Isaiah 44 13

Isaiah 44:13 kjv

The 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.

Isaiah 44:13 nkjv

The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.

Isaiah 44:13 niv

The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in human form, human form in all its glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.

Isaiah 44:13 esv

The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.

Isaiah 44:13 nlt

Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood
and draws a pattern on it.
He works with chisel and plane
and carves it into a human figure.
He gives it human beauty
and puts it in a little shrine.

Isaiah 44 verses

Isaiah 44 13 Meaning

The verse describes a craftsman meticulously carving an image, then using a portion of the wood to make a fire for warmth and cooking, and later creating a deity from the remaining wood. This highlights the foolishness of idol worship, where a man uses the same material for ordinary purposes and for a god, revealing the impotence of idols.

Isaiah 44 13 Context

Chapter 44 of Isaiah speaks to the exiled people in Babylon. It follows prophecies of Israel's restoration and comfort, and it confronts the idolatry prevalent around them. The surrounding verses emphasize God's sovereignty and His unique power as the creator, contrasting Him sharply with the lifeless idols worshipped by the surrounding nations. This verse, specifically, illustrates the utter degradation of man's creation becoming their god, and the illogical worship of something man himself fashioned. It directly combats the belief systems of the Babylonians and other surrounding peoples who worshipped manufactured gods.

Isaiah 44 13 Word analysis

• And (וְ - və): A conjunction, linking clauses, here connecting the actions of man.
• he (הוּא - hû'): Pronoun for the man performing the actions.
• layeth (טָחַן - ṭāḥan): Root meaning to grind or prepare; here it signifies the deliberate shaping and working of wood.
• plan (כָּל־ — kōl): Lit. "all" or "whole"; implies the entirety of the timber is used in some fashion.
• and (וְ - və): Conjunction.
• heweth (גָּלַח - gālaḥ): Root meaning to shave or shear; referring to the act of shaping the wood.
• he (הוּא - hû'): Pronoun.
• it (וְ־et - Object marker; refers back to the wood)
• into (בְּ־bə - preposition; indicating into something)
• the (־ definite article omitted here)
• measure (מִדָּה - middâ): A plan, a pattern, a size; suggesting the idol is fashioned according to a specific design.
• and (וְ - və): Conjunction.
• maketh (עָשָׂה - ʿāśâ): To make, do, fashion; refers to the creation process.
• he (הוּא - hû'): Pronoun.
• a (־ indefinite article omitted here)
• god (אֵל - ʾēl): God, deity.
• in (בְּ־bə): Preposition.
• it (־ referring to the shaped wood)
• the (־ definite article omitted here)
• graven (פֶּסֶל - pesel): Carved image, idol.
• image (פֶּסֶל - pesel): Carved image, idol; repetition emphasizes the crafted nature.

Group of words analysis:

• "layeth he plan" (טָחַן כָּל־): Suggests careful and complete preparation of the wood, implying meticulous human effort.
• "heweth he it into the measure" (גָּלַח הוּא־אֹתֹוּ בְּמִדָּה): Underscores that the idol's form is determined by human design and not by divine revelation or power. The wood is shaped according to human proportion.
• "maketh he a god" (עָשָׂה הוּא־אֵל): The stark declaration of man's self-attribution of divine creation, highlighting the blasphemy.
• "a graven image" (פֶּסֶל): Directly identifies the object as a sculpted idol, not a divine being. The repetition emphasizes its status as a manufactured object.

Isaiah 44 13 Bonus section

The process described here, using a portion of the tree for warmth and the remainder for an idol, serves as a powerful metaphor for how people often allocate their resources and affections. Some portions of our lives are dedicated to basic necessities and comfort, while others are wrongly directed towards things we elevate to divine status—wealth, career, reputation, or even human relationships. Isaiah uses this vivid imagery to shame and expose the futility of placing ultimate trust in anything created rather than the Creator Himself, who is the source of all true life, warmth, and sustenance. The emphasis on "measure" suggests a manufactured religion, adhering to human rules rather than divine truth.

Isaiah 44 13 Commentary

This verse paints a vivid picture of human folly in idolatry. The same tree that could have provided warmth and sustenance for the craftsman's body becomes the material for his false god. This stark contrast exposes the impotent nature of idols: they are born of human hands, shaped by human design, and are ultimately subject to the same practical uses as any common object. God, in His infinite wisdom, is not fashioned from wood or any other material. He is the Creator of all, incomparable and self-existent. The deliberate act of crafting an idol, then deifying it, represents a profound rejection of the true Creator and a surrender to the works of one's own hands. This is the essence of spiritual blindness—to attribute divine power to that which is intrinsically powerless and created.