Isaiah 40:13

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?"

Key Reflection

In Isaiah 40:13, God challenges any who might question His power by asking who could measure the waters of the sea in their hands, span the vastness of the sky, count every grain of dust, weigh towering mountains, and balance rolling hills. This rhetorical question highlights God’s omnipotence, a concept that would have resonated with Israelites familiar with the limited scientific understanding of their time, emphasizing His unmatched ability to control and measure the universe's most immense and minuscule elements.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Who hath directed -This passage is quoted by Paul inRomans 11:34, and referred to by him in1 Corinthians 2:16. The word rendered ‘directed’ here (תכןtikēn) is the same which is used in the previous verse, ‘and meted out heaven.’ The idea here is, ‘Who has fitted, or disposed the mind or spirit of Yahweh? What superior being has ordered, instructed, or disposed his understanding? Who has qualified him for the exercise of his wisdom, or for the formation and execution of his plans?’ The sense is, God is supreme. No one has instructed or guided him, but his plans are his own, and have all been formed by himself alone.

More from Isaiah 40

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion