Isaiah 40:20
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | To one bereft of an offering who chooses wood that will not rot, who seeks a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple? | He that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved. |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the impoverished [person] | הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ן | ham-su-KAN | H5533B | to impoverishסָכַן (sa.khan) 1) to be poor 1a) (Pual) to be impoverished |
| a contribution | תְּרוּמָ֔ה | te-ru-MAH | H8641 | contributionתְּרוּמָה (te.ru.mah) 1) contribution, offering 1a) a heave offering 1b) any offering 1c) an offering to God 1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc) 1e) contribution |
| wood | עֵ֥ץ | 'etz | H6086G | woodאָע (a) wood, beam, timber Aramaic of ets (עֵץ ": wood" H6086) |
| [which] not | לֹֽא־ | lo'- | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| it will rot | יִרְקַ֖ב | yir-KAV | H7537 | to rotרָקֵב (ra.qav) (Qal) to rot |
| he chooses | יִבְחָ֑ר | yiv-CHAR | H0977 | to chooseבָּחַר (ba.char) 1) to choose, elect, decide for 1a) (Qal) to choose 1b) (Niphal) to be chosen 1c) (Pual) to be chosen, selected |
| a craftsman | חָרָ֤שׁ | cha-RASH | H2796 | artificerחָרָשׁ, חֲרָשִׁים (cha.rash) 1) craftsman, artisan, engraver, graver, artificer 1a) graver, artificer 1b) skilful to destroy (warriors) (fig.) |
| skillful | חָכָם֙ | cha-KHAM | H2450 | wiseחָכָם (cha.kham) 1) wise, wise (man) 1a) skilful (in technical work) 1b) wise (in administration) 1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle 1d) learned, shrewd (class of men) 1e) prudent 1f) wise (ethically and religiously) |
| he seeks | יְבַקֶּשׁ־ | ye-va-kesh- | H1245 | to seekבָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) 1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to seek to find 1a2) to seek to secure 1a3) to seek the face 1a4) to desire, demand 1a5) to require, exact 1a6) to ask, request 1b) (Pual) to be sought |
| to prepare | לְהָכִ֥ין | le-ha-KHIN | H3559H | No entry |
| an idol | פֶּ֖סֶל | PE-sel | H6459 | idolפָּסִיל (pe.sil) image, idol, graven image Another spelling of pe.sel (פֶּ֫סֶל "idol" H6459) |
| [which] not | לֹ֥א | lo' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| it will be shaken | יִמּֽוֹט׃ | yi-MOT | H4131 | to shakeמוֹט (mot) 1) to totter, shake, slip 1a) (Qal) to totter, shake, slip 1b) (Niphal) to be shaken, be moved, be overthrown 1c) (Hiphil) to dislodge, let fall, drop 1d) (Hithpael) to be greatly shaken |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.