New Living Translation
Isaiah 40:22
22God 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.
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
20Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down! 21Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 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. 23He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. 24They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.
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 19:1This message came to me concerning Egypt: Look! The Lord is advancing against Egypt, riding on a swift cloud. The idols of Egypt tremble. The hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear.
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place?
- Psalms 2:4But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.
- Psalms 29:10The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever.
- Psalms 68:33Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens, his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
- Isaiah 40:15No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.
- Numbers 13:33We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
- Isaiah 42:5God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says,
- Isaiah 44:24This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?
- Isaiah 51:13Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone!
- Job 9:8He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.
- Job 37:18he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror. Can you do that?
- Job 38:4“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
- Psalms 102:25Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
- Psalms 104:2You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
- Jeremiah 10:12But the Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he 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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