English Standard Version
Isaiah 40:22
22It 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;
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.
Context of Isaiah 40:22
20He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move. 21Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 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; 23who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like 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
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 19:1An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
- Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
- Psalms 2:4He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
- Psalms 29:10The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
- Psalms 68:33to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
- Isaiah 40:15Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
- Numbers 13:33And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."
- Isaiah 42:5Thus says God, the Lord, 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 in it:
- Isaiah 44:24Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
- Isaiah 51:13and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?
- Job 9:8who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;
- Job 37:18Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?
- Job 38:4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
- Psalms 102:25Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
- Psalms 104:2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
- Jeremiah 10:12It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding 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
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Commentaries