New International Version The metalworker encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer spurs on the one who strikes the anvil. One says of the welding, “It is good.” The other nails down the idol so it will not topple. New Living Translation The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over. English Standard Version The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible And the craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, the one smoothing with the hammer, the one striking the anvil, saying of the joining, “It is Good!”—And he strengthens it with nails, and it will not be toppled. King James Bible 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. New King James Version So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter. New American Standard Bible So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good”; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter. NASB 1995 So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good"; And he fastens it with nails, So that it will not totter. NASB 1977 So the craftsman encourages the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good”; And he fastens it with nails, That it should not totter. Legacy Standard Bible So the craftsman strengthens the smelter, And he who smooths metal with the hammer strengthens him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good”; And he strengthens it with nails, So that it will not be shaken. Amplified Bible So the craftsman encourages the goldsmith, And he who smooths metal with the smith’s hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, Saying of the soldering (welding), “That is good”; And he fastens the idol with nails, So that it will not totter nor be moved. Berean Annotated Bible 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. Christian Standard Bible The craftsman encourages the metalworker; the one who flattens with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good.” He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over. Holman Christian Standard Bible The craftsman encourages the metalworker; the one who flattens with the hammer supports the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good.” He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over. American Standard Version 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 is should not be moved. Contemporary English Version Woodcarvers, goldsmiths, and other workers encourage one another and say, "We've done a great job!" Then they nail the idol down, so it won't fall over. English Revised Version So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. GOD'S WORD® Translation Craftsmen encourage goldsmiths. Metalsmiths encourage blacksmiths who work at their anvils. They say that their soldering is good. And they fasten things with nails so they won't move. Good News Translation The carpenter says to the goldsmith, 'Well done!' The one who beats the idol smooth encourages the one who nails it together. They say, 'The soldering is good'--and they fasten the idol in place with nails. International Standard Version The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and the hammersmith encourages the one who strikes the anvil. He says about the welding, 'It's good!' and he reinforces it with nails so that it won't topple." NET Bible The craftsman encourages the metalsmith, the one who wields the hammer encourages the one who pounds on the anvil. He approves the quality of the welding, and nails it down so it won't fall over." New Heart English Bible So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. He who smoothes with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good;" and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThe 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. World English Bible So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. He who smooths with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good;” and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd an artisan strengthens the refiner, "" A smoother [with] a hammer, "" Him who is beating [on] an anvil, saying, “For joining it [is] good,” "" And he strengthens it with nails, it is not moved! Berean Literal Bible And the craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, the one smoothing with the hammer, the one striking the anvil, saying of the joining, “It is Good!”—And he strengthens it with nails, and it will not be toppled. Young's Literal Translation And strengthen doth an artisan the refiner, A smoother with a hammer, Him who is beating on an anvil, Saying, 'For joining it is good,' And he strengtheneth it with nails, it is not moved! Smith's Literal Translation And the artificer will strengthen the founder, he making smooth with the hammer, he beating the anvil, saying, It is good for the welding; he will strengthen it with nails; it shall not totter. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe coppersmith striking with the hammer encouraged him that forged at that time, saying: It is ready for soldering: and he strengthened it with nails, that it should not be moved. Catholic Public Domain Version The coppersmith striking with the mallet encouraged him who was forging at that time, saying, “It is ready for soldering.” And he strengthened it with nails, so that it would not be moved. New American Bible The woodworker encourages the goldsmith, the one who beats with the hammer, him who strikes on the anvil, Saying of the soldering, “It is good!” then fastening it with nails so it will not totter. New Revised Standard Version The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe carpenter encourages the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering; and they fasten it with nails, that it should not be moved. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Carpenter gave heart to the Goldsmith who strikes with a hammer and labors, and says to him who proves what is excellent, “There it is”, and they fasten it with nails that it will not be moved OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, And he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, Saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; And he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. Brenton Septuagint Translation The artificer has become strong, and the coppersmith that smites with the hammer, and forges also: sometimes he will say, It is a piece well joined: they have fastened them with nails; they will fix them, and they shall not be moved. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context God's Help to Israel…6Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” 7The 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. 8“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—… Cross References The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, Isaiah 46:6-7 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. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. Jeremiah 10:9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz—the work of a craftsman from the hands of a goldsmith. Their clothes are blue and purple, all fashioned by skilled workers. Jeremiah 10:14 Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, Isaiah 44:12 The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. Jeremiah 10:4 They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Exodus 32:4 He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” saying of the welding, “It is good.” Genesis 1:31 And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Exodus 39:43 And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them. He nails it down so it will not be toppled. Isaiah 40:20 One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot. He seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple. Jeremiah 10:5 Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” Psalm 115:7 they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats. Jeremiah 10:3-4 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. Habakkuk 2:18-19 What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.” 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” Psalm 115:4-8 Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; … Hosea 8:6 For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria. Treasury of Scripture So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smoothes with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. the carpenter Isaiah 40:19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. Isaiah 44:12-15 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 46:6,7 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… goldsmith. 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. Isaiah 46:7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. Judges 18:17,18,24 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… Jump to Previous Artizan Beating Beats Carpenter Craftsman Encouraged Encourages Fasten Fastened Fastens Founder Goldsmith Gold-Worker Good Hammer Heart Idol Iron-Worker Kind Metal Metal-Worker Moved Nails Ready Refiner Slipping Smelter Smiteth Smooth Smoother Smote Spurs Strengthen Strikes Together Totter WordsJump to Next Artizan Beating Beats Carpenter Craftsman Encouraged Encourages Fasten Fastened Fastens Founder Goldsmith Gold-Worker Good Hammer Heart Idol Iron-Worker Kind Metal Metal-Worker Moved Nails Ready Refiner Slipping Smelter Smiteth Smooth Smoother Smote Spurs Strengthen Strikes Together Totter WordsIsaiah 41 1. God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church.10. About his promises 21. And about the vanity of idols. The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, Idol production depended on the combined work of skilled artisans, each contributing to the making of an object intended for worship. Their cooperation exposes the human origin of the idol. Isa 46:6-7 They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver… and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, Metalworkers labored together to shape and assemble the image. Their mutual praise reflects confidence in their craftsmanship, though the finished object possesses no life, power, or ability to save. Isa 44:12 The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals;… saying of the welding, “It is good.” They approve the work when the pieces are securely joined, treating the completed idol as a successful achievement. The approval is ironic, since human skill cannot turn fashioned metal into a god. Gen 1:31 And God looked upon all that He had made… He nails it down so it will not be toppled. The idol must be fastened in place because it cannot stand by its own strength. What must be secured by its maker cannot protect or rule those who trust in it. Isa 40:20 One lacking such an offering chooses wood that will not rot.… Persons / Places / Events 1. The CraftsmanRepresents those who create idols, skilled in their trade, yet misguided in their purpose. 2. The Goldsmith A specialist in working with precious metals, involved in the creation of idols. 3. The Hammerer The one who smooths and shapes the metal, contributing to the idol-making process. 4. The Anvil Striker Works in tandem with the hammerer, ensuring the metal is properly formed. 5. The Idol The final product of their labor, which is falsely declared as "good" and secured to prevent it from falling. Teaching Points The Futility of IdolatryIdols are man-made and lack any divine power or presence. They are the product of human hands and cannot compare to the living God. Encouragement in Error The passage illustrates how people can encourage one another in misguided endeavors. We must be cautious about the influences we allow in our lives and ensure they align with God's truth. The Illusion of Security The act of nailing down the idol to prevent it from toppling symbolizes a false sense of security. True security is found only in God, not in the works of our hands. Community in Creation The collaborative effort in idol-making shows the power of community, but it also warns that community can be misdirected. We should strive for community that builds up in faith and truth. The Declaration of 'Good' The craftsman's declaration that the idol is "good" is a reminder of how human standards can be flawed. We must seek God's standard of goodness, which is revealed in His Word. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 41:7?2. How does Isaiah 41:7 illustrate the importance of community in faith-building? 3. What does "The craftsman encourages the goldsmith" teach about mutual support among believers? 4. How can we apply the teamwork in Isaiah 41:7 to our church activities? 5. Which New Testament passages echo the collaboration seen in Isaiah 41:7? 6. How can we encourage others in their faith journey, as seen in Isaiah 41:7? 7. How does Isaiah 41:7 reflect the futility of idol worship in ancient times? 8. What historical context influenced the message of Isaiah 41:7? 9. How does Isaiah 41:7 challenge modern views on materialism? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 41? (7) So the carpenter.--The process is described even more vividly than in Isaiah 40:19. For "the carpenter," read the caster, the idol being a metal one. The image of lead or copper is then covered with gold plates, which are laid on the anvil, and are smoothed with the hammer; the soldering is approved by the artist, and then (supreme touch of irony) the guardian deity is fixed with nails, that it may not totter and fall.Verse 7. - The carpenter, etc. (comp. Isaiah 40:19, 20 for the variety of workmen employed in the production of idols). Each encourages the others to manufacture a right good god. When all is done, there is, however, need of soldering, and of nails, that the wretched object may be kept erect, and not show its weakness by falling, like Dagon, upon its own threshold (1 Samuel 5:4). Isaiah 41:7 is a vivid, almost humorous snapshot of human beings pooling talent, energy, and optimism to manufacture a god that still has to be nailed down to keep it from falling over. The verse exposes the futility of idolatry, contrasts human effort with divine power, and calls believers to place their confidence in the Lord alone—He is the Creator who needs no support, the only One who truly “is good.” Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew The craftsmanחָרָשׁ֙ (ḥā·rāš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2796: A fabricator, any material encourages וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק (way·ḥaz·zêq) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer the goldsmith, צֹרֵ֔ף (ṣō·rêp̄) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6884: To smelt, refine, test [and] he who wields מַחֲלִ֥יק (ma·ḥă·lîq) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate the hammer פַּטִּ֖ישׁ (paṭ·ṭîš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6360: A forge hammer [cheers] him who strikes ה֣וֹלֶם (hō·w·lem) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 1986: To strike down, to hammer, stamp, conquer, disband the anvil, פָּ֑עַם (pā·‘am) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence saying אֹמֵ֤ר (’ō·mêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say of the soldering, לַדֶּ֙בֶק֙ (lad·de·ḇeq) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1694: A joining, soldering, appendage “It ה֔וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are is good.” ט֣וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good He nails it down וַיְחַזְּקֵ֥הוּ (way·ḥaz·zə·qê·hū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer so it will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no be toppled. יִמּֽוֹט׃ (yim·mō·wṭ) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4131: To waver, to slip, shake, fall Additonal Resources Isaiah 41:7 Blue Letter BibleIsaiah 41:7 Bible Gateway Isaiah 41:7 Bible.com Isaiah 41:7 NIV |
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