John Calvin 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)

That it may abide in the house. Thus he shows the folly of such intense application; for their toil brings no other reward than to see their idols resting indolently without motion in the position which has been assigned to them, just as if a sluggard were crouching over a fire or reclining on a couch.