Amplified Bible
Isaiah 41:7
7So the craftsman encourages the goldsmith, And he who smooths metal with the smith’s hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering (welding), “That is good”; And he fastens the idol with nails, So that it will not totter nor be moved.
Isaiah 41:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
- New International Version (NIV)The metalworker encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, “It is good.” The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
Context of Isaiah 41:7
5The islands and coastlands have seen and they fear; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come. 6They each help his neighbor And say to his brother [as he fashions his idols], “Be of good courage!” So the craftsman encourages the goldsmith, And he who smooths metal with the smith’s hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering (welding), “That is good”; And he fastens the idol with nails, So that it will not totter nor be moved. 8“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The offspring of Abraham My friend, 9You whom I [the Lord] have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you [even though you are exiled].
Read all of Isaiah 41Isaiah 41:7 word by word
וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק חָרָשׁ֙ אֶת־צֹרֵ֔ף מַחֲלִ֥יק פַּטִּ֖ישׁ אֶת־ה֣וֹלֶם פָּ֑עַם אֹמֵ֤ר לַדֶּ֙בֶק֙ ט֣וֹב ה֔וּא וַיְחַזְּקֵ֥הוּ בְמַסְמְרִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- So the carpenterחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
- encouragedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- the goldsmithצָרַףtsâraph · to refineH6884
- he that smoothethחָלַקchâlaq · to smoothH2505
- the hammerפַּטִּישׁpaţţîysh · hammerH6360
- him that smoteהָלַםhâlam · to smiteH1986
- the anvilפַּ֫עַםpa‛am pa‛ămâh · beatH6471
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- readyטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- for the soderingדֶּ֫בֶקdebeq · jointH1694
- it with nailsמַסְמֵרmasmêr mismêr masmerâh mismerâh · nailH4548
- it should not be movedמוֹטmôţ · to shakeH4131
Cross-references for Isaiah 41:7
- Isaiah 40:19As for the cast image (idol), a metalworker casts it, A goldsmith overlays it with gold And a silversmith casts its silver chains.
- Isaiah 44:12The ironsmith shapes iron and uses a chisel and works it over the coals. He forms the [idol’s] core with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He also becomes hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and grows tired.
- Isaiah 46:6Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh out silver on the scales Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.
- Jeremiah 10:3For the customs and decrees of the peoples are [mere] delusion [exercises in futility]; It is only wood which one cuts from the forest [to make a god], The work of the hands of the craftsman with the axe or cutting tool.
- Daniel 3:1Nebuchadnezzar the king made a gold [-plated] image, whose height [including the pedestal] was sixty cubits (ninety feet) and its width six cubits (nine feet). He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
- Isaiah 40:20He who is too impoverished for such an offering [to give to his god] Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To [carve and] set up an idol that will not totter.
- Isaiah 46:7They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it; They set it in its place and there it remains standing. It cannot move from its place. Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer; It cannot save him from his distress.
- Judges 18:17Now the five men who had gone to scout the land went up and entered the house and took the image [of silver-plated wood], the ephod, the teraphim, and the cast image [of solid silver], while the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war.
Commentaries on Isaiah 41:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7That it should not be moved "That it shall not move" - Five MSS., (two ancient), and the ancient Versions, add the conjunction ו vau, "and, "reading ולא velo, "and not, "which seems to be right.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7So the carpenter - (See the note at Isaiah 40:19). Encouraged the goldsmith - Margin, The founder‘ (see the note at Isaiah 40:19). The word properly means one who melts or smelts metals of any kind; and may be applied either to one who works in gold, silver, or brass. The image here is that of haste, anxiety, solicitude. One workman in the manufacture of idols encouraged another, in order that the idols might be finished as soon as possible, and that thus…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-7This taunt against idol worship responded to God's raising up Cyrus. The nations hoped their idols would protect them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. One workman encourages the other to be quick in finishing the idol, so as to avert the impending danger. nails--to keep it steady in its place. Wisdom 13:15, 16, gives a similar picture of the folly of idolatry.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 41:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 41
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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