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Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Easy-to-Read Version

Isaiah 46:6

Some people are rich with gold and silver. Gold falls from their purses, and they weigh their silver on scales. They pay an artist to make a false god from wood. Then they bow down and worship that false god.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Balances;   Idolatry;   Money;   Thompson Chain Reference - Arts and Crafts;   False;   Goldsmiths;   Idol;   Idolatry;   Purses;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   The Topic Concordance - Idolatry;   Salvation;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Idol, idolatry;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Religion;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Canon (1);   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adore;   Balance;   Goldsmith;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Balance;   Money;   Purse;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bag;   Balances;   Exile;   God;   Isaiah;   Wages;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Balance;   Election;   Micah, Book of;   Reed;   Righteousness;   Servant of the Lord;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gold;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Balances;   Purse;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Purse,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Money;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bag;   Balance;   Bear;   Habakkuk;   Hire;   Reed;   Worship;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Artisans;   Bag;   Balance;   Money;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for March 21;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Those who pour out their bags of goldand weigh out silver on scales—they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.Then they kneel and bow down to it.
Hebrew Names Version
Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down -- yes, they worship.
King James Version
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
English Standard Version
Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
New American Standard Bible
"Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh silver on the scale, Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.
New Century Version
Some people are rich with gold and weigh their silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god. Then they bow down and worship it.
Amplified Bible
"Those who lavish gold from the bag And weigh out silver on the scales Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.
World English Bible
Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down -- yes, they worship.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They draw gold out of the bagge & weigh siluer in the balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, and they bowe downe, and worship it.
Legacy Standard Bible
Those who lavish gold from the purseAnd weigh silver on the scale,They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;They fall down, indeed they worship it.
Berean Standard Bible
Those who pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god they can bow down and worship.
Contemporary English Version
Some people hire a goldsmith and give silver and gold to be formed into an idol for them to worship.
Complete Jewish Bible
They squander the gold from their bags and weigh silver on a scale; they hire a goldsmith to make a god, before which they fall down and worship!
Darby Translation
—They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance; they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
George Lamsa Translation
To those who go astray, who pour out gold from their bags and weigh silver in the balance and hire a goldsmith; and they make it a god; they worship it, and they also pray to it?
Good News Translation
People open their purses and pour out gold; they weigh out silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith to make a god; then they bow down and worship it.
Lexham English Bible
Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh out silver in the balance scales; hire a goldsmith and he makes him a god; they bow down, indeed they bow in worship.
Literal Translation
Those who lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver on the measuring rod; they hire a refiner and he makes it a god. They fall down; yea, they worship.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye fooles (no doute) wil take out syluer and golde out of youre purses, and weye it, and hyre a goldsmyth to make a god of it, that men maye knele downe and worshipe it.
American Standard Version
Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.
Bible in Basic English
As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Ye that lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance; ye that hire a goldsmith, that he make it a god, to fall down thereto, yea, to worship.
King James Version (1611)
They lauish gold out of the bagge, and weigh siluer in the balance, and hire a goldsmith, and hee maketh it a god: they fall downe, yea they worship.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Take out siluer and gold out of your purses, and way it, and hyre a goldesmith to make a god of it, that men may kneele downe and worship it:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
They that furnish gold out of a purse, and silver by weight, will weigh it in a scale, and they hire a goldsmith and make idols, and bow down, and worship them.
English Revised Version
Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whiche beren togidere gold fro the bagge, and peisen siluer with a balaunce, and hiren a goldsmyth to make a god, and thei fallen doun, and worschipen; thei berynge beren in schuldris,
Update Bible Version
Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; they fall down, yes, they worship.
Webster's Bible Translation
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yes, they worship.
New English Translation
Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it.
New King James Version
They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
New Living Translation
Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it!
New Life Bible
Those who take much gold from the money bag and weigh silver hire one who works with gold, and he makes it into a god. Then they bow down and worship it.
New Revised Standard
Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales— they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
They who pour gold out of a purse, And who weigh silver in a balance, - Who hire a goldsmith that he may make it into a GOD, They adore, yea they bow down;
Douay-Rheims Bible
You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and worship.
Revised Standard Version
Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
Young's Literal Translation
-- They are pouring out gold from a bag, And silver on the beam they weigh, They hire a refiner, and he maketh it a god, They fall down, yea, they bow themselves.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Those who lavish gold from the purse And weigh silver on the scale Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it.

Contextual Overview

5 "Can you compare me to anyone? No one is equal to me. You cannot understand everything about me. There is nothing like me. 6 Some people are rich with gold and silver. Gold falls from their purses, and they weigh their silver on scales. They pay an artist to make a false god from wood. Then they bow down and worship that false god. 7 They put their false god on their shoulders and carry it. That false god is useless; people have to carry it! People set the statue on the ground, and it cannot move. That false god never walks away from its place. People can yell at it, but it will not answer. That false god is only a statue; it cannot save people from their troubles. 8 "Sinners, change your heart and mind. Think about this again. Remember it and be strong. 9 Remember what happened long ago. Remember, I am God and there is no other God. There is no other like me. 10 "In the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not happened yet. When I plan something, it happens. I do whatever I want to do. 11 I am calling a man from the east to do what I want. He will come like an eagle from a faraway country. He will do all that I have planned. Everything I said will happen just as I said it would. 12 "Listen to me, you stubborn people! You are far from doing what is right. 13 But I am close to making things right. Salvation will not be delayed much longer. I will bring salvation to Zion and to my wonderful Israel."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lavish: Isaiah 40:19, Isaiah 40:20, Isaiah 41:6, Isaiah 41:7, Isaiah 44:12-19, Isaiah 45:20, Exodus 32:2-4, Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, 1 Kings 12:28, Jeremiah 10:3, Jeremiah 10:4, Jeremiah 10:9, Jeremiah 10:14, Hosea 8:4-6, Habakkuk 2:18-20, Acts 17:29

they fall: Isaiah 2:8, Isaiah 44:17, Daniel 3:5-15

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:3 - General Exodus 32:4 - fashioned Exodus 34:17 - General Numbers 23:14 - built seven Nehemiah 3:8 - the goldsmiths Psalms 115:4 - Their idols Psalms 135:15 - idols Isaiah 2:20 - his idols of silver Isaiah 30:22 - thy graven images of silver Isaiah 44:9 - and their Isaiah 55:2 - spend Jeremiah 2:13 - broken cisterns Jeremiah 2:27 - to a stock Daniel 3:1 - made Daniel 5:4 - of gold Daniel 5:23 - which Hosea 2:8 - which they prepared for Baal Hosea 13:2 - have made Habakkuk 2:19 - it is Luke 4:7 - worship me

Cross-References

Genesis 15:13
Then the Lord said to Abram, "You should know this: Your descendants will live in a country that is not their own. They will be strangers there. The people there will make them slaves and be cruel to them for 400 years.
Numbers 20:15
Many years ago our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to us.
Deuteronomy 10:22
When your ancestors went down into Egypt, there were only 70 people. Now the Lord your God has made you as many as the stars in the sky.
Deuteronomy 26:5
Then there before the Lord your God you will say: ‘My ancestor was a wandering Aramean. He went down into Egypt and stayed there. When he went there, he had only a few people in his family. But in Egypt he became a great nation—a powerful nation with many people.
Joshua 24:4
And I gave Isaac two sons, Jacob and Esau. To Esau, I gave the land around the mountains of Seir. Jacob and his sons did not live there. They went to live in the land of Egypt.
1 Samuel 12:8
"Jacob went to Egypt. Later, the Egyptians made life hard for his descendants. So they cried to the Lord for help. The Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and they took your ancestors out of Egypt and led them to live in this place.
Psalms 105:23
Then Israel came to Egypt. Jacob lived there in Ham's country.
Isaiah 52:4
The Lord God says, "First, my people went down to Egypt and became slaves. Then Assyria made them slaves.
Acts 7:15
So Jacob went down to Egypt. He and our other ancestors lived there until they died.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

They lavish gold out of the bag,.... As if it was of no value and account; that is, the Heathen idolaters, some of them, who are excessively devoted to idolatry; these, being rich, take out their bags of gold, and give it in a very profuse manner to a workman to make a golden image for them, not caring what it cost them; such an one was that which Nebuchadnezzar made, sixty cubits high, and six broad, Daniel 3:1 see an instance of profuseness this way in the Israelites themselves, Exodus 32:2.

And weigh silver in the balance; or "with a reed" o. Others, though idolaters, yet less devoted to idolatry, and more tenacious of their money, make silver do for a god, and weigh it out to the workman, that it be made of such a weight, and no more, and that they might not be cheated of their silver; or they weighed it to pay the workman for his workmanship. Money formerly was not coined and stamped, so not numbered by pieces, but weighed.

And hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; a "finer" or "founder", with whom they agree for such a sum of money, and he, of the gold or silver that is put into his hands, makes a god: he casts and moulds it into such a form or shape that is agreed upon, and this is called a god; though nothing but a piece of gold or silver fashioned by art and man's device, and the work of his hands:

they fall down, yea, they worship; the god they made; both the artificer, and he that employed him, fall down upon their knees, or their faces, and pay divine worship add adoration to the idol; though the one knew it was made of his own gold or silver, and the other knew it to be the workmanship of his hands. Worshipping is more than falling down, as Ben Melech observes, and therefore it is said, yea, they worship.

o בקנה "in calamo", Pagninus, Montanus. The bar of the balance on which they hang the scales with threads, Ben Meleck says is called

קנה, the "reed". So Vatablus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

They lavish gold - The word used here means properly to shake out; and then to pour out abundantly, or in a lavish manner. It is used in connection with the idea of squandering in Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 28:7. Here the idea is, that they spared no expense; they poured out gold as if it were vile and worthless, in order to make an idol. The design of this verse is, to show the superstition of those who were idolaters; and, particularly, how much they were willing to devote in order to maintain idol-worship.

Out of the bag - They pour their gold out of the bag, or purse, where they have kept it; that is, they lavish it freely.

And weigh silver in the balance - Perhaps the idea is here, that they used silver so lavishly that they did not wait to count it, but weighed it as they would the grosser metals. The word used here and translated ‘balance’ (קנה qâneh), means properly “cane, reed, calamus”; then a measuring reed or rod Ezekiel 40:3, Ezekiel 40:5; then a rod, or beam of a balance, or scales (Greek ζυγὸς zugos).

And hire a goldsmith - (See the notes at Isaiah 40:19-20).

And he maketh it a god - The goldsmith manufactures the gold and the silver into an image. The object of the prophet is to deride the custom of offering divine homage to a god formed in this manner (see the notes at Isaiah 44:9-19).


 
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