר (lie/falsehood), יָמִין (right hand).
- Main debate: Whether the deception is wholly self-inflicted or also divinely ordained (cf. v.18).
- Theological theme: Human sin as irrational self-deception; only God can open eyes and deliver.
- Best use: A convicting call to examine our own 'right-hand' securities and repent.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
WEB World English Bible 2000
He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
KJV King James Version 1769
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?
ASV American Standard Version 1901
He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Feeding on ashes, the heart is deceived, It hath turned him aside, And he delivereth not his soul, nor saith: `Is there not a lie in my right hand?'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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?
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Part thereof is ashes: his foolish heart adoreth it, and he will not save his soul, nor say: Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
De ceniza se apacienta; su corazón engañado le desvía, para que no libre su alma, ni diga: ¿ No hay una mentira á mi mano derecha?
Ele se alimenta de cinzas; seu coração enganado o desviou, de modo que ele já não pode livrar a sua alma, nem dizer: Por acaso não é uma mentira o que há na minha mão direita?
Il se repaît de cendres,
Er hat Lust an Asche, sein getäuschtes Herz verführt ihn; und er wird seine Seele nicht erretten, daß er dächte: Ist das nicht Trügerei, was meine rechte Hand treibt?
Hij voedt zich met as, het bedrogen hart heeft hem ter zijde afgeleid; zodat hij zijn ziel niet redden kan, noch zeggen: Is er niet een leugen in mijn rechterhand?
Un tal uomo si pasce di cenere, il suo cuore sedotto lo travia, sì ch’ei no può liberare l’anima sua e dire: “Questo che tengo nella mia destra non è una menzogna?”
Taki się karmi popiołem, serce jego zwiedzione unosi go, aby nie mógł wybawić duszy swojej, ani rzec: Izali to nie jest oszukanie, co jest w prawicy mojej?
Он гоняется за пылью; обманутое сердце ввело его в заблуждение, и он не может освободить души своей и сказать: "не обман ли в правой руке моей?"
他以灰 為食，心 中昏迷，使他偏邪，他不能自 救，也不能 說：「我右手中 豈不是 有虛謊嗎？」
As for him whose food is the dust of a dead fire, he has been turned from the way by a twisted mind, so that he is unable to keep himself safe by saying, What I have here in my hand is false.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 44:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Isaiah 44:20 is the dramatic climax of the prophet's satire on idolatry. The phrase 'feeds on ashes', as Barnes, Calvin, and Gill all point out, is a vivid picture of pursuing something utterly insubstantial and unsatisfying. The verb רֹעֶ֣ה (ro'eh) means to feed or pasture, and when joined with 'ashes' it conveys that the idolater's hope is as nourishing as dust. A 'deceived heart' (לֵ֥ב הוּתַ֖ל) is the root cause: the heart goes wrong first, then the intellect and life follow (so Barnes, following Rom 1:28). The result is that the idolater cannot deliver his soul (נַפְשׁ/וֹ), he cannot rescue himself from the trap. Nor can he utter the simplest question: 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' The right hand is where one places trust and strength; the idol is a lie. The consensus is that this verse encapsulates the irrational self-deception at the core of all false worship.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse vividly describes the irrational self-deception inherent in idolatry: the heart is deceived, one feeds on what cannot satisfy, and one cannot see the lie that one holds as a source of security.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding on ashes meaning | All commentators agree it is figurative for a vain, unprofitable pursuit (Barnes, Calvin, Gill link it to Hosea 12:1). | Some see it as pointing to the literal ashes from the fire (the idol could become ash), while others emphasize the abstract futility of idolatry. |
| Deceived heart cause | The heart is the source of the deception (Calvin: 'the heart and will first go astray'). | Isaiah 44:18 speaks of God shutting eyes, leading to a debate over whether the deceit is entirely self-inflicted or also a divine judgment. |
| Cannot deliver his soul | The idolater is trapped and cannot save himself from his delusion (Gill, Barnes). | Whether the Hebrew verb יַצִּיל implies inability or unwillingness, and whether it suggests a condition from which only God can rescue. |
| Lie in the right hand | The right hand is the place of action and trust; the idol is called a lie (שֶׁקֶר), false, deceptive, empty (Keil & Delitzsch, JFB). | Whether the application extends beyond literal idolatry to any false source of security (Barnes applies it broadly; others keep it in context of pagan worship). |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the close of a carefully crafted polemic (Isaiah 44:9-20). The prophet has taken his readers through the workshop of an idol maker, a smith who exhausts himself, a carpenter who uses a tree that could also serve as firewood. The punchline comes in verses 14-17: the same wood warms the man and becomes his god. Verse 20 drives the point home. The phrase 'feedeth on ashes' echoes the earlier description of burning half the tree to ashes (v.15). The irony is thick, the idolater literally consumes what could have reduced his god to powder.
Culturally, the 'right hand' (יָמִין) was the hand of power, the hand that holds a weapon or a scepter. To have a lie there means the very source of one's security is false. The background assumption is that only the true God can deliver (vv.21-22 contrast). The passage mocks the absurdity of bowing to a tree trunk (Matthew Henry). This is not just an ancient problem; the mechanism of self-deception, a heart that chooses not to see, is timeless.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 44:20. The Hebrew text is stable, with minor differences in pointing (e.g., the verb רעה) that do not affect the meaning. The Septuagint reads 'know that their heart is ashes' (as Barnes mentions), but this is a paraphrase rather than a textual variant.
Reception History
This verse has been a standard text in Christian teaching on the nature of idolatry. Early church fathers used it to argue against pagan worship. During the Reformation, it was applied to any trust in human merit or religious objects. In modern times, it has been read as a warning against all forms of self-deception, from materialism to political ideology. The phrase 'feeding on ashes' has entered common language as a metaphor for empty pursuits, reminding believers that only God provides true nourishment.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Desperate Diet, Feeding on Ashes (v.20a). The idolater consumes what gives no life; the pursuit is empty.
- The Deceptive Heart, The Origin of Error (v.20b). A heart that has been turned aside leads the whole person astray.
- The Delivered Soul, A Question We Must Ask (v.20c). Only when we honestly ask 'Is this a lie?' can we be set free.
Five-point outline
- The absurdity of using the same wood for fire and god (vv.14-17)
- The heart's deliberate blindness (v.18)
- The inability to self-rescue (v.20a-b)
- The lie at the right hand, misplaced trust (v.20c)
- The hope beyond the satire (vv.21-22, redemption and return)
Illustration hooks
- A person who keeps pouring money into a failing business because they cannot admit they made a bad decision. The investment is their 'right hand' security.
- Someone who stays in a destructive relationship, convincing themselves it will get better, ignoring every warning sign.
- The feeling of knowing something is wrong but refusing to say the words aloud because that would force a change you are not ready for.
Questions your congregation is asking
- What are some 'ashes' I might be consuming without realizing it, things that look good but give no life?
- How can I tell if my heart has been deceived, even when my beliefs sound orthodox?
- Is it possible to hold a lie in my right hand and still be a faithful Christian, and how would I know?
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 44:20 forces us to confront the irrationality of our own hearts. This verse is a mirror held up not just to ancient idolaters but to everyone who trusts in something other than God. As you discuss, notice the progression: a deceived heart leads to futile actions, which in turn prevents self-critique. The question 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' is one we must learn to ask ourselves regularly.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 14-20 together. What is the prophet's tone as he describes the idol maker?
- The phrase 'feeds on ashes' is a metaphor from the passage. What kinds of things do people today 'feed on' that ultimately leave them empty?
- According to verse 20, what causes the idolater's inability to see the truth? How does 'a deceived heart' work in everyday life?
- Why do you think the prophet focuses on the fact that the idolater cannot say, 'Is there not a lie in my right hand?' What would change if he did ask that question?
- What are some 'right hand' lies that Christians can hold? For example, a trust in church traditions, financial security, or a certain political outcome?
- Does this passage imply that self-deception is ever innocent, or is it always a willful choice? Support your answer from the text.
- How does the announcement of redemption in verses 21-22 offer hope to someone caught in self-deception?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 22:20 | Yahweh said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One said one thing, and another said another. |
| I Kings 22:23 | Now therefore, behold, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and Yahweh has spoken evil concerning you.” |
| Job 15:2 | “Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind? |
| Job 15:31 | Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his reward. |
| Psalms 102:9 | For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears, |
| Proverbs 15:14 | The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. |
| Isaiah 28:15 | “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’” |
| Isaiah 28:17 | I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that the image of feeding on ashes points to using efforts that yield no benefit. He reads it as a proverb for wasted labor, similar to Hosea's phrase about Ephraim feeding on wind.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets "feedeth on ashes" as a vivid picture of idolatry's emptiness: the worshiper seeks satisfaction but finds only what is worthless and disgusting, like a hungry man who finds only dust for food. He stresses that the root problem is the heart itself, which is deceived before the mind or actions go astray, so that even the best human religious efforts prove to be a lie that cannot save.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that people who feed on ashes are full of self-deception: they are puffed up with pride yet utterly empty and worthless. He stresses that nobody forces them into false worship. They blindly and willingly surrender to vain delusions of their own accord, nourishing the fountain of error within themselves.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary stresses the absurd self-deception of idolatry: the worshiper cannot apply basic reasoning to his own actions. His eyes are plastered over, and he is like a shepherd feeding on ashes, satisfied with something that can only disappoint his hope.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes point out that the idolater's heart is so thoroughly seduced that he cannot rescue his own soul. He feeds on worthless ashes, unable even to question whether the object in his right hand is a lie.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill compares idolatry to feeding on ashes — a vain, empty act that yields no nourishment and only harms. The heart's own deceit turns a person aside from God, so thoroughly that he cannot recognize his idol as a lie or free himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the bitter irony: the idolater feeds on ashes from the same wood that could have been burned like the other half, delighting in what is worthless. The heart and will go wrong first, and only then does the mind follow, so the whole life is built on self-deceit.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads Jeshurun as a tender nickname meaning "little pious one," a term of endearment for the faithful remnant. He sees the outpouring of the Spirit as creating a spiritual Israel that includes both believing Jews and Gentiles, all springing up together as one people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry highlights the absurd contradiction in idolatry: a man uses part of a tree for fuel, then carves the remainder into a god and prays to it for deliverance. The idolater's own actions condemn him, for he trusts for help what he himself shaped from common wood.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley compares idol worship to eating ashes: utterly unsatisfying and harmful. He emphasizes the deceived heart, trapped in prejudice and self-deception, that turns from truth. The idol placed at the right hand, the position of highest honor and reliance, is exposed as a lie pretending to be God but amounting to nothing but vanity.