Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 44:13

"The carpenter stretcheth out a line; he marketh it out with a pencil; he shapeth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compasses, and shapeth it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house." — Isaiah 44:13 (ASV)

The carpenter. —The wooden idol comes next. First there is the rough measurement with the “rule;” then the craftsman draws the outline of the figure in red chalk. “Plane” and “compasses” come in to make the form more definite. The human figure is complete; then there is the artist’s final touch to add the element of beauty; and so it is ready for the “house,” or temple.