Isaiah 40:19

Isaiah 40:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
• New International Version (NIV)As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.
• English Standard Version (ESV)An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains.

Context of Isaiah 40:19

17All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing. 18To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him? A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it. 20To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over. 21Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth’s foundations were made?

Isaiah 40:19 word by word

הַפֶּ֙סֶל֙ נָסַ֣ךְ חָרָ֔שׁ וְצֹרֵ֖ף בַּזָּהָ֣ב יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּ וּרְתֻק֥וֹת כֶּ֖סֶף צוֹרֵֽף׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The workmanחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁיםchârâsh · artificerH2796
• meltethנָסַךְnâsak · to pourH5258
• a graven imageפֶּ֫סֶלpesel · idolH6459
• and the goldsmithצָרַףtsâraph · to refineH6884
• spreadethרָקַעrâqa‛ · to beatH7554
• it over with goldזָהָבzâhâb · goldH2091
• silverכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• chainsרְתֻקָהrethûqâh · chainH7577

Cross-references for Isaiah 40:19

• Isaiah 37:18It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations and their lands.
• Isaiah 41:6They help one another; one says to the other, ‘Be strong!’
• Isaiah 44:10Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless?
• Isaiah 46:6Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it.
• Exodus 32:2So Aaron said to them, “Break off the gold earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”
• Judges 17:4When he gave the silver back to his mother, she took two hundred pieces of silver to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. She then put them in Micah’s house.
• Psalms 115:4Their idols are made of silver and gold – they are man-made.
• Psalms 135:15The nations’ idols are made of silver and gold, they are man-made.
• Jeremiah 10:3For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.
• Hosea 8:6That idol was made by a workman – it is not God! The calf idol of Samaria will be broken to bits.
• Habakkuk 2:18What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things?

Commentaries on Isaiah 40:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19And casteth silver chains "And forgeth for it chains of silver" - For צורף tsoreph, the participle, twenty-seven MSS., five ancient, and three editions, read צרף tsaraph, pret. third person.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The workman - The Hebrew word denotes an artificer of any kind, and is applied to one who engraved on wood or stone Exodus 28:2; to a workman in iron, brass, stone, wood Exodus 35:35; Deuteronomy 27:15; or an artisan, or artificer in general. It here refers manifestly to a man who worked in the metals of which idols were commonly made. Those idols were sometimes made of wood, sometimes of clay, but more frequently, as they are at present in India, of…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. 1-31This chapter introduces chapters 40–66. In this section, comfort means the result of God's merciful actions toward people in the future. It includes encouragement, strength, and acceptance. God wants to rescue his people (Isaiah 40:1–11) and is fully capable of doing so (40:12–26). The exiles needed to trust God's promises and wait for their rescue (Isaiah 40:27–31; see also 30:15–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. graven--rather, an image in general; for it is incongruous to say "melteth" (that is, casts out of metal) a graven image (that is, one of carved wood); so Jr 10:14, "molten image." spreadeth it over--(See on Is 30:22). chains--an ornament lavishly worn by rich Orientals (Is 3:18, 19), and so transferred to their idols. Egyptian relics show that idols were suspended in houses by chains.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 40:19

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

In the dictionaries

• Graven image
• Bosom
• Carry
• Cry
• Feed
• Goldsmith
• Graving
• Idol
• Renew
• Calf, Golden

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