Isaiah 40:12-14
New English Translation
The Lord is Incomparable
12 Who has measured out the waters[a] in the hollow of his hand,
or carefully[b] measured the sky,[c]
or carefully weighed[d] the soil of the earth,
or weighed the mountains in a balance,
or the hills on scales?[e]
13 Who comprehends[f] the mind[g] of the Lord,
or gives him instruction as his counselor?[h]
14 From whom does he receive directions?[i]
Who[j] teaches him the correct way to do things,[k]
or imparts knowledge to him,
or instructs him in skillful design?[l]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:12 tn The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has מי ים (“waters of the sea”), a reading followed by NAB.
- Isaiah 40:12 tn Heb “with a span.” A “span” was the distance between the ends of the thumb and the little finger of the spread hand” (BDB 285 s.v. זֶרֶת).
- Isaiah 40:12 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Isaiah 40:12 tn Heb “or weighed by a third part [of a measure].”
- Isaiah 40:12 sn The implied answer to the rhetorical questions of v. 12 is, “No one but the Lord.” The Lord, and no other, created the world. Like a merchant weighing out silver or commodities on a scale, the Lord established the various components of the physical universe in precise proportions.
- Isaiah 40:13 tn Perhaps the verb is used metonymically here in the sense of “advises” (note the following line).
- Isaiah 40:13 tn In this context רוּחַ (ruakh) likely refers to the Lord’s “mind,” or mental faculties, rather than his personal Spirit (see BDB 925 s.v. 6).
- Isaiah 40:13 tn Heb “or [as] the man of his counsel causes him to know?”
- Isaiah 40:14 tn Heb “With whom did he consult, so that he gave discernment to him?”
- Isaiah 40:14 tn Heb “and taught him.” The vav (ו) consecutive with prefixed verbal form continues the previous line. The translation employs an interrogative pronoun for stylistic reasons.
- Isaiah 40:14 tn The phrase אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט (ʾorakh mishpat) could be translated “path of justice” (so NASB, NRSV), but in this context, where creative ability and skill is in view, the phrase is better understood in the sense of “the way that is proper or fitting” (see BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 6); cf. NIV, NCV “the right way.”
- Isaiah 40:14 tn Heb “or the way of understanding causes him to know?”sn The implied answer to the rhetorical questions in vv. 13-14 is, “No one.” In contrast to Marduk, the creator-god of Mesopotamian myths who receives help from the god of wisdom, the Lord neither needs nor receives any such advice or help. See R. Whybray, Heavenly Counsellor (SOTSMS), 64-77.
Isaiah 40:12-14
International Standard Version
Who is Like the Lord?
12 “Who has measured the waters of the sea[a]
in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens
by the width of his hand?[b]
Who has enclosed the dust of the earth
in a measuring bowl,
or weighed the mountains
in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has fathomed the Spirit of the Lord,
or as his counselor has taught him?[c]
14 With whom did he consult
to enlighten and instruct him on the path of justice?
Or who taught him knowledge
and showed him the way of wisdom?
Footnotes
- Isaiah 40:12 Lit. from
- Isaiah 40:12 So 1QIsaa Syr; MT LXX read by a hand’s width
- Isaiah 40:13 I.e. the Spirit; so 1QIsaa; MT reads the Lord
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