Isaiah 44:12 - Exposition

The smith with the tongs . The Hebrew text is defective, some word having fallen out. We should probably supply "maketh," and translate, The smith maketh an axe , and worketh it in the coals , and with hammers fashioneth it. The description of image-making thus commences with the fashioning of the carpenter's tools. He is hungry , etc. The artificer who takes the first step in "forming a god" ( Isaiah 44:10 ) is himself hungry and thirsty, depending on so mean a thing as food to supply him with the needful strength. Unless he can cat and drink, the whole work is brought to a standstill.