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

20A poor person contributes wood for a pedestal that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not fall over. 21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth? God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth like a wasteland. 24They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem hardly takes root in the ground when he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind 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 19:1A pronouncement concerning Egypt: Look, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. Egypt’s worthless idols will tremble before him, and Egypt will lose heart.
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where could you possibly build a house for me? And where would my resting place be?
• Psalms 2:4The one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.
• Psalms 29:10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever.
• Psalms 68:33to him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens. Look, he thunders with his powerful voice!
• Isaiah 40:15Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust on the scales; he lifts up the islands like fine dust.
• Numbers 13:33We even saw the Nephilim there — the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”
• Isaiah 42:5This is what God, the Lord, says — who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it —
• Isaiah 44:24This is what the Lord, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am the Lord, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by myself; who alone spread out the earth;
• Isaiah 51:13But you have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You are in constant dread all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, who has set himself to destroy. But where is the fury of the oppressor?
• Job 9:8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
• Job 37:18can you help God spread out the skies as hard as a cast metal mirror?
• Job 38:4Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
• Psalms 102:25Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
• Psalms 104:2He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy,
• Jeremiah 10:12He made the earth by his power, established the world by his wisdom, and spread out the heavens by his understanding.

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