Berean Standard Bible
Isaiah 40:12
12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?
Isaiah 40:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
- New International Version (NIV)Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance?
Context of Isaiah 40:12
10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. 11He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? 14Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?
Read all of Isaiah 40Isaiah 40:12 word by word
מִֽי־מָדַ֨ד בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ מַ֗יִם וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ בַּזֶּ֣רֶת תִּכֵּ֔ן וְכָ֥ל בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְשָׁקַ֤ל בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ הָרִ֔ים וּגְבָע֖וֹת בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
- Whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
- has measuredמָדַדmâdad · to measureH4058
- the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- in the hollow of his handשֹׁ֫עַלshô‛al · handfulH8168
- or marked offתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
- the heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- with the span of his handזֶ֫רֶתzereth · spanH2239
- Who has heldכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
- the dustעָפָר‛âphâr · dustH6083
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- in a basketשָׁלִישׁshâlîysh shâlôsh shâlôsh · thirdH7991
- or weighedשָׁקַלshâqal · to weighH8254
- the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- on a scaleפֶּ֫לֶסpeles · balanceH6425
- and the hillsגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · hillH1389
- with a balanceמֹאזֵןmô'zên · balanceH3976
Cross-references for Isaiah 40:12
- Isaiah 48:13Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.
- Job 11:7Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
- Psalms 102:25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
- Psalms 104:2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
- Proverbs 8:26before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
- Proverbs 30:4Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know!
- Hebrews 1:10And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
- Revelation 20:11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
- Job 28:25When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,
Commentaries on Isaiah 40:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Who hath measured - The object in this and the following verses to Isaiah 40:26, is to show the greatness, power, and majesty of God, by strong contrast with his creatures, and more especially with idols. Perhaps the prophet designed to meet and answer an implied objection: that the work of deliverance was so great that it could not be accomplished. The answer was, that God had made all things; that he was infinitely great; that he had entire control over…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 All created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with the Creator. When the Lord, by his Spirit, made the world, none directed his Spirit, or gave advice what to do, or how to do it. The nations, in comparison of him, are as a drop which remains in the bucket, compared with the vast ocean; or as the small dust in the balance, which does not turn it, compared with all the earth. This magnifies God's love to the world, that, though it is of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-13These rhetorical questions suggest the answer, “No one!” God alone created everything. He will judge creation (Isaiah 24:17), and only he can and will restore it through his salvation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Lest the Jews should suppose that He who was just before described as a "shepherd" is a mere man, He is now described as God. Who--Who else but God could do so? Therefore, though the redemption and restoration of His people, foretold here, was a work beyond man's power, they should not doubt its fulfilment since all things are possible to Him who can accurately regulate the proportion of the waters as if He had measured them with His hand (compare Is…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 40:12
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
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