Isaiah 46:6

KJV

They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

KJV (with Strong's)

They lavish {H2107} gold {H2091} out of the bag {H3599}, and weigh {H8254} silver {H3701} in the balance {H7070}, and hire {H7936} a goldsmith {H6884}; and he maketh {H6213} it a god {H410}: they fall down {H5456}, yea, they worship {H7812}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They squander the gold from their bags and weigh silver on a scale; they hire a goldsmith to make a god, before which they fall down and worship!

Berean Standard Bible

They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.

American Standard Version

Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 46:6 vividly exposes the profound futility and absurdity of idolatry, depicting the meticulous human effort and lavish resources expended in crafting a god from precious metals. The verse highlights the profound irony of people investing their wealth and skill to create an inanimate object, only to then prostrate themselves in worship before the very thing their own hands have fashioned. It serves as a stark contrast to the incomparable, self-existent God of Israel, who neither needs nor can be made by human hands, and underscores the misplaced devotion inherent in bowing before powerless idols.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 46:6 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section where the prophet Isaiah powerfully declares the incomparable sovereignty of Yahweh, the God of Israel, over all other gods and nations. This particular chapter, [Isaiah 46](/isaiah/46 "Isaiah 46 - God's Incomparable Sovereignty Over Idols"), forms a direct polemic against the idols of Babylon, contrasting their impotence with God's omnipotence. The preceding verses, [Isaiah 46:1-2](/isaiah/46-1-2 "Isaiah 46:1-2 - Idols Carried into Exile"), describe the Babylonian gods Bel and Nebo being carried away as burdensome cargo by their worshipers, a stark image of their inability to save themselves or their devotees. Verse 6 then shifts to describe the active process of creating such idols, further emphasizing their man-made, dependent nature, setting the stage for God's declaration of His unique ability to declare the end from the beginning in [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in [Isaiah 46](/isaiah/46 "Isaiah 46 - God's Incomparable Sovereignty Over Idols") is directed towards the Judean exiles in Babylon, a superpower renowned for its grand temples and numerous deities. Babylonian culture was deeply polytheistic, with elaborate rituals and significant resources dedicated to the creation and worship of idols. These idols were not merely symbols but were believed to embody the presence of the gods, requiring meticulous craftsmanship, precious materials, and daily care. The practice described in Isaiah 46:6—the melting of gold and silver, the hiring of skilled artisans, and the subsequent prostration—was a common, highly valued, and deeply ingrained aspect of Mesopotamian religious life. Isaiah's message serves as a crucial warning to the exiles not to succumb to the religious practices of their captors, reminding them of the unique nature of their God amidst a world saturated with idol worship.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Firstly, it highlights **the folly and absurdity of idolatry**, demonstrating the irrationality of worshiping something that requires human effort and resources to exist, and which is utterly dependent on its creators. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **misplaced devotion and resources**, showcasing how valuable wealth and skilled labor are squandered on objects that are lifeless and powerless, contrasting sharply with the true God who sustains and carries His people, as declared in [Isaiah 46:4](/isaiah/46-4 "Isaiah 46:4 - God Carries His People"). Finally, and implicitly, it reinforces **God's incomparable nature and unique sovereignty**. Unlike the idols that must be carried, God carries His people; unlike the idols that are made, God is the uncreated Creator; unlike the idols that cannot speak or act, God declares the future and accomplishes His purposes, as emphasized in [Isaiah 46:9-11](/isaiah/46-9-11 "Isaiah 46:9-11 - God's Uniqueness and Purpose").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lavish (Hebrew, _zûwl'_):** From a primitive root meaning "to shake out" or "to scatter profusely," and by implication, "to treat lightly." In this context, it emphasizes an abundant, even excessive, expenditure of precious metals. The act of "lavishing" gold implies a generous, perhaps even wasteful, allocation of valuable resources towards the creation of something ultimately worthless.
* **goldsmith (Hebrew, _tsâraph'_):** A primitive root meaning "to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)." This term refers to a skilled artisan or refiner, highlighting that the creation of these idols was not a casual act but a professional, intentional, and costly undertaking. It underscores the deliberate human agency involved in manufacturing the object of worship.
* **god (Hebrew, _ʼêl'_):** Shortened from a word meaning "strength" or "mighty." It refers to a deity, often the Almighty, but also used for any god or idol. Here, it explicitly refers to the man-made object that is then elevated to divine status, emphasizing the profound paradox of humanity creating its own object of ultimate devotion and power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They lavish gold out of the bag":** This clause describes the initial act of drawing out a significant quantity of gold from a purse or container, indicating a substantial and perhaps extravagant investment of wealth. The word "lavish" suggests an unreserved, even wasteful, outpouring of precious resources.
* **"and weigh silver in the balance":** This phrase further emphasizes the value and precision involved in the process. Silver, like gold, was a form of currency and a valuable commodity. Weighing it in a balance signifies careful measurement and a considerable, intentional allocation of resources, highlighting the seriousness with which these materials were dedicated to idol-making.
* **"and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god":** This section details the human agency and skilled labor involved. People actively seek out and pay a professional artisan, a goldsmith, to transform the raw materials into a finished product. The culmination of this human effort is the creation of "a god"—a profound irony where the creature becomes the creator of its own deity.
* **"they fall down, yea, they worship":** This final clause describes the ultimate act of submission and devotion. After expending wealth and labor to create the idol, the worshipers then prostrate themselves before it, offering it the ultimate reverence. The repetition "fall down, yea, they worship" emphasizes the complete and utter surrender to an object of their own making, underscoring the deep spiritual blindness and misplaced adoration inherent in idolatry.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 46:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the verse starkly contrasts the immense human effort and resources poured into creating an idol with the subsequent act of worshiping that very object. The creators become the worshipers of their own creation, highlighting the inherent absurdity and self-deception of idolatry. There is also an element of **Hyperbole** in the description of "lavishing gold" and "weighing silver," emphasizing the excessive and perhaps foolish expenditure of wealth on something ultimately worthless. The verse also functions as a powerful **Polemic**, a strong verbal attack, against the practices of idol worship prevalent in Babylon, serving to discredit and mock the false gods and their adherents. Finally, the vivid imagery of the goldsmith's work and the act of prostration creates a powerful **Visual Metaphor** for misplaced devotion, illustrating how human beings can elevate created things to the status of the Creator.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 46:6 serves as a foundational text for understanding the biblical critique of idolatry, emphasizing that true worship is directed only to the living God, the Creator of all things, who is utterly distinct from anything that can be made by human hands. Theologically, it underscores God's absolute sovereignty and incomparability, asserting that He alone is self-existent and powerful, in stark contrast to the lifeless, dependent nature of idols. This verse challenges humanity's innate tendency to create gods in its own image or to elevate created things—whether physical objects, wealth, power, or even self—to a place of ultimate devotion, thereby displacing the one true God. It calls believers to a radical reorientation of their hearts, resources, and worship towards the only One who can truly save, sustain, and satisfy.

* [Psalm 115:4-7](/psalms/115-4-7 "Psalm 115:4-7 - The Impotence of Idols")
* [Jeremiah 10:3-5](/jeremiah/10-3-5 "Jeremiah 10:3-5 - The Vanity of Idols")
* [Habakkuk 2:18-19](/habakkuk/2-18-19 "Habakkuk 2:18-19 - The Futility of Idols")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While modern society may not typically engage in the literal crafting and worship of gold and silver statues, the principle of idolatry remains profoundly relevant. Idolatry, at its heart, is the act of giving ultimate allegiance, trust, and devotion to anything other than God. This verse challenges us to critically examine what we "lavish" our time, energy, affections, and financial resources upon. Do we invest disproportionately in career advancement, material possessions, social status, personal comfort, or even relationships, elevating them to a place of ultimate significance in our lives? Are we, in essence, "making" our own gods and then "falling down" to worship them, expecting them to provide the security, identity, or fulfillment that only the living God can offer? Isaiah 46:6 calls us to a radical re-evaluation of our priorities, urging us to recognize that true life and lasting satisfaction are found only in directing our worship and devotion towards the Creator, rather than the created. It invites us to dismantle the idols of our hearts and refocus our lives on the One who truly carries us and declares the end from the beginning.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "gold and silver" (i.e., time, money, energy, affection) do I "lavish" on things other than God in my life?**
* **In what subtle or overt ways might I be "making" a god out of my career, relationships, possessions, or self-image?**
* **How does recognizing the futility of man-made idols deepen my appreciation for the incomparable nature of the living God?**

### FAQ
**What is the primary message of Isaiah 46:6?**

Answer: The primary message of Isaiah 46:6 is to expose the utter folly, absurdity, and futility of idolatry. It highlights the profound irony of human beings expending vast resources and skilled labor to create an inanimate object, only to then bow down and worship that very object as a god. This contrasts sharply with the living, self-existent God of Israel, who is not made by human hands and is incomparably sovereign. The verse serves as a powerful polemic against the pagan practices of Babylon, urging God's people to recognize the unique nature of their Creator.

**How does this ancient verse apply to modern forms of idolatry?**

Answer: While physical idols of gold and silver may be less common in many modern societies, the principle of idolatry remains profoundly relevant. Modern idolatry often manifests as misplaced ultimate trust, devotion, or allegiance in anything other than God. This can include an excessive focus on wealth, career success, material possessions, social media validation, personal comfort, relationships, or even one's own intellect or achievements. Isaiah 46:6 challenges us to examine what we "lavish" our resources and affections upon, and whether we are seeking ultimate satisfaction or security from created things rather than from the Creator. It calls us to recognize that anything we elevate to God's rightful place in our lives becomes an idol, ultimately powerless to save or satisfy, much like the idols described in [Psalm 115:4-7](/psalms/115-4-7 "Psalm 115:4-7 - The Impotence of Idols") or [Jeremiah 10:3-5](/jeremiah/10-3-5 "Jeremiah 10:3-5 - The Vanity of Idols").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 46:6, with its vivid portrayal of the futility of man-made gods, powerfully sets the stage for the unique and ultimate revelation of God in Jesus Christ. The idols described are created by human hands, requiring lavish resources and skilled labor, yet they are lifeless and powerless, unable to save or even move themselves. In stark contrast, Christ is not a created being, but the eternally begotten Son, the very image of the invisible God, as affirmed in [Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Colossians 1:15 - Christ, the Image of the Invisible God"). He is the one through whom all things were made, not one who was made, as [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him") declares. The human longing to "fall down" and "worship" is rightly directed to Him, for He is God incarnate, the one who truly carries His people, not one who needs to be carried. While idols are crafted from gold and silver, Christ's true value lies not in precious metals but in His divine nature and His sacrificial love, offering Himself as the ultimate [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). He is the living God who speaks, acts, and saves, fulfilling humanity's deepest need for a true object of worship and delivering us from the bondage of worshipping the created rather than the Creator, as highlighted in [Romans 1:25](/romans/1-25 "Romans 1:25 - Worshiping the Creature Rather Than the Creator").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.

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 3:5

[That] at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:

Daniel 3:15

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Isaiah 44:12

The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

Isaiah 44:19

And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?