The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
The carpenter {H2796}{H6086} stretcheth out {H5186} his rule {H6957}; he marketh it out {H8388} with a line {H8279}; he fitteth {H6213} it with planes {H4741}, and he marketh it out {H8388} with the compass {H4230}, and maketh {H6213} it after the figure {H8403} of a man {H376}, according to the beauty {H8597} of a man {H120}; that it may remain {H3427} in the house {H1004}.
A carpenter takes his measurements, sketches the shape with a stylus, planes the wood, checks it with calipers, and carves it into the shape of a man; and, since it is honored like a man, of course it has to live in a house.
The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.
The carpenter stretcheth out a line; he marketh it out with a pencil; he shapeth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compasses, and shapeth it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.
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Judges 17:4
Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred [shekels] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. -
Judges 17:5
And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. -
Acts 17:29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. -
Deuteronomy 4:16
Lest ye corrupt [yourselves], and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, -
Deuteronomy 4:18
The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that [is] in the waters beneath the earth: -
Psalms 115:5
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: -
Psalms 115:7
They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Isaiah 44:13 is part of a powerful prophetic passage (Isaiah 44:9-20) where the prophet Isaiah vividly exposes the folly and futility of idol worship. This verse specifically details the meticulous process a craftsman undertakes to create an idol from wood, setting the stage for a sharp contrast between man-made gods and the one true God.
Context
The book of Isaiah addresses the nation of Israel during a time of significant spiritual decline, often succumbing to the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. Chapters 40-48, known as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah," emphasize God's unique sovereignty, His role as the only Creator, and His power to deliver His people. Within this context, Isaiah 44 serves as a strong polemic against idolatry, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping objects crafted by human hands. The detailed description of the carpenter's work in verse 13 underscores the idea that idols are merely products of human labor and imagination, not divine beings. This passage serves as a warning against the temptation to create gods in one's own image, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "carpenter" (charash 'ets) literally means a "craftsman of wood," emphasizing the human skill involved in the process. The phrase "figure of a man" (tabniyth 'iysh) and "beauty of a man" (tiph'ereth 'adam) indicate that the idol is fashioned to resemble a human form, perhaps to make it more relatable or aesthetically appealing. However, this very resemblance underscores its limitations; it is a mere imitation of humanity, not a divine being. The detailed description of tools like the rule (qav, measuring line), line (sered, marking tool), planes (maqtsu'oth, cutting tools), and compass (meḥugah, circle-drawer) paints a picture of intense human labor, contrasting sharply with the divine word that brings creation into existence, as seen in Genesis 1:3.
Practical Application
While modern societies may not carve physical wooden idols, the principle of idolatry remains highly relevant. Idolatry is anything that takes the place of God in our hearts or receives our ultimate devotion, trust, or worship. This can manifest as the pursuit of wealth, power, comfort, reputation, or even self-reliance. Isaiah 44:13 challenges us to examine what we truly rely on and where our hope is placed. Are we investing our time, energy, and resources into things that ultimately have no power to save or sustain, or are we placing our faith in the one true God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things? Understanding the vanity of man-made objects of worship, whether tangible or intangible, encourages us to worship God alone and to seek His kingdom above all else, echoing the wisdom found in Matthew 6:33.