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He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest: he plants a fir-tree, and the rain nourishes it.
Verse Takeaways
1
The Idol's Humble Origins
Commentators explain that Isaiah exposes the folly of idolatry by tracing the idol back to its source: a common tree. The idol maker selects, cuts, and even plants the very wood he will later worship. This simple description of an idol's mundane origin reveals the absurdity of praying to an object made by human hands.
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Book Overview
Isaiah
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10
18th Century
Presbyterian
He hews down cedars for himself—In the previous verses, the prophet had described the formation of an axe with which the work was to be done…
19th Century
Anglican
He heweth him down cedars. —The manufacture is traced further back, possibly by way of protest against the belief current…
Baptist
The carpenter stretches out his rule; he marks it out with a line; he fits it with planes, and he marks it out with the compass, and makes it a…
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16th Century
Protestant
He shall cut down for himself: The Prophet expresses not only the zeal and furious eagerness of idolaters, but also their rebellion and ob…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
He hews him down cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak , &c.] To make gods of, trees both pleasant and durable, …
Image-making is described to expose the folly of idolaters. Though a man had used part of a log for fuel, he fell down before an image made of the …
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13th Century
Catholic
And now hear, O Jacob. Here, third, he strengthens them by explaining the worthlessness of idols, lest they should believe that …
