Isaiah 46 6

Isaiah 46:6 kjv

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

Isaiah 46:6 nkjv

They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.

Isaiah 46:6 niv

Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.

Isaiah 46:6 esv

Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!

Isaiah 46:6 nlt

Some people pour out their silver and gold
and hire a craftsman to make a god from it.
Then they bow down and worship it!

Isaiah 46 verses

Isaiah 46 6 Meaning

Isaiah 46:6 vividly describes the meticulous, costly, and ultimately futile process by which idols are created and worshipped. People generously invest their most valuable resources—gold and silver—carefully weighing them out. They then hire skilled artisans to fashion these materials into an object, which they subsequently bow down to and worship as their god. The verse highlights the profound irrationality and self-deception inherent in idolatry, where the creator bows before their own creation, investing immense effort into something utterly powerless.

Isaiah 46 6 Context

Isaiah 46:6 is part of a larger prophecy (chapters 40-55) where the prophet Isaiah addresses the Israelites facing or enduring exile in Babylon, a superpower renowned for its sophisticated idol worship. This specific verse immediately follows God's challenge in Isaiah 46:5: "To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?" Verse 6 serves as the ironic answer, revealing the human folly of manufacturing a "god" when confronted with the incomparable Lord. The chapter itself contrasts the powerless gods of Babylon (Bel and Nebo, carried away as burdens) with the sovereign Lord, who carries His people "from the womb even to old age." This verse powerfully functions as a polemic against the polytheistic practices prevalent in Babylonian society, asserting the absolute absurdity of believing that a deity, fashioned by human hands, holds any genuine power or divine essence compared to the true God who spoke creation into being and guides history. The economic effort described underlines the total inversion of values in idolatry.

Isaiah 46 6 Word analysis

• They lavish (הַזָּלִים hazzālîm): This Hebrew term signifies pouring out freely, squandering, or expending lavishly. It implies a wasteful abundance of expenditure. The idolaters spare no expense, highlighting their misguided devotion and willingness to part with significant wealth for an object that provides no real return.

• gold (זָהָב zāhāḇ): A precious and highly valued metal. Its use here emphasizes the substantial economic investment made by idolaters.

• from the bag (מִכִּיס mikkîs): Refers to a purse or pouch used to hold money or valuable items. It specifies the source of the lavish spending, indicating personal and significant resources being directly drawn out.

• and weigh (וְכֶסֶף wəḵesaep̄): The conjunction "and" links the actions, showing a coordinated effort. The act of weighing emphasizes precision and careful measurement, highlighting the methodical and considered effort put into the idol's creation, not a casual act.

• silver (בַּקָּנֶה bbaqqāneh): Another precious metal, often used interchangeably with gold or alongside it as valuable currency and material.

• in the balance (יִשְׁקֹלוּ yišqōlū): Literally "in the reed" or "in the cane," referring to the measuring rod of a balance or scale. This specifies the meticulous method of measurement, again underscoring the careful attention and economic value assigned to the materials before they are even shaped.

• they hire (יִשְׂכְּרוּ yiśkərū): Implies payment for services. This means skilled labor is employed, adding to the expense and illustrating the human effort involved in the manufacturing process.

• a goldsmith (צוֹרֵף ṣôrēp̄): A skilled artisan or craftsman specializing in working with precious metals. This indicates a high level of human ingenuity and talent being engaged, again in stark contrast to the resulting inert object.

• and he makes it (וְיַעֲשֵׂהוּ wəya‘aśēhû): Direct and clear action: the craftsman brings the raw materials into being. This is the crucial step where human creativity manufactures the form.

• into a god (אֵל ’ēl): The common Hebrew term for "god." The ultimate, tragic purpose of all this elaborate, costly, and skilled human effort is to create something they designate as divine, yet it is purely human-made.

• they fall down (יִסְגְּדוּ yisgəḏū): This verb means to bow down, prostrate oneself. It indicates an act of homage or worship, often physically bowing low to the ground.

• and worship it (יִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ yištaḥăwū): This is a stronger verb for worship or obeisance, signifying profound reverence and submission. The repetition and progression from "fall down" to "worship" emphasizes the complete veneration directed towards their self-made object.

• They lavish gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance: This phrase group stresses the significant financial and material investment made in the creation of an idol. It's a costly, calculated effort involving valuable resources and meticulous precision. The "bag" denotes personal funds, while the "balance" highlights careful expenditure.

• they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god: This group reveals the human agency in manufacturing deity. A skilled artisan is commissioned to transform inert precious metals into an object designated as divine. It’s an act of human hands fabricating that which they will call their god, satirizing the idea of a god dependent on human craft.

• then they fall down and worship it: This final phrase climaxes the description, showcasing the complete absurdity. After investing wealth and skill to create an object, the creators humble themselves before it, offering it the ultimate reverence. It underscores the profound spiritual blindness and misplaced devotion.

Isaiah 46 6 Bonus section

This verse's detailed portrayal of idol construction is not merely a historical snapshot but carries timeless implications. It reveals the deep human impulse to create a tangible representation of deity, often for perceived control or comfort, tailored to human specifications. The effort and cost expended on these physical idols can be a metaphor for the resources (time, money, affection, energy) people invest in anything that takes God's rightful place in their lives – career, wealth, reputation, even personal relationships or achievements. Any pursuit or object, though not a carved image, can function as an "idol" if it demands our ultimate allegiance and shapes our worldview, diverting us from the singular worship due to the one true, incomparable God. The irony in the text extends to how humans pour their valuable lives into fleeting things, only to find them incapable of true salvation, guidance, or ultimate satisfaction, much like a handmade god cannot move, speak, or save.

Isaiah 46 6 Commentary

Isaiah 46:6 is a potent critique of idolatry, stripping away any mystique or power from the manufactured deity by focusing on its origins. The prophet employs stark realism and biting sarcasm to expose the folly of a belief system where the worshipper becomes the supplier, the creator of their "god." The lavish expenditure of gold and silver and the meticulous act of weighing underscore the significant investment of wealth and effort. The act of "hiring a goldsmith" further emphasizes the purely human, commercial, and artificial nature of the idol. These so-called gods are not beings of inherent power, but products of human labor and resources. The ultimate irony and tragedy culminate when these very manufacturers, having exhausted their wealth and skill, then prostrate themselves and offer worship to their inert creation. This passage not only highlights the utter powerlessness of idols compared to the living God, but also implicitly condemns the self-deception and misplaced devotion that lead people to reverence the work of their own hands as divine, rather than acknowledging the true Creator.