Bible Strands
Isaiah 44:15
It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread. He also fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Isaiah addresses Israel regarding the crafting of idols from timber that was first cultivated and harvested. The passage contrasts the practical use of wood with its later misuse as an object of worship.
The words — The text highlights וְ/הָיָ֤ה (ve./ha.Yah, "and it belongs") and לְ/בָעֵ֔ר (le./va.'Er, "to burn") to show the wood's intended purpose as fuel. It also uses וַ/יִּקַּ֤ח (va/i.yi.Kach, "he took") and וְ/אָ֣פָה (ve./'A.fah, "he bakes") to describe the immediate domestic use of the timber.
The thread — The verse connects to Isaiah 44:10, which questions who fashions a god or casts a profitless idol. It also relates to Isaiah 44:16, which details burning half the wood for heat and food.
Why it lands — The text states that the same material provides warmth and bread before being fashioned into an idol. It asks the reader to recognize the absurdity of elevating created fuel to divine status.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 25:14 When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.
- Judges 2:19 But when the judge died, the Israelites became even more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods to serve them and bow down to them. They would not give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
- Isaiah 44:10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?
- Isaiah 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
- Revelation 9:20 Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.