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 Living Translation (NLT)Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down!

Context of Isaiah 40:20

18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? 19The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. 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. 21Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell 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 also full of idols; They worship the work of their own hands, That which their own fingers have made.
• Isaiah 44:13The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.
• Jeremiah 10:3For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
• Daniel 5:23And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
• Isaiah 41:7So 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.
• Isaiah 46:7They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.
• 1 Samuel 5:3And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.

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