| Geneva Study Bible He that is so {x} impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh for himself a skilful workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. (x) He shows the rage of the idolaters, seeing that the poor who do not have enough to meet their own needs will defraud themselves to serve their idols. Wesley's Notes 40:20 He - That can hardly procure money to buy a sacrifice. Chuseth - He is so mad upon his idols, that he will find money to procure the choicest materials, and the best artist to make his idol. An image - Which after all this cost, cannot stir one step out of its place to give you any help. King James Translators' Notes is so...: Heb. is poor of oblation Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 20. impoverished-literally, "sunk" in circumstances. no oblation-he who cannot afford to overlay his idol with gold and silver (Isa 40:19). tree . not rot-the cedar, cypress, oak, or ash (Isa 44:14). graven-of wood; not a molten one of metal. not be moved-that shall be durable. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 40:18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make images or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely a sacrifice to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own. They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all ages and nations. Those who are ignorant of this, are willingly ignorant. God has the command of all creatures, and of all created things. The prophet directs us to use our reason as well as our senses; to consider who created the hosts of heaven, and to pay our homage to Him. Not one fails to fulfil his will. And let us not forget, that He spake all the promises, and engaged to perform them. | 
