Book of Isaiah - Chapter 41 - Verse 23

This verse highlights the concept of prophetic revelation and divine omniscience. It is a challenge to false gods to demonstrate their power by revealing future events. The ability to accurately predict the future is a sign of true godliness. The verse presents a test for these gods to show their authority by either doing good or evil actions that will bring about astonishment and fear among the people. It is a call for these supposed gods to exhibit their sovereignty and prove their worthiness of worship.

In this verse, the phrase "shew the things that are to come hereafter" holds significance in the context of theological interpretation. It speaks to the belief in prophecy and divination, highlighting the power of God to reveal future events. The mention of "that we may know that ye are gods" suggests a challenge to false gods or idols to prove their authority through these prophetic declarations. The phrase "do good, or do evil" conveys the idea of divine judgment, where the ability to bring about positive or negative outcomes is attributed to these supposed gods. The ultimate goal expressed in the verse is to evoke a sense of awe and fear in those witnessing the accuracy of these prophecies, serving to validate the one true God's sovereignty. Through word studies, the nuances of terms like "dismayed" and "behold it together" can further elucidate the intended impact on the audience, emphasizing the power and majesty of God's revelation of future events.