H7577 H7577
chains, fetters (possibly ornamental chains)
This plural construct noun refers to chains, appearing in Isaiah 40:19 in a description of idol-making: the craftsman overlays the idol with gold 'and chains of silver' (or possibly 'casts silver chains for it'). The context is satirical—the prophet mocks the elaborate process of manufacturing gods. Whether these chains are ornamental decoration or structural fasteners is unclear, but they represent additional costly materials lavished on worthless idols. The silver chains ironically bind not the idol but its deluded worshipers.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Isaiah 40:19 describes idol manufacture, mentioning 'chains of silver' as part of the elaborate decoration. Spanish 'y cadenas' (and chains) preserves the connective and plural. The chains likely ornament the idol, adding silver to the gold overlay—expensive materials wasted on handmade deities. The prophet's rhetoric is devastating: such elaborate effort to create a god who can't speak, move, or save. The chains, meant to beautify, become symbols of the craftsmen's bondage to their own handiwork. 1×
AR["وَسَلَاسِلَ"]·ben["এবং-শিকল"]·DE["[ורתקות]"]·EN["and-chains"]·FR["[ורתקות]"]·heb["ו-רתוקות"]·HI["और-ज़ंजीरें"]·ID["dan-rantai-rantai"]·IT["[ורתקות]"]·jav["lan-ranté-ranté"]·KO["그리고-사슬들을"]·PT["e-correntes-de"]·RU["и-цепочки"]·ES["y-cadenas"]·SW["na-minyororo"]·TR["ve-zincirler"]·urd["اور-زنجیریں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רְתֻקָה] n.[f.] chain (?);—pl. cstr. רְתֻקוֹת כֶּסֶף Is 40:19.