Bible/Isaiah/40

Isaiah 40:19

40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

KJV

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A workman has cast an image, and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts silver chains for it.

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

The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold, and casts silver chains.

40:20 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. is so: Heb. is poor of oblation

What does Isaiah 40:19 mean?

Isaiah 40:19 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חָרָשׁ (chârâsh), נָסַךְ (nâçak), פֶּסֶל (peçel).

Hebrew interlinear

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The
workmanחָרָשׁchârâsh/khaw-rawsh'/H2796a fabricator or any material
meltethנָסַךְnâçak/naw-sak'/H5258to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint aking
a
graven
image,פֶּסֶלpeçel/peh'-sel/H6459an idol
and
the
goldsmithצָרַףtsâraph/tsaw-raf'/H6884to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)
spreadethרָקַעrâqaʻ/raw-kah'/H7554to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)
it
over
with
gold,זָהָבzâhâb/zaw-hawb'/H2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky
and
castethצָרַףtsâraph/tsaw-raf'/H6884to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)
silverכֶּסֶףkeçeph/keh'-sef/H3701silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
chains.רְתֻקָהrᵉthuqâh/reth-oo-kaw'/H7577something fastened, i.e. a chain

Topics

IdolIdolatrySilver

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 40:19.

Jeremiah 10:9

Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

Deuteronomy 27:15

Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Exodus 11:2

Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

Exodus 12:35

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

Exodus 20:23

Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

Exodus 25:29

And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them. to: or, to pour out withal

Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

Exodus 3:22

But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. the Egyptians: or, Egypt

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 40:19 say?

Isaiah 40:19 (King James Version) reads: "The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains."

Is Isaiah 40:19 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 40:19 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 40:19, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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