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 may choose special wood for his idol. He chooses wood that will not quickly become spoiled. Then he finds a worker to make an idol for him. He makes it so that it will not fall over! 21You must surely know what is true! You must have heard about it. Somebody must have told you these things from the beginning. You should have understood it all since the time that God made the earth. God sits high above on his throne where the earth and the sky meet. The people on the earth seem like grasshoppers to him. He hangs out the sky like a curtain. He makes it like a tent for him to live in. 23He takes away the power of kings. He causes the rulers of the world to be useless. 24They are like plants that soon disappear. Somebody plants them in the ground. But while their roots are still growing into the soil, God blows on them and they become dry. Then the wind carries them away like straw.

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 19:1This is a message about Egypt. Look! The Lord is coming to Egypt! He is riding quickly on a cloud and he will soon arrive! The idols of Egypt will shake with fear when he comes. All the people in Egypt will be very afraid.
• Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is my throne. The earth is the place where I put my feet. So you could not build a house for me to live in. Where would I lie down to rest?
• Psalms 2:4The Lord who sits on his throne in heaven laughs at them. He says that their plans are useless.
• Psalms 29:10The Lord rules as king over the deep waters. The Lord will be king for ever.
• Psalms 68:33He is the one who rides in the sky, as he has done from the beginning of time. Listen! He shouts with a powerful voice.
• Isaiah 40:15The Lord looks at the nations as if they are a little bit of water in a bucket. They are like dust on his scales. He weighs the islands as he would weigh dust.
• Numbers 13:33We also saw descendants of the Nephilites there. And we felt like very small insects when we looked at them. And we seemed like very small insects to them too.’ (The descendants of Anak are also descendants of the Nephilites.)
• Isaiah 42:5The Lord is God. He is the God who created the sky. He hung it up like a curtain. He created the earth and everything that lives on it. He gives life and breath to all the people who live on it. The Lord says to his servant:
• Isaiah 44:24The Lord is your Redeemer. He took care of you before you were born. He says, ‘I am the Lord. I made everything. I alone hung up the sky like a curtain. I made the whole earth by myself.
• Isaiah 51:13Do not forget about the Lord who made you! I hung up the sky like a curtain. I made the foundation of the earth. So why are you always shaking with fear? Do not be afraid when your enemy is angry, and he is ready to attack you. Your enemy's anger is useless!
• Job 9:8God alone put the whole sky in its place. He marches over the waves of the sea.
• Job 37:18God puts the clouds across the whole sky, like a metal mirror that shines brightly. Can you also do that? No!
• Job 38:4Were you with me when I made the world? If you think you are so clever, tell me all about it!
• Psalms 102:25Long ago, you built the world on a strong foundation. You created the heavens with your own hands.
• Psalms 104:2Light is all round you, like the clothes that you wear. You have put the skies as a roof over the earth.
• Jeremiah 10:12But the Lord used his power to make the earth. He used his wisdom to make it strong. He knew how to put the sky to cover the earth.

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