Isaiah 44:12

12 A blacksmith with his tools works it over coals, and shapes it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He even becomes hungry and weak. If he didn't drink water, he'd pass out.

Isaiah 44:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 44:12

The smith with the tongs
Or, "the worker of iron" ^F3; the blacksmith, who had a concern in making of idols, for some were made of iron, ( Daniel 5:4 ) , or in making plates to cover them, or nails to fasten them with, or instruments which the carpenter made use of in cutting down trees, and fitting the wood for an image; such as the axe or hatchet, or plane, and which some think is here meant, by the word translated "tongs", but is rendered an "axe", ( Jeremiah 10:3 ) and is used for that, or an hatchet, or a plane, by the Misnic ^F4 writers; so the Targum renders it,

``the smith out of iron makes an axe or hatchet:''

"both worketh in the coals"; he puts his iron in the coals, and blows upon them, and so makes it soft and malleable, and then takes it out: and fashioneth it with hammers:
beats it with hammers upon the anvil, and puts it into what form he pleases: and worketh it with the strength of his arms;
uses his utmost strength to bring it into a form he is desirous of: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth; he drinketh no water, and
is faint;
he works at it with all his might and main, is earnest at it, and is eagerly desirous of finishing his work; he works till he is hungry and thirsty, and for want of food is ready to faint and sink; and yet will not give himself time to eat and drink, being so intent upon his work: or the sense is, though he is hungry and thirsty, and faints for want of provisions, yet the god he is making, or has made, cannot supply him with any: this is said to expose the folly of idol making, and of idol worship.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (lzrb vrx) "faber ferri", Pagninus, Montanus; "faber ferrarius", V. L. Vitringa.
F4 Misn. Sabbat, c. 12. sect. 1. Celim, c. 29. 6.

Isaiah 44:12 In-Context

10 Who would form a god or cast an idol that does no good?

11 All its worshippers will be ashamed, and its artisans, who are only human. They will all gather and stand, tremble and be ashamed together.

12 A blacksmith with his tools works it over coals, and shapes it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He even becomes hungry and weak. If he didn't drink water, he'd pass out.

13 A carpenter stretches out a string, marks it out with a stylus, fashions it with carving tools, and marks it with a compass. He makes it into a human form, like a splendid human, to live in a temple.

14 He cuts down cedars for himself, or chooses a cypress or oak, selecting from all the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain makes it grow.