Isaiah 40 19

Isaiah 40:19 kjv

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

Isaiah 40:19 nkjv

The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains.

Isaiah 40:19 niv

As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.

Isaiah 40:19 esv

An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains.

Isaiah 40:19 nlt

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,
overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 19 Meaning

Isaiah 40:19 describes the laborious, multi-stage process by which humans craft idols. It details how an artisan first forms the image, and then a goldsmith lavishly decorates it with precious metals, even fabricating silver chains for it. The verse vividly portrays the extensive human effort, skill, and material cost involved in creating an object of worship, implicitly highlighting the idol's utter dependence on human ingenuity and resources for its very existence and ornamentation, thereby exposing its inherent powerlessness and absurdity when contrasted with the self-existent, true God.

Isaiah 40 19 Context

Isaiah 40 inaugurates the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), addressed to a people grappling with the consequences of sin and facing the prospect of or experience of Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with words of consolation, proclaiming God's coming glory and a call to prepare the way for Him. This hopeful message is immediately juxtaposed with profound declarations of God's incomparable power and sovereignty, contrasting Him with all creation and, specifically, with the false gods revered by the surrounding nations, particularly Babylon. Verse 19 specifically targets the extensive polytheistic idol worship prevalent in the Near East. Empires like Babylon meticulously crafted and adorned their deities, believing these elaborate physical representations housed divine presence. Isaiah's polemic directly challenges this worldview by stripping the idols of any intrinsic power or divinity, exposing them as mere human constructs, utterly reliant on human labor and precious materials. The verse underscores the foundational truth that the God of Israel is uncreated, transcendent, and requires no human hand for His existence or power.

Isaiah 40 19 Word analysis

• A craftsman (חָרָשׁ - ḥarash): This Hebrew term denotes a skilled artisan, a worker in wood, stone, or metal. It emphasizes that idol creation is not a casual act but a dedicated craft requiring considerable human talent and effort, suggesting an investment of the human's best abilities into something ultimately worthless.
• casts (נָסַךְ - nāśaḵ): Literally, "to pour" or "to melt and cast." This verb points specifically to the creation of idols from molten metal, likely in a mold. It highlights the intensive physical process, requiring fire and shaping, making the idol a product of human technology and labor from its very inception.
• an idol (פֶּסֶל - pesel): Refers to a carved, hewn, or graven image. While nāśaḵ points to cast metal, pesel often includes wood or stone, often then covered in metal, showing the multifaceted nature of idol production. It's an object created by humans for worship, an artificial deity.
• and a goldsmith (וְצֹרֵף - wĕṣōrēf): The conjunction "and" links this specific highly skilled artisan to the general craftsman. A goldsmith is an expert in refining and working with precious metals, implying the highest level of craftsmanship and expense dedicated to these objects.
• overlays it with gold (יְרַקְּעֶנּוּ זָהָב - yəraqqe‛ennû zāhāḇ): The verb yaraq means "to spread out, beat out thin." It describes the process of hammering gold into thin sheets to cover the idol, essentially providing a cosmetic veneer. This act signifies superficial embellishment rather than intrinsic value, suggesting the idol's worth comes from its outer appearance, not from any inherent divine quality.
• and fashions (וְצֹרֵף - wĕṣōrēf): The verb ṣorēf (here translated "fashions") means to refine or melt metals, and by extension, to fashion or create with skill. It repeats the skill of the goldsmith.
• silver chains (רַתּוּקוֹת כֶּסֶף - rattûqôṯ keseph): Rattûqôṯ refers to chains or fastenings. These could be for decoration, showing lavish expenditure, or possibly to secure the idol in place, ironically emphasizing its immobility and need for human support. This further illustrates the material wealth invested and the idol's utter dependence on human construction and care.

Words-group analysis:

• "A craftsman casts an idol": This opening phrase establishes human agency and skill as the source of the "god." The idol is not divine in origin but a manufactured product, fundamentally a creation of finite hands.
• "and a goldsmith overlays it with gold": This indicates a further stage of meticulous and costly enhancement. The addition of gold serves a dual purpose: to elevate the idol's perceived status through precious material, and paradoxically, to camouflage its underlying inert substance, underscoring its reliance on external embellishment.
• "and fashions silver chains for it": This final touch accentuates both the luxurious investment and the idol's fundamental weakness. Whether decorative or functional (holding the idol up), the chains symbolize dependence, inability to move or sustain itself, standing in stark contrast to the living God who sustains all things and requires no support.

Isaiah 40 19 Bonus section

• The elaborate description of idol crafting here directly serves the larger theological argument in Isaiah 40:12-31, where the prophet contrasts the powerlessness of these created objects with the immeasurable, cosmic power of Yahweh, who weighs the mountains and holds the waters.
• The emphasis on "gold" and "silver" chains points to the immense wealth and material resources diverted from human welfare to dead objects of worship, exposing the economic and spiritual folly of idolatry.
• This verse provides historical insight into ancient Near Eastern religious practices, confirming scholarly understanding of how idols were revered—not merely as symbols, but as housing or embodying the deity, thus requiring meticulous craftsmanship and care.

Isaiah 40 19 Commentary

Isaiah 40:19 is a biting exposé on the futility and absurdity of idolatry. It meticulously details the human investment—skill, precious materials, and arduous labor—required to construct and adorn an idol, a stark contrast to the effortless, self-existent power of the true God proclaimed throughout chapter 40. The "craftsman" and "goldsmith" highlight that these 'deities' are products of human hands, not divine emanations. The "gold" overlay and "silver chains" are superficial embellishments, cloaking an object that inherently possesses no life, consciousness, or power, ironically emphasizing its dependence on human upkeep and artistry. This passage serves as a powerful polemic against man-made religion, demonstrating that what humans labor to create and decorate cannot offer salvation or sustain life, powerfully setting the stage for Yahweh's unparalleled glory and His power to save. Practically, it reminds us to examine what we invest our primary efforts, resources, and trust in—whether in human constructs and material possessions, or in the uncreated, living God.