Devine Scripture

Isaiah 40:19

What does Isaiah 40:19 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 40:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 40:19 means

This verse exposes the absurdity of idolatry by detailing the human effort involved in creating false gods. It describes a process where a skilled workman casts an image, which a goldsmith then meticulously adorns with gold and silver chains. This highlights the crafted, man-made nature of idols, contrasting sharply with the uncreated, transcendent God. The emphasis is on the labor and materials invested in creating something utterly powerless.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The image, a workman hath cast it, and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth for it silver chains.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The image, a workman hath cast it, and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth for it silver chains.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The workman makes an image, and the gold-worker puts gold plates over it, and makes silver bands for it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

The graven image poured out hath a artisan, And a refiner with gold spreadeth it over, And chains of silver he is refining.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Hath the workman cast a graven statue? or hath the goldsmith formed it with gold, or the silversmith with plates of silver?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The workman casteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains [for it].

Context

This verse directly answers the rhetorical question of the previous verse by detailing the process of idol making. It immediately illustrates the futile attempts of humanity to create a likeness of God, showing the physical labor and material investment. This description of a well-resourced idol-maker is contrasted in the subsequent verse with the efforts of someone with fewer resources, further emphasizing the human origin of idols.

v.18To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

v.19This passage

v.20He that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 44:10

    Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing?

  • Isaiah 46:6

    Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.

  • Isaiah 2:20

    In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

  • Jeremiah 10:9

    There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skilful men.

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Psalms 135:15

    The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.

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