Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 41:24

"Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work is of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you." — Isaiah 41:24 (ASV)

Behold, ye are of nothing - Margin, ‘Worse than nothing.’ This refers to idols. The idea is that they were utterly vain and powerless. They were as unable to render aid to their worshipers as absolute nothingness would be, and all confidence in them was vain and foolish.

And your work - All that you do, or all that it is pretended that you do.

Of nought - Margin, ‘Worse than a viper.’ The word used here in the common Hebrew text (אפע ('epa‛)) occurs in no other place. Gesenius supposes that this is a corrupt reading for אפס ('epes) (nothing), and so our translators have regarded it, and in this opinion most expositors agree. Hahn has adopted this reading in his Hebrew Bible. The Jewish rabbis suppose generally that the word אפע ('epa‛) is the same word as אפעה ('eph‛eh)—a viper, according to the reading in the margin. But this interpretation is contrary to the connection, as well as the ancient versions. The Vulgate and Chaldee render it, ‘Of nought.’ The Syriac renders it, ‘Your works are of the sword.’ This is probably one of the few instances in which there has been a corruption of the Hebrew text (Isaiah 41:12, Isaiah 41:19).

An abomination is he that chooseth you - Those who select idols as the object of worship, and offer to them homage, are regarded as abominable by God.