In verses 15-17 the prophet uses sarcasm to describe how the same piece of timber may be used for making an idol or for fuel. This shows how foolish it is to worship idols. They are man-made, so they cannot save people. There is a lot of repetition in these verses for emphasis.

Revised Standard Version renders the common Hebrew connector (literally “And”) at the beginning of this verse as Then. It introduces the next event in the flashback started in the previous verse.

It becomes fuel for a man is literally “it is for a person for burning,” which means wood primarily provides fuel for a fire. Languages may not have a general word for fuel. If so, Bible en français courant provides a useful model for this clause, saying “That wood will serve people to light a fire.”

He takes a part of it and warms himself: Some of the wood is used as firewood for keeping warm when it is cold. These clauses may be rendered “With part of the wood he makes a fire to warm himself” (similarly Bible en français courant).

He kindles a fire and bakes bread: These clauses begin with the Hebrew conjunction ʾap (meaning “also”) to introduce something else the person does with the wood. He also takes some of the wood to make a fire on which he can cook. The Hebrew word for bread can refer specifically to bread or broadly to food. If translators follow the broader sense here, these clauses may be rendered “he also makes a fire with it to do his cooking.”

Also he makes a god and worships it: Also renders the Hebrew conjunction ʾap. It introduces another use of the wood. The person also uses it to make an idol. The prophet probably mentions this last to suggest that making images is a secondary use of wood. It is primarily used for keeping warm and cooking. The prophet is mocking idol makers and worshipers by mentioning idol making last. The Hebrew word for god is the generic term ʾel. As in verse 10, it refers to an idol of a god here. The Hebrew verb translated worships refers to bowing down before something or someone as an act of worship (see the comments on 2.8, where it is rendered “bow down”). These clauses may be rendered “Also, [with the same wood] he makes the statue of a god [or, makes an image] and worships it [or, bows down to it].”

He makes it a graven image and falls down before it: These two clauses are parallel to the previous two. The Hebrew word rendered graven image is the same one translated “idols” in verse 9 and “image” in verse 10. Here it refers to a wooden idol. New Revised Standard Version says “carved image.” It may be rendered simply “image” or “idol.” Like the Hebrew verb for worships, the verb rendered falls down also refers to bowing down before something or someone as an act of worship. It is ironic that the carver fashions a god himself and then starts worshiping it.

Good News Translation rearranges the contents of verse 15. It states first the underlying thought of verses 15-17: the same wood is used for fuel and for making an idol. This statement is then expanded in the remainder of verse 15 and in verses 16-17. This approach may be a useful option for translators to assure a logical presentation of the contents of these verses, and also to allow their readers to catch a glimpse of the sarcasm underlying the prophet’s comments.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• People then use it for fuel. They take some of it to make a fire to keep themselves warm and to bake bread. They also use some to make an idol to worship, they make a carved image to bow down before it.

• A person then uses it to make a fire. He takes some of it for the fire to keep warm and to make bread. He also uses some for making a god to worship, he makes an image to fall down before it.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .