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

ISAIAH 40:19KJV
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Isaiah 40:19 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 40:19 mean?

Isaiah 40:19 describes how craftsmen make idols: a worker melts metal to form an image, a goldsmith covers it with gold, and silver chains are added. The verse highlights the human effort and skill that go into creating these physical idols.

The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, pointing out the process by which idols are made to show their man-made nature. In the larger context, Isaiah is contrasting the living God with lifeless idols, emphasizing that these objects are simply the result of human labor and artistry, not divine beings.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 40:19

  • "workman" (חָרָשׁ, ḥārāsh): This word refers to a skilled craftsman or artisan, someone who works with their hands to shape materials. The verse draws attention to the human origin of the idol.
  • "melteth" (נָסַךְ, nāsakh): This verb means to pour out or cast metal, often in the process of making a statue or image. It underlines that the idol starts as raw material shaped by people.
  • "image" (פֶּסֶל, pesel): This word means a carved or cast idol, specifically something made to represent a god. The verse uses it to stress that the object is not inherently holy or alive.
  • "goldsmith" (צֹרֵף, tsoref): This term refers to a person who works with precious metals, especially gold. The verse notes the goldsmith’s role in making the idol appear valuable and attractive.
  • "spreadeth" (רָקַע, rāqa‘): This verb means to overlay or cover, often with a thin layer of metal. It shows that the idol’s impressive appearance comes from being covered with gold, not from any real worth.

Why Isaiah 40:19 matters

  • Isaiah 40:19 clears up the idea that idols have any power or divinity by showing they are simply made by human hands, not by any supernatural force.
  • The verse emphasizes the contrast between the true God, who is the Creator, and idols, which are created things, highlighting the folly of worshiping them.
  • In the wider passage, this detail supports Isaiah’s larger message that trusting in man-made objects is empty compared to trusting in the living God.

Where else these words appear

“spreadeth” Hebrew H7554 · used in 11 verses

  • Exodus 39:3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.
  • Job 37:18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
  • Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

“melteth” Hebrew H5258 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 35:14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
  • Jeremiah 19:13 And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

“goldsmith” Hebrew H6884 · used in 29 verses

  • Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
  • Psalms 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
  • Jeremiah 6:29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.

“image” Hebrew H6459 · used in 31 verses

  • Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
  • Judges 18:17 And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
  • Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.