Isaiah 40:20 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.
Isaiah 40:20 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.
Isaiah 40:20 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.
Isaiah 40:20 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.
Isaiah 40:20 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!
Isaiah 40 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:20 | those who are poor present an offering choose wood that does not rot. | Isaiah 40:20 |
| Psalm 115:4-7 | Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak, eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, noses, but do not smell; they have hands, but do not feel, feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. | Psalm 115:4-7 (Idol impotence) |
| Psalm 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak, eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. | Psalm 135:15-18 (Idol impotence) |
| Jeremiah 10:3-5 | For the customs of the peoples are worthless; one cuts a tree from the forest, and the work of the hands of a craftsman with a tool. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot tip over. They are like scarecrows in a field of cucumbers, they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they can do no harm, nor can they do any good. | Jeremiah 10:3-5 (Idolatry foolishness) |
| Daniel 5:23 | but you have lifted yourselves up against the Lord of heaven. And the dishes of his house have been brought to you, and you your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them, and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but you have glorified the God in whose hand are your very breath, and in whose is all your way. | Daniel 5:23 (Praise false gods) |
| Acts 17:29 | Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, or like an image formed by the art and imagination of man. | Acts 17:29 (Man-made gods) |
| Romans 1:22-23 | Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things. | Romans 1:22-23 (Fools exchanged glory) |
| Isaiah 2:8 | Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. | Isaiah 2:8 (Full of riches) |
| Isaiah 2:20 | On that day mankind will cast aside their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which their own hands made for them to sin against. | Isaiah 2:20 (Cast aside idols) |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | John 1:1 (The Living Word) |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | John 1:14 (The Word made flesh) |
| Genesis 1:26-27 | Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. | Genesis 1:26-27 (Image of God) |
| Romans 8:11 | If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. | Romans 8:11 (Spirit gives life) |
| Philippians 3:21 | who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. | Philippians 3:21 (Transform body) |
| Isaiah 44:12-14 | The blacksmith works the iron with a hammer. He fashions it with coals and shapes it with his might. He stomachs it with hunger, and his strength fails. He drinks water and becomes faint. Another hetims it and plans it to make an idol. He bows down to it, he worships it, and prays to it. "Save me," he says, "for you are my god." | Isaiah 44:12-14 (Idol crafting) |
| Isaiah 45:16 | They shall be put to shame and even brought to ruin, all of them who are makers of idols. | Isaiah 45:16 (Makers of idols) |
| Jeremiah 51:17 | Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his molten images are false, and there is no spirit in them. | Jeremiah 51:17 (No spirit in idols) |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 20 Meaning
This verse describes the utter futility and worthlessness of idols when compared to the true God. It emphasizes that idols are crafted by human hands, using materials like wood and metal, and are devoid of life, breath, and true power. The verse highlights their inability to see, speak, hear, or move, contrasting them with the living God who possesses all these capabilities.
Isaiah 40 20 Context
Isaiah 40 is part of the "Book of Comfort" in Isaiah, where the prophet speaks words of solace and hope to a people in exile. The chapter contrasts the eternal power and sovereignty of God with the transience of human endeavors and the powerlessness of idols. Specifically, verses 18-20 address the folly of idolatry. In a world where many nations worshipped manufactured gods, Isaiah highlights that these idols are merely the product of human craft, devoid of real power or understanding. This context sets the stage for affirming Yahweh as the one true, living God who created the heavens and the earth.
Isaiah 40 20 Word Analysis
- אָפוּס (ap̄us): This Hebrew word signifies "worthless," "vain," "naught," or "of no account." It underscores the utter uselessness of idols.
- חָרָשׁ (ḥārāš): Means "craftsman," "artisan," or "smith." This term highlights that idols are entirely human creations.
- מַטְּעַמּוֹת (maṭʻammōṯ): This word is related to "flavor" or "taste." In this context, it can imply something appealing to the senses or pleasing in appearance, often referring to choices made for aesthetic reasons rather than divine recognition. Some interpret it as "choice of choice" or "delicacy."
- עֵצִים (ʻēṣîm): "Trees" or "wood." Specifically refers to the material from which idols are made.
- לֹא־יִרְעַל (lōʼ-yirʻāl): "Shall not totter," "shall not be moved," or "shall not be unstable." This phrase emphasizes the fixed, immobile nature of an idol, often due to its weight and craftsmanship, contrasting with the dynamic presence of God.
- לְבַקֵּשׁ־קֶבַע (ləḇaqqēš-qəḇaʻ): This phrase means "to seek stability" or "to seek a fixed abode." It suggests a careful selection and firm placement of the idol, reflecting the meticulousness with which people would set up their gods.
Words Group Analysis:
- "those who are poor present an offering": This phrase points to those with limited resources who still participate in religious offerings, often to the prevalent gods of their day. They choose carefully what little they have.
- "choose wood that does not rot": This highlights the practical aspect of idolatry. People would select durable materials to ensure their idol lasted, but this choice was driven by human concern for longevity, not divine power. The choice is for permanence in a mortal thing, not seeking the eternal.
Isaiah 40 20 Bonus Section
The meticulous care taken in selecting materials and crafting an idol for stability can be seen as a microcosm of human efforts to create a god in their own image, seeking security and control in the material realm rather than relying on the unfailing providence of the living God. This contrasts with the believers' trust in God's unshakeable sovereignty, which requires no such material support or crafted form. The emphasis on wood that does not rot can also be seen as a veiled polemic against fertility cults where living, growing elements were central, but here, even the best, non-rotting wood cannot house the divine.
Isaiah 40 20 Commentary
This verse succinctly declares the ultimate bankruptcy of idolatry. Idols are made by human hands from common materials like wood. The craftsman carefully selects wood that will endure, ensuring the idol remains stable and won't easily topple. This careful selection and the resulting immobility are presented as a pinnacle of achievement for an inanimate object, yet they stand in stark contrast to the vibrant, dynamic, and omnipresent nature of the true God. The act of choosing enduring wood for a god highlights humanity's tendency to invest in the material and the visible, seeking permanence in that which is inherently temporal. This choice, driven by human craft and desire for stability, leads to a god that cannot move, cannot speak, and certainly cannot offer true salvation or life. It exposes idolatry as a fundamentally flawed system rooted in human effort and ultimately void of the divine presence.