American Standard Version
Isaiah 40:22
22It is he that sitteth above 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;
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 that is too impoverished for such an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved. 21Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth above 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; 23that bringeth princes to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 24Yea, they have not been planted; yea, they have not been sown; yea, their stock hath not taken root in the earth: moreover he bloweth upon them, and they wither, and the whirlwind taketh them away as stubble.
Read all of Isaiah 40Isaiah 40:22 word by word
הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ עַל־ח֣וּג הָאָ֔רֶץ וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה כַדֹּק֙ שָׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם כָּאֹ֖הֶל לָשָֽׁבֶת׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Isaiah 40:22
- Isaiah 19:1The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.
- Isaiah 66:1Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?
- Psalms 2:4He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.
- Psalms 29:10Jehovah satas Kingat the Flood; Yea, Jehovah sitteth as King for ever.
- Psalms 68:33To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.
- Isaiah 40:15Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are accounted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
- Numbers 13:33And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
- Isaiah 42:5Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
- Isaiah 44:24Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?);
- Isaiah 51:13and hast forgotten Jehovah thy Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and fearest continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he maketh ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
- Job 9:8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
- Job 37:18Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?
- Job 38:4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
- Psalms 102:25Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
- Psalms 104:2Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;
- Jeremiah 10:12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he 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
In the dictionaries
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries