Definition: I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this beautiful verse from Isaiah 42:8. Itās a really important and profound statement about God's nature and relationship with us. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse says: āI am the Lord; my name is holy. I will not give my name or my glory to anyone else, nor will I allow anyone to praise me in a statue or image.ā Letās unpack that a little further: "I am the LORDā¦" : This establishes that we're talking about God himself ā the divine being who created and sustains everything. Itās not just a God, but the God. āā¦that is my nameā¦ā : This highlights that this isnāt just a title; it's a declaration of who he is . He's uniquely identified by his name. āand my glory will I not give anotherā¦ā : This means God doesnāt want to be associated with anything else ā not through praise, worship, or even simply being remembered. His glory (his magnificence and power) is completely reserved for him. āā¦neither my praise to graven images.ā : This is the most crucial part. āGraven imagesā are symbolic representations of things made by human hands - statues, carvings, idols, etc. This verse means God doesnāt want to be associated with anything that isn't truly divine ā anything created by humans. He wants to remain untouched and unmarred by earthly creations. What does this mean for us? Itās a powerful reminder of several things: Godās Supremacy: We are uniquely God-centered. He is the ultimate source of everything, and we are not meant to be associated with anything less than him. True Worship: True worship isn't about what we do or say, but about recognizing and honoring the divine being as he truly is ā unchangeable and perfect. Protection from False Praise: Itās a call to guard against people trying to elevate or associate themselves with God in ways that arenāt true. In short, this verse speaks of Godās absolute sovereignty and his desire for complete adoration and untouched glory. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? Perhaps you'd like a deeper look at its context or significance within the larger Bible? Or maybe you have a specific question about it?