So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.
So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encouraged the one who strikes the anvil, saying, 'It's ready for soldering.' And he fastened it with nails so it wouldn't move.
This verse describes craftsmen working together to make an idol, encouraging each other in their work to create a false god that they secure with nails.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah was writing during a time when the Israelites were surrounded by nations that worshipped handmade idols. The prophet was contrasting the living God of Israel with the lifeless idols that neighboring peoples crafted from wood, metal, and stone. This verse is part of a larger passage where God mocks the foolishness of idol worship.
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