Isaiah 41:7

7 So the ¹craftsman encourages the ²smelter, 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, ³So that it will not totter.

Isaiah 41:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:7

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith
The carpenter, when he had made a wooden image, encouraged and hastened the goldsmith, or the "finer", as some render it, to do his part, in covering it with plates of gold or silver: and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil;
he that beat out thin plates of gold and silver with the hammer, in order to decorate the wooden god, encouraged the smith at the forge, that smote on the anvil, there making nails for the fastening it to a pillar or wall, to hasten his work: saying, it is ready for the sodering;
for the several joints to be put together, by sodering them: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved;
either the goldsmith and finer fastened the plates of gold and silver with nails, that they might be kept fast and close to it; or the smith that smote on the anvil, and made the nails, he fastened the image with them at some proper place, that so it might not fall, or be taken away. All which, as it represents the hurry and solicitude idolaters were in to keep up their craft and religion, so it exposes them to ridicule and contempt.

Isaiah 41:7 In-Context

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come.

6 Each one helps his neighbor And says to his brother, "Be strong!"

7 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.

8 "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 44:12, 13
• 2. Isaiah 40:19
• 3. Isaiah 40:20; Isaiah 46:7