CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 44:10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/44-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/23_Isa_44_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 44:10 - The LORD has Chosen Israel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/44-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/44-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/44.htm">Chapter 44</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm" title="Isaiah 44:9">◄</a> Isaiah 44:10 <a href="/isaiah/44-11.htm" title="Isaiah 44:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/44.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/44.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/44.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/44.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image <i>that</i> is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/44.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Who would form a god or mold an image <i>That</i> profits him nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/44.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no benefit?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/44.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/44.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to no profit?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/44.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Who has formed a god or cast a graven image to no profit?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/44.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Who has made a god or cast an idol which is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/44.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who makes a god or casts a metal image that benefits no one?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/44.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who makes a god or casts a metal image for no profit? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/44.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/44.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Why make an idol or an image that can't do a thing? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/44.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Who hath fashioned a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/44.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Nothing comes from making gods or casting metal idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/44.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />It does no good to make a metal image to worship as a god! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/44.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Who would shape a god or cast an image that profits nothing? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/44.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/44.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/44.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/44.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Who hath formed a god, or cast a graven image that is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/44.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/44.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Who has formed a god, "" And poured out a molten image—not profitable?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/44.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Who hath formed a god, And a molten image poured out -- not profitable?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/44.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Who formed a god and a carved molten image, profiting for nothing?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/44.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing that is profitable for nothing? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/44.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Who has formed a god or cast a molten image, which is useful for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/44.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Who would fashion a god or cast an idol, that is of no use? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/44.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Who would fashion a god or cast an image that can do no good?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/44.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore let them be ashamed, those who make gods or graven and molten images that are profitable for nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/44.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because of this, those who are making gods and are forming molten images shall be ashamed, because there is no profit in them<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/44.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image That is profitable for nothing?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/44.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />that form a god, and all that grave worthless things:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/44-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=9753" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/44.htm">The LORD has Chosen Israel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">9</span>All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî- (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3335.htm" title="3335: yā·ṣar (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- Probably identical with yatsar;); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. Form a resolution).">fashions</a> <a href="/hebrew/410.htm" title="410: ’êl (N-ms) -- God, in pl. gods. Shortened from 'ayil; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty.">a god</a> <a href="/hebrew/5258.htm" title="5258: nā·sāḵ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast; by analogy, to anoint a king.">or casts</a> <a href="/hebrew/6459.htm" title="6459: ū·p̄e·sel (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- An idol, image. From pacal; an idol.">an idol</a> <a href="/hebrew/3276.htm" title="3276: hō·w·‘îl (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- To confer or gain profit or benefit. A primitive root; properly, to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable.">which profits him</a> <a href="/hebrew/1115.htm" title="1115: lə·ḇil·tî (Prep-l) -- Constructive feminine of balah; properly, a failure of, i.e. not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until, etc.">nothing?</a> </span><span class="reftext">11</span>Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/10-14.htm">Jeremiah 10:14-15</a></span><br />Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-4.htm">Psalm 115:4-8</a></span><br />Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-18.htm">Habakkuk 2:18-19</a></span><br />What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-17.htm">Jeremiah 51:17-18</a></span><br />Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them. / They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/4-28.htm">Deuteronomy 4:28</a></span><br />And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-4.htm">1 Corinthians 8:4-6</a></span><br />So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/135-15.htm">Psalm 135:15-18</a></span><br />The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-22.htm">Romans 1:22-23</a></span><br />Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-26.htm">1 Kings 18:26-29</a></span><br />And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-19.htm">1 Corinthians 10:19-20</a></span><br />Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-4.htm">Exodus 20:4-5</a></span><br />You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. / You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-29.htm">Acts 17:29</a></span><br />Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/19-18.htm">2 Kings 19:18</a></span><br />They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/9-20.htm">Revelation 9:20</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-4.htm">Hosea 8:4-6</a></span><br />They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Who has formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm">1 Kings 12:28</a></b></br> Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves <i>of</i> gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/10-5.htm">Jeremiah 10:5</a></b></br> They <i>are</i> upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also <i>is it</i> in them to do good.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/daniel/3-1.htm">Daniel 3:1,14</a></b></br> Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height <i>was</i> threescore cubits, <i>and</i> the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/41-9.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-19.htm">Casts</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-26.htm">Fashioned</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-19.htm">Fashions</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-2.htm">Formed</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-7.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Image</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/4-17.htm">Molds</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-17.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-25.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">Profit</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/10-10.htm">Profitable</a> <a href="/revelation/9-7.htm">Shapes</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/54-6.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-7.htm">Casts</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-9.htm">Fashioned</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Fashions</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-21.htm">Formed</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Graven</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Idol</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Image</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Metal</a> <a href="/1_kings/7-37.htm">Molds</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-5.htm">Molten</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-12.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-12.htm">Profit</a> <a href="/jeremiah/13-7.htm">Profitable</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-12.htm">Shapes</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 44</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-1.htm">God comforts the church with his promises</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-7.htm">The vanity of idols</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm">And folly of idol makers</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/44-21.htm">He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/isaiah/44.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Who fashions a god</b><br />The phrase "Who fashions a god" challenges the absurdity of creating a deity. The Hebrew word for "fashions" is "יָצַר" (yatsar), which means to form or shape, often used in the context of a potter shaping clay. This imagery highlights the folly of humans attempting to create a divine being, contrasting the Creator God who formed the universe. Historically, the Israelites were surrounded by cultures that crafted physical representations of their gods, yet the prophet Isaiah underscores the futility of such actions. The true God is not fashioned by human hands but is the eternal Creator.<p><b>or casts an idol</b><br />The term "casts an idol" refers to the process of making a molten image, often from metal. The Hebrew word "נָסַךְ" (nasak) means to pour out or cast, typically in a mold. This practice was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where idols were made to represent deities. Isaiah's critique is not just of the physical act but of the spiritual blindness it represents. The casting of idols is a direct violation of the first two commandments, which prohibit the making of graven images. This phrase serves as a reminder of the spiritual adultery involved in idol worship, where trust is misplaced in man-made objects rather than in the living God.<p><b>which profits him nothing</b><br />The phrase "which profits him nothing" emphasizes the futility and emptiness of idol worship. The Hebrew word "יָעַל" (ya'al) means to profit or benefit. Isaiah points out the irrationality of investing time, resources, and devotion into something that yields no real benefit. In a broader theological context, this highlights the contrast between the living God, who provides and sustains life, and lifeless idols, which offer no help or hope. Historically, the Israelites experienced the consequences of idolatry, leading to spiritual decay and eventual exile. This phrase serves as a timeless warning against placing trust in anything other than God, who alone is the source of true profit and blessing.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/44.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Who hath... molten a graven image?</span> Metal idols were mostly cast in the first instance, and then finished off with a graving-tool. "Who hath molten" means "who has been so foolish as to do so - to take so much trouble about a thing which cannot possibly profit any one?" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/44-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Who</span><br /><span class="heb">מִֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(mî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fashions</span><br /><span class="heb">יָצַ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(yā·ṣar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3335.htm">Strong's 3335: </a> </span><span class="str2">To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a god</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_410.htm">Strong's 410: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or casts</span><br /><span class="heb">נָסָ֑ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·sāḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5258.htm">Strong's 5258: </a> </span><span class="str2">To pour out, a libation, to cast, to anoint a, king</span><br /><br /><span class="word">an idol</span><br /><span class="heb">וּפֶ֣סֶל</span> <span class="translit">(ū·p̄e·sel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6459.htm">Strong's 6459: </a> </span><span class="str2">An idol, image</span><br /><br /><span class="word">which profits him</span><br /><span class="heb">הוֹעִֽיל׃</span> <span class="translit">(hō·w·‘îl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3276.htm">Strong's 3276: </a> </span><span class="str2">To confer or gain profit or benefit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">nothing?</span><br /><span class="heb">לְבִלְתִּ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḇil·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1115.htm">Strong's 1115: </a> </span><span class="str2">A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/44-10.htm">Isaiah 44:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/44-10.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 44:10 Who has fashioned a god or molds (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/44-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 44:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 44:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/44-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 44:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 44:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>