Isaiah 40:20

He who is too impoverished for [such] an oblation chooses a tree that will not rot. He seeks for him a skilful workman to set up a graven image that shall not be moved.

A Conservative Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

19The image, a workman has cast [it], and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts [for it] silver chains.

21Have ye not known? Have yet not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Read all of Isaiah 40

Cross References

Isaiah 2:8Their land is also full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made,

Isaiah 44:13The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. And he marks it out with the compasses, and shapes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.

Jeremiah 10:3For the customs of the peoples are vanity. For [a man] cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 40:19-27

Vanity of Idols. ( b. c. 708.) 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? 19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. 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. 21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Isaiah 40:20