New Living Translation
Isaiah 41:7
7The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.
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 lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war. 6The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!” The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over. 8“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend, 9I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
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 40:19Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?
- Isaiah 44:12The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint.
- Isaiah 46:6Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it!
- Jeremiah 10:3Their ways are futile and foolish. They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.
- Daniel 3:1King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
- Isaiah 40:20Or 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!
- Isaiah 46:7They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.
- Judges 18:17the five scouts entered the shrine and removed the carved image, the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the cast idol. Meanwhile, the priest was standing at the gate with the 600 armed warriors.
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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