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 feeds on ashes: his deceived heart has led him astray, so he cannot save his soul or even ask himself, 'Isn't what I'm holding in my hand a lie?'
This verse is describing someone so deceived by idolatry that they can't even recognize they're worshiping something false and worthless.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah was speaking to the people of Judah during a time when they were heavily influenced by the idolatry of surrounding nations like Assyria and Babylon. He condemned the practice of crafting idols from materials like wood or metal, then worshiping them as divine, which directly contradicted God's commands in the Torah. This verse uses vivid imagery to show how such self-deception leads to spiritual emptiness and inability to recognize the falsehood.
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