Isaiah 40:19

melteth a graven image R.V. The graven image, a workman melted it. The word péṣelmeans strictly a "graven image," but is used several times as here of an image in general.

overlayeth it with gold The idol consists of a core of brass which is cast by the "workman," and then handed over to the goldsmith to be covered with a plating of gold (see ch. Isaiah 30:22).

and casteth silver chains A perplexing clause, which the LXX. omits. The word rendered "casteth" is the same as that for "goldsmith" (strictly "assayer"), the participle being translated by a finite verb. But such a construction is incorrect: and besides the verbis never used except in the sense of "test" or "purify." It is only when the partic. has become a noun that it assumes the general sense of worker in metal. Hence Dillmann proposes to render "and with silver chains a smelter (sc. covers it)." But this is exceedingly harsh. The word for "chains" is also of doubtful meaning, and altogether the clause must be pronounced hopelessly obscure.