Isaiah 40:20

Isaiah 40:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
• New International Version (NIV)A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

Context of Isaiah 40:20

18To whom, then, can you compare God? To what statue can you compare him? 19Craftsmen make idols. Goldsmiths cover them with gold. Silversmiths make silver chains for them. The poorest people choose wood that will not rot and search out skillful craftsmen to set up idols that will not fall over. 21Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? Haven’t you been told from the beginning? Don’t you understand the foundations of the earth? 22God is enthroned above the earth, and those who live on it are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the sky like a canopy and spreads it out like a tent to live in.

Isaiah 40:20 word by word

הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן תְּרוּמָ֔ה עֵ֥ץ לֹֽא־יִרְקַ֖ב יִבְחָ֑ר חָרָ֤שׁ חָכָם֙ יְבַקֶּשׁ־ל֔וֹ לְהָכִ֥ין פֶּ֖סֶל לֹ֥א יִמּֽוֹט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• so impoverishedסָכַרsâkar · to stopH5534
• so impoverishedסָכַןsâkan · be poorH5533
• that he hath no oblationתְּרוּמָהterûmâh terûmâh · contributionH8641
• choosethבָּחַרbâchar · to chooseH977
• a treeעֵץ‛êts · tree: woodH6086
• will not rotרָקֵבrâqab · to rotH7537
• he seekethבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• unto him a cunningחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• workmanחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
• to prepareכּוּןkûn · to establish: establishH3559
• a graven imageפֶּ֫סֶלpesel · idolH6459
• shall not be movedמוֹטmôţ · to shakeH4131

Cross-references for Isaiah 40:20

• Isaiah 2:8Their land is filled with idols, and they worship what their hands have shaped and what their fingers have molded.
• Isaiah 44:13Carpenters measure blocks of wood with ⌞chalk⌟ lines. They mark them with pens. They carve them with chisels and mark them with compasses. They carve them into forms of people, beautiful people, so the idols can live in shrines.
• Jeremiah 10:3The religion of the people is worthless. Woodcutters cut down trees from the forest. The hands of craftsmen prepare them with axes.
• Daniel 5:23But you made yourself greater than the Lord of heaven. You had the utensils from his temple brought to you. You, your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them. You praised your gods made of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, or stone. These gods can’t see, hear, or know anything. You didn’t honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do.
• Isaiah 41:7Craftsmen encourage goldsmiths. Metalsmiths encourage blacksmiths who work at their anvils. They say that their soldering is good. And they fasten things with nails so they won’t move.
• Isaiah 46:7They lift it on their shoulders and carry it. They set the idol in its place, and it stands there. It doesn’t move from its place. If they cry to it for help, it can’t answer. It can’t rescue them from their distress.
• 1 Samuel 5:3Early the next day the people of Ashdod saw that Dagon had fallen forward on the ground in front of the Lord’s ark. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.

Commentaries on Isaiah 40:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Chooseth a tree that will not rot - For what? To make a god out of it! The rich we find made theirs of gold and silver; the poor man was obliged to put up with a wooden god! From the words "he that hath no oblation chooseth a tree," we may learn that the gold and silver necessary to make the graven image was first dedicated, and then formed into a god! How stupid is idolatry! Strange that these people did not perceive that there could be no help in these…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He that is so impoverished - So poor. So it is generally supposed that the word used here is to be understood, though interpreters have not been entirely agreed in regard to its signification. The Septuagint renders the phrase, The carpenter chooseth a sound piece of wood.‘ The Chaldee. He cuts down an ash, a tree which will not rot.‘ Vulgate, Perhaps he chooses a tree which is incorruptible.‘ Jarchi renders it, He who is accustomed to examine, and to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-26Verses 18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make images or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely a sacrifice to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own. They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all ages and nations. Those who are ignorant of this…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20an idol that will not topple: This is a sarcastic remark. It would be embarrassing if the idol could not even stand (see Isaiah 40:18; 41:7; 1 Samuel 5:4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. impoverished--literally, "sunk" in circumstances. no oblation--he who cannot afford to overlay his idol with gold and silver (Is 40:19). tree ... not rot--the cedar, cypress, oak, or ash (Is 44:14). graven--of wood; not a molten one of metal. not be moved--that shall be durable.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 40:20

• God Continued...
• Idol
• Idolatry
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Graven image
• Bosom
• Carry
• Cry
• Feed
• Renew
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah (2)
• John, Gospel of
• Leviticus

Commentaries on Isaiah 40

• 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