This verse describes the way in which the image of a god depends entirely on its worshipers for everything and can never respond to the worshipers’ needs. The comparison with Yahweh, begun in verse 5 and initially made with people who make images in verse 6, now extends to the images themselves.

They lift it upon their shoulders, they carry it means idols worshipers pick up the idol and carry it to where they want to set it in place. This line could also refer to carrying the image in a procession. The pronoun it points back to the idol mentioned in the previous verse. The Hebrew verbs rendered lift and carry are the same verbs that occur in verse 4, where they are translated “bear” and “carry” respectively. Verse 4 uses these verbs in a figurative way to say the LORD will support his people, but here they are used literally to refer to idol worshipers physically carrying their idol. They carry the idol on their shoulders. Cultures differ in how people carry heavy objects. Some carry them on their heads, and others on their backs, but not necessarily on their shoulders. If the idea of shoulders causes misunderstanding in a translation, this line may be rendered in a general way by saying “They lift it up and carry it off.”

They set it in its place, and it stands there is literally “they cause it to rest/remain in its place and it stands,” which means that once the worshipers place the idol in a certain location, it remains there without moving (compare 40.20; 41.7). It cannot move from its place emphasizes this.

Revised English Bible has the following helpful model for the first three lines of this verse: “they hoist it shoulder-high and carry it and set it down on its place; there it must stand, it cannot stir from the spot.”

If one cries to it, it does not answer: Not only can the idol not move, it cannot respond in any manner. The verb cries means to cry out for help in this context, as in 19.20 (see the comments there). Both Bible en français courant and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch render If one cries to it as “When someone calls to it for help.” It may also be translated “When someone prays to it” (similarly Good News Translation). It does not answer means the idol cannot respond verbally or in any other way to the call for help (compare 30.19; 41.17).

Not only is the idol unable to respond to the person calling for help, it also cannot save him from his trouble. The Hebrew verb rendered save is different from the one used in verses 2 and 4, but it has the same meaning of rescue here. An alternative model for this line and the previous one is “If people pray to it, it cannot respond or save them from trouble.”

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• They lift it onto their shoulders and carry it;
they put it in place and it stays put.
It cannot move from its location;
If someone pleads to it for help,
it does not respond or rescue him from trouble.

• They put it on their shoulders and carry it,
putting it in a place where it remains;
it cannot move from that spot.
If people ask for its help,
the idol cannot respond or save them from trouble.

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 .