Isaiah 41:7

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, [and] he that smootheth [with] the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It [is] ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, [that] it should not be moved.

So the carpenter {H2796} encouraged {H2388} the goldsmith {H6884}, and he that smootheth {H2505} with the hammer {H6360} him that smote {H1986} the anvil {H6471}, saying {H559}, It is ready {H2896} for the sodering {H1694}: and he fastened {H2388} it with nails {H4548}, that it should not be moved {H4131}.

The woodworker encourages the goldsmith, the polisher encourages the hammerer; he says of the soldering, "Yes, that's good," then puts nails in [the idol] to keep it from moving.

The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled.

So the carpenter encourageth the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that it should not be moved.

Isaiah 41:7 vividly portrays the intense human effort and collaboration involved in the creation of idols during ancient times. This verse is part of a larger passage in Isaiah where God challenges the nations and their false gods, setting Himself apart as the one true, sovereign Lord.

Context

This verse immediately follows a description of people helping one another to make idols (Isaiah 41:6). The surrounding chapters of Isaiah (particularly Isaiah 40 onwards) contrast the power and majesty of the God of Israel with the utter futility and weakness of man-made deities. While God declares His unique ability to foretell the future and act decisively (Isaiah 41:4), the idol makers are shown frantically working to give their creations a semblance of stability.

Key Themes

  • The Futility of Idolatry: The verse highlights the sheer human effort and reliance on craftsmanship required to produce an idol. The carpenter, goldsmith, and metalworkers are all engaged in meticulous work, demonstrating that the idol is entirely a product of human hands, not divine power. This sharply contrasts with the self-existent God, who needs no assistance.
  • Desperate Human Endeavor: The encouragement among the craftsmen ("the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith") and their detailed work ("smootheth with the hammer," "smote the anvil," "ready for the sodering," "fastened it with nails") underscore the desperate attempt to imbue a lifeless object with divine attributes, particularly permanence ("that it should not be moved"). This mirrors the broader biblical condemnation of man-made gods, as seen in Jeremiah 10:3-5.
  • Contrast with God's Immovability: The idol makers' goal is to create something that "should not be moved." This ironically highlights the true God's inherent immovability and steadfastness, which requires no human effort to sustain. Unlike idols, God cannot be manipulated or created; He simply IS.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "sodering," which is an archaic term for soldering. This refers to the process of joining metal pieces together with a melted filler metal. This detail, along with "fastened it with nails," emphasizes the physical, laborious, and ultimately fragile construction of the idol. The terms used for the craftsmen—carpenter, goldsmith, and those working with hammers and anvils—illustrate the diverse skills mobilized for this futile enterprise, highlighting the contrast with the effortless power of the Almighty God.

Practical Application

While literal idol worship of carved images may be less common in many modern societies, the principle of Isaiah 41:7 remains profoundly relevant. We can still create "idols" in our lives—things we invest immense effort, time, and trust in, hoping they will provide stability, security, or meaning apart from God. This could include wealth, career, relationships, reputation, or even self-reliance. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that anything we construct or rely upon outside of the true God, no matter how much effort we put into it, is ultimately temporary and unable to provide true, lasting peace or security. Our efforts should be directed towards knowing and serving the God who truly does not change and cannot be moved.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 40:19

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

  • Isaiah 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.

  • Daniel 3:1

    ¶ Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height [was] threescore cubits, [and] the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

  • Daniel 3:7

    Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down [and] worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

  • Jeremiah 10:3

    For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

  • Jeremiah 10:5

    They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.

  • 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.

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