New International Version
Isaiah 40:12
12Who 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?
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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
Context of Isaiah 40:12
10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, 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 those that have young. 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? 13Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? 14Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Who hath measuredמָדַדmâdad · to measureH4058
- the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- in the hollow of his handשֹׁ֫עַלshô‛al · handfulH8168
- and meted outתָּכַןtâkan · to measureH8505
- heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- with the spanזֶ֫רֶתzereth · spanH2239
- and comprehendedכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
- the dustעָפָר‛âphâr · dustH6083
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- in a measureשָׁלִישׁshâlîysh shâlôsh shâlôsh · thirdH7991
- and weighedשָׁקַלshâqal · to weighH8254
- the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- in scalesפֶּ֫לֶסpeles · balanceH6425
- and the hillsגִּבְעָהgib‛âh · hillH1389
- in a balanceמֹאזֵןmô'zên · balanceH3976
Cross-references for Isaiah 40:12
- Isaiah 48:13My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.
- Job 11:7“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
- Psalms 102:25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
- Psalms 104:2The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
- Proverbs 8:26before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.
- Proverbs 30:4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a 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 1:10He also says, “In the beginning, 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 him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
- Job 28:25When he established the force 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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