Logos Bible Study

Isaiah 40:18–20

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18Can you compare God to anything?

Can you compare him to an image of anything?

19An idol is formed by a craftsman,

and a goldsmith covers it with gold

and makes silver chains for it.

20A poor person cannot buy those expensive statues,

so he finds a tree that will not rot.

Then he finds a skilled craftsman

to make it into an idol that will not fall over.

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In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

To whom then will you liken God,

or what likeness compare with him?

An idol! A craftsman casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and casts for it silver chains.

He who is too impoverished for an offering

chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks out a skillful craftsman

to set up an idol that will not move.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

With whom, then, will you compare God?

To what image will you liken him?

As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold

and fashions silver chains for it.

A person too poor to present such an offering

selects wood that will not rot;

they look for a skilled worker

to set up an idol that will not topple.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

With whom will you compare God?

What likeness will you set up for comparison with him?

An idol?—something that a smelter casts

and a metalworker plates with gold

and makes silver chains for?

A poor person contributes wood for a pedestal

that will not rot.

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not fall over.

NLTNew Living Translation

To whom can you compare God?

What image can you find to resemble him?

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,

overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?

Or if people are too poor for that,

they might at least choose wood that won’t decay

and a skilled craftsman

to carve an image that won’t fall down!

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And to whom will you liken God?

And to what likeness will you compare him?

A craftsman pours out the idol,

and a goldsmith overlays it with gold,

and he smelts chains of silver.

The one who is too impoverished for a gift chooses wood that will not rot;

he seeks a skillful artisan for himself to set up an image that will not be knocked over.

KJV 1900King James Version

To whom then will ye liken God?

Or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

The workman melteth a graven image,

And the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold,

And casteth silver chains.

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.