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 will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? 19The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. 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. 21Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as 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

• 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 also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
• Isaiah 44:13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after 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 people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
• Daniel 5:23But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
• Isaiah 41:7So 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.
• Isaiah 46:7They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
• 1 Samuel 5:3And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of Yhwh. And they took Dagon, and set him in his 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