Isa 46:1-2 | NET2full | STEP | Bel kneels down , Nebo bends low . Their images weigh down animals and beasts . Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.

‏ Isaiah 46:1-2

The Lord Carries His People

1 Bel ^{▼▼sn Bel was the name of a Babylonian god. The name was originally associated with Enlil, but later was applied to Marduk. See HALOT 132 s.v. בֵּל.} kneels down,
Nebo ^{▼▼sn Nebo is a variation of the name of the Babylonian god Nabu.} bends low.
Their images weigh down animals and beasts. ^{▼▼tn Heb “their images belong to animals and beasts”; NIV “their idols are borne by beasts of burden”; NLT “are being hauled away.”}
Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals. ^{▼▼tn Heb “your loads are carried [as] a burden by a weary [animal].”}
2 Together they bend low and kneel down;
they are unable to rescue the images; ^{▼▼tn Heb “[the] burden,” i.e., their images, the heavy burden carried by the animals.}
they themselves ^{▼▼tn Heb “Their soul/life has gone into captivity.} head off into captivity. ^{▼▼sn The downfall of Babylon is depicted here. The idols are carried off by the victorious enemy; the gods are likened to defeated captives who cower before the enemy and are taken into exile.}