Isaiah 44:9

“They that make a graven image are all of them vanity, &c.] They show themselves to be vain men, by making such vain things as graven images are; both images, makers, and worshippers of them are all vain, yea vanity itself: and their delectable things shall not profit; their idols made of gold and silver, or covered with them, and adorned with precious stones, and so delightful and desirable, are of no manner of profit and advantage, unless the matter they are made of, and the ornaments about them, were converted to other uses; yet not as gods, and worshipped as such, who can be of no service to their worshippers to help them in distress, or save them from ruin: and they are their own…”

“(Isa 40:18, Isa 40:20; Isa 41:29). delectable things--the idols in which they take such pride and delight. not profit-- (Hab 2:18). they are their own witnesses--contrasted with, "Ye are My witnesses" (Isa 44:8). "They," that is, both the makers and the idols, are witnesses against themselves, for the idols palpably see and know nothing (Psa 115:4-8). that they may be ashamed--the consequence deducible from the whole previous argument, not merely from the words immediately preceding, as in Isa 28:13; Isa 36:12. I say all this to show that they are doomed to perish with shame, which is their only fitting end.”

“They that make a graven image - A graven image is one that is cut, or sculptured out of wood or stone, in contradistinction from one that is molten, which is made by being cast. Here it is used to denote an image, or an idol-god in general. God had asserted in the previous verses his own divinity, and he now proceeds to show, at length, the vanity of idols, and of idol-worship. This same topic was introduced in Isaiah 40:18-20 (see the notes at that passage), but it is here pursued at greater length, and in a tone and manner far more sarcastic and severe. Perhaps the prophet had two immediate objects in view; first, to reprove the idolatrous spirit in his own time, which prevailed especially…”

“Delectable things - Their idols, in which they take so much pleasure. They - They that make them, are witnesses against themselves, and against their idols, because they know they are the work of their own hands. See not - Have neither sense nor understanding, therefore they have just cause to be ashamed of their folly, in worshipping such senseless things. Isaiah 44:11”

“make: Isa 41:24, Isa 41:29; Deu 27:15; Psa 97:7; Jer 10:3-8, Jer 10:14, Jer 10:15 and their: Isa 2:20, Isa 2:21, Isa 37:18-20, Isa 46:1, Isa 46:2, Isa 46:6, Isa 46:7; Jdg 10:14; Kg1 18:26-40; Jer 2:11, Jer 2:27, Jer 2:28, Jer 14:22, Jer 16:19, Jer 16:20; Dan 5:23; Hos 8:4-6; Hab 2:18-20; Co1 8:4 delectable: Heb. desirable, Dan 11:38 their own: Isa 44:18, Isa 44:20, Isa 42:18, Isa 43:8, Isa 45:20; Psa 115:8, Psa 135:18; Rom 1:22; Co2 4:4; Eph 4:18, Eph 5:8 Isaiah 44:10”

“The heathen gods are so far from being a ground of trust, that all who trust in them must discover with alarm how they have deceived themselves. "The makers of idols, they are all desolation, and their bosom-children worthless; and those who bear witness for them see nothing and know nothing, that they may be put to shame. Who hath formed the god, and cast the idol to no profit? Behold, all its followers will be put to shame; and the workmen are men: let them all assemble together, draw near, be alarmed, be all put to shame together." The chămūdı̄m (favourites) of the makers of idols are the false gods, for whose favour they sue with such earnestness. If we retain the word המּה, which is…”