Isaiah 42:8
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's name and glory are his alone; no graven image, no rival claim can share what belongs to the Lord.
Context
God reinforces his unique identity and the exclusivity of his claim to glory and worship.
What Does Isaiah 42:8 Mean?
The Lord names himself, asserts his identity absolutely, and then draws a sharp boundary. His glory, his praise, the honor that belongs to him alone, will not be yielded to another. Specifically, he will not share it with graven images, carved idols made by human hands. In the context of Isaiah's time, this was a direct rebuke to idolatry, the worship of things that human hands had fashioned. But the principle goes deeper: whatever competes for our primary allegiance, whatever we look to first for salvation or meaning, whatever we praise above God, becomes a rival to his unique lordship.
The subtlety here is important: God is not threatened by lesser things in themselves. Rather, his exclusive claim reflects the reality that true life and ultimate meaning come only from him. To honor him aright is to refuse to divide our loyalty. In our time, idols take many forms: wealth, status, power, pleasure, the approval of others, or the work of our own hands. The call to give God exclusive glory is not arbitrary divine ego; it is the path to freedom and wholeness.
Application
Examine your heart: what are you looking to for ultimate meaning, security, or approval? Whatever competes with God for the throne of your loyalty is an idol, whether it is wealth, status, another person, or even your own ambitions. Give glory to God alone, not because he needs your praise, but because that is where life is found.