King James Version

Isaiah 40:20

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.

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Hebrew

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הַֽמְסֻכָּ֣ןhamsukanthe endangerסָכַןdefinite article, verb, pual, passive participle, absolute — “the endanger”, a verb used as a describing wordH5533properly, to cut, i.e. damage; also to grow (causatively, make) poorendanger, impoverish.תְּרוּמָ֔הterumahofferedתְּרוּמָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “offered”, the ordinary formH8641a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributegift, heave offering (shoulder), oblation, offered(-ing).עֵ֥ץetstreeעֵץnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “tree”, the ordinary formH6086a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)[phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.לֹֽאlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יִרְקַ֖בyirqavrotרָקַבverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “rot”, an unfinished actionH7537to decay (as by worm-eating)rot.יִבְחָ֑רyivcharacceptableבָּחַרverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “acceptable”, an unfinished actionH977properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) selectacceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.חָרָ֤שׁcharashartificerחָרָשׁnoun, 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.חָכָם֙chakhamwise , manחָכָםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “wise , man”, the ordinary formH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).יְבַקֶּשׁyevaqeshbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “beseech”, an unfinished actionH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).ל֔וֹlvotoל֔וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toלְהָכִ֥יןlehakhinto be fittedכּוּןpreposition, verb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “to be fitted”, the to-form of the verbH3559properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous)certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth…פֶּ֖סֶלpeselcarved imageפֶּסֶלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “carved image”, the ordinary formH6459an idolcarved (graven) image.לֹ֥אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יִמּֽוֹטyimotfallמוֹטverb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “fall”, an unfinished actionH4131to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fallbe carried, cast, be out of course, be fallen in decay, [idiom] exceedingly, fall(-ing down), be (re-) moved, be ready, shake, slide, slip.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

A holm-oak is set apart, he chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning craftsman to set up an image, that shall not be moved.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Young’s Literal Translation

He who is poor [by] heave-offerings, A tree not rotten doth choose, A skilful artisan he seeketh for it, To establish a graven image — not moved.

World English Bible

He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot. He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved.

Darby Translation

He that is impoverished, so that he hath no offering, chooseth a tree that doth not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilled workman to prepare a graven image that shall not be moved.

Douay-Rheims

He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skillful workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

A holm-oak is set apart, he chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning craftsman to set up an image, that shall not be moved.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For the artificer chooses out a wood that will not rot, and will wisely enquire how he shall set up his image, and that so that it should not be moved.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ξύλον γὰρ ἄσηπτον ἐκλέγεται τέκτων, καὶ σοφῶς ζητήσει πῶς στήσει εἰκόνα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἵνα μὴ σαλεύηται.