Isaiah 46:8
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Remember this,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God:
and show yourselves men; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" {q}; so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or "burn ye" {r} or "be ye inflamed", so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "be ye confounded" {s}; or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired {t} with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry:
bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors; of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.
{q} wvvath "roborat vos", Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word.
{r} Ardete, "comburite vos", some in Vatablus.
{s} "Confundamini", V. L. "et erubescite", Calvin.
{t} "Incendimini sive corripimini zelo", Vitringa.