Isaiah 40:22

Isaiah 40:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
• New International Version (NIV)He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
• English Standard Version (ESV)It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
• New King James Version (NKJV)It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

Context of Isaiah 40:22

20He who is too impoverished for such an offering [to give to his god] Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To [carve and] set up an idol that will not totter. 21Do you [who worship idols] not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth [the omnipotence of God and the stupidity of bowing to idols]? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; [It is He] who stretches out the heavens like a veil And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23It is He who reduces dignitaries to nothing, Who makes the judges (rulers) of the earth meaningless (useless). 24Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And a strong wind carries them away like stubble.

Isaiah 40:22 word by word

הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• he that sittethיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• upon the circleחוּגchûg · circleH2329
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• as grasshoppersחָגָבchâgâb · locustH2284
• that stretcheth outנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• the heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
• as a curtainדֹּקdôq · curtainH1852
• and spreadeth them outמָתַחmâthach · to spreadH4969
• as a tentאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168

Cross-references for Isaiah 40:22

• Isaiah 19:1The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Egypt: Listen carefully, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where, then, is a house that you could build for Me? And where will My resting place be?
• Psalms 2:4He who sits [enthroned] in the heavens laughs [at their rebellion]; The [Sovereign] Lord scoffs at them [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].
• Psalms 29:10The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
• Psalms 68:33To Him who rides in the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, Behold, He sends out His voice, a mighty and majestic voice.
• Isaiah 40:15In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
• Numbers 13:33There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
• Isaiah 42:5This is what God the Lord says, He who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its produce, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk on it,
• Isaiah 44:24For the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says this, “I am the Lord, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself,
• Isaiah 51:13That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you continually tremble with fear all day long because of the rage of the oppressor, As he takes aim to destroy? And where is the rage of the oppressor?
• Job 9:8Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;
• Job 37:18Can you, with Him, spread out the sky, Strong as a molten mirror?
• Job 38:4Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you know and have understanding.
• Psalms 102:25At the beginning You founded the earth; The heavens are the work of Your hands.
• Psalms 104:2[You are the One] who covers Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a tent curtain,
• Jeremiah 10:12God made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom And by His understanding and skill He has stretched out the heavens.

Commentaries on Isaiah 40:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22As a curtain "As a thin veil" - "It is usual in the summer season, and upon all occasions when a large company is to be received, to have the court sheltered from heat or inclemency of the weather by a velum, umbrella, or veil, as I shall call it; which being expanded on ropes from one side of the parapet wall to the other, may be folded or unfolded at pleasure. The psalmist seems to allude to some covering of this kind in that beautiful expression of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22It is he that sitteth - Margin, Him that sitteth,‘ that is, have you not known him? The Hebrew literally means the sitter, or he sitting on the circle of the each;‘ and it may be connected either with Isaiah 40:21, Have ye not known him sitting on the circle of the earth?‘ or with Isaiah 40:18, What likeness will ye compare to him that sitteth on the circle of the earth?‘ In either case the phrase is designed to show the majesty and glory of God. The word…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-26Verses 18-26 Whatever we esteem or love, fear or hope in, more than God, that creature we make equal with God, though we do not make images or worship them. He that is so poor, that he has scarcely a sacrifice to offer, yet will not be without a god of his own. They spared no cost upon their idols; we grudge what is spent in the service of our God. To prove the greatness of God, the prophet appeals to all ages and nations. Those who are ignorant of this…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22God rules as king over the entire earth (see Isaiah 6:1; Psalms 2:4; 80:1; 99:1; 102:12; 113:5). God is so vast and powerful that humans seem like grasshoppers in comparison. Believing in God as the creator of the heavens and earth opposes the common Babylonian and Egyptian belief that the sun, moon, and stars are gods. like a curtain...a tent: See also Psalm 104:2.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. It is he--rather, connected with last verse, "Have ye not known?"--have ye not understood Him that sitteth ...? (Is 40:26) [Maurer]. circle--applicable to the globular form of the earth, above which, and the vault of sky around it, He sits. For "upon" translate "above." as grasshoppers--or locusts in His sight (Nu 13:33), as He looks down from on high (Psa 33:13, 14; 113:4-6). curtain--referring to the awning which the Orientals draw over the open…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 40:22

• Astronomy
• Curtains
• Earth
• God Continued...
• Grasshopper
• Heaven
• Idolatry
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Carry
• Cry
• Curtain
• Feed
• Grasshopper
• Renew
• Astronomy
• Circle
• Isaiah

Commentaries on Isaiah 40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings