King James Version

Isaiah 40:19

The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

הַפֶּ֨סֶל֙hapeselthe carved imageפֶּסֶלdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the carved image”, the ordinary formH6459an idolcarved (graven) image.נָסַ֣ךְnasakhpourנָסַךְverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “pour”, a completed actionH5258to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint akingcover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up).חָרָ֔שׁcharashartificerחָרָשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “artificer”, the ordinary formH2796a fabricator or any materialartificer, ([phrase]) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, [phrase] mason, skilful, ([phrase]) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.וְצֹרֵ֖ףvetsorefand castצָרַףconjunction, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “and cast”, a verb used as a describing wordH6884to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)cast, (re-) fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try.בַּזָּהָ֣בbazahavin goldזָהָבpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “in gold”, the ordinary formH2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear skygold(-en), fair weather.יְרַקְּעֶ֑נּוּyeraqenvbeatרָקַעverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “beat”, an unfinished actionH7554to pound the earth (as a sign of passion); by analogy to expand (by hammering); by implication, to overlay (with thin sheets of metal)beat, make broad, spread abroad (forth, over, out, into plates), stamp, stretch.וּרְתֻק֥וֹתuretuqotand chainרְתֻקָהconjunction, noun, common, feminine, plural, construct — “and chain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7577something fastened, i.e. a chainchain.כֶּ֖סֶףkesefmoneyכֶּסֶףnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “money”, the ordinary formH3701silver (from its pale color); by implication, moneymoney, price, silver(-ling).צוֹרֵֽףtsorefcastצָרַףverb, qal, participle, absolute — “cast”, a verb used as a describing wordH6884to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively)cast, (re-) fine(-er), founder, goldsmith, melt, pure, purge away, try.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The image perchance, which the craftsman hath melted, and the goldsmith spread over with gold, the silversmith casting silver chains?

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The image, a workman hath cast it , and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth for it silver chains.

Young’s Literal Translation

The graven image poured out hath a artisan, And a refiner with gold spreadeth it over, And chains of silver he is refining.

World English Bible

A workman has cast an image, and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts silver chains for it.

Darby Translation

The workman casteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains [for it].

Douay-Rheims

Hath the workman cast a graven statue? or hath the goldsmith formed it with gold, or the silversmith with plates of silver?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The image perchance, which the craftsman hath melted, and the goldsmith spread over with gold, the silversmith casting silver chains?

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Has not the artificer made an image, or the goldsmith having melted gold, gilt it over, and made it a similitude?

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Μὴ εἰκόνα ἐποίησε τέκτων, ἢ χρυσοχόος χωνεύσας χρυσίον περιεχρύσωσεν αὐτὸν, ὁμοίωμα κατεσκεύασεν αὐτόν;