Isaiah 40:25

Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Ver. 25. To whom then will ye liken me?] See Isa 40:18-19.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Isa 40:25-26. To whom then will ye liken me — He repeats what he said Isa 40:18, that he might oblige them to the more serious and frequent consideration of the absurdity of idolatry. Lift up your eyes on high — To the high and starry heaven, as appears from the following words. Who created these things — Which you see on high? The host of heaven, as it follows. That bringeth out their host — That at first brought them out of nothing, and from day to day brings them forth, making them to rise and set in their appointed times; by number — As a general brings forth his army into the field, and there musters them. He calleth them all by names — As a master calleth all the members of his family. For that he is strong — Which work is a certain and evident proof of God’s infinite power; not one faileth — Either to appear when he calls them, or to do the work to which he sends them.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

40:25 The Holy One is a shortened form of “the Holy One of Israel,” a common designation for God in Isaiah (see also 10:17; 43:15; Ps 22:3).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Isa 40:18).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

25. To whom then] Exactly as in Isa_40:18, and following a similar idea.

or shall I be equal?] Or, as R.V., “that I should be equal to him?”

the Holy One] Qâdôsh, without the art., almost like a proper name. So Job_6:10; Hab_3:3, and perhaps Psa_22:3.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal, saith the Holy One? Or be upon a level with? since the greatest of men on earth are brought to nothing by him, and are no more: this is repeated from Isa 40:18 and supported with fresh strength of argument, to show that there is nothing whatever, that is a fit likeness and similitude, by which to represent the Lord.

and supported with fresh strength of argument, to show that there is nothing whatever, that is a fit likeness and similitude, by which to represent the Lord.

Isaiah 40:26

isa 40:26

isa 40:26

isa 40:26Lift up your eyes on high,.... From the earth, and the inhabitants of it, even those of the greatest power and influence in it, to the heavens above, those that are visible to the eye:

and behold who hath created these things; that are seen in the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars; consider the Creator of them, what a glorious Being he must be; what power he must be possessed of; what dazzling light he must dwell in; what glory and majesty he must be clothed with; and how infinitely transcending all mortal creatures he must be:

that bringeth out their host by number; not only into being, at the first creation of them, but at every proper season; causing the sun to rise every morning, the stars to appear at night, and the moon in its revolution; as a general brings forth his army, marshals it in order, musters it, and takes the number of his soldiers:

he calleth them all by names; suitable to their position and influence; he knows the proper names of them all, which no astrologer can pretend unto; and this is such knowledge as no general of an army has; for though the stars are innumerable to men, the names of most unknown, they are all known to him that made them, Psa 147:4,

by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power not one faileth; through the omnipotence of God, not only the sun and moon, the great luminaries, are continued in being, and constantly observe their order; but even every star keeps its place, or performs its course, and retains its influence, and in every instance obeys the commands of its Creator; never fails of appearing at his order, and of doing what he appoints it should. Kimchi gives the sense thus, that according to the virtue and efficacy that there is in every star, so is its name; and because of the strength and power that is in everyone of them, they remain unchangeably and unalterably the same as when they were first created; which not only holds true of the sun and moon, but of the stars lesser and greater. The Targum is,

"because of the multitude of strength, and the power of might, not one is hindered from its order;''

wherefore, as there is no likeness on earth, so none in heaven, with which the Lord is to be likened, or to which he can be equalled. This may respect not the might and power of the Lord, in supporting and maintaining these creatures in their being and usefulness; but the strength and power of the mightiest creatures, to hinder their influence and service: for the words may be rendered, "through the multitude of strength", or anyone being "strong in power, not one indeed fails (d)"; or is wanting, that is, through the strength or power of the mightiest creatures, angels or men, the hosts of heaven cannot be stopped in their course, or hindered in their work appointed to do, or be deprived of their being.

(d) "prae multitudine virium, et robore virtutis, ut ne unum quidem deesset", Tigurine version.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

To whom then will ye liken me? - (See Isa 40:18) The prophet having thus set forth the majesty and glory of God, asks now with great emphasis, what could be an adequate and proper representation of such a God. And if God was such a Being, how great was the folly of idolatry, and how vain all their confidence in the gods which their own hands had made.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

He repeateth what he said Isa 40:18, that he might oblige them to the more serious and frequent consideration of the absurdity of the idolatry.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

25, 26. To whom… shall I be equal — As compared with miserable idols? The prophet calls for answer. To whom, of all they know, will they now compare the great Jehovah?

Saith the Holy One — A new epithet, perhaps a new attribute, occurs here. Holiness also exalts Jehovah. Job_15:18. He bids them look into starry space, and challenges creator-ship above his own. There is no reply to that challenge from idol worshippers. No one who, besides creating, can know, command, and dispose of all things, is able to be brought forth as competitor with Jehovah. And this Almighty One is likewise the Holy One, the Holy One of Israel. Inference: Let no half-doubter, then, among exiles in Babylon, fear the ability and willingness of such a God to convey and restore his people to Zion.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To whom then, etc.? This is a summary, to conclude the section (vers. 19-24), as ver. 18 concludes the preceding one. If God is paramount over idols (vers. 19, 20) and over nature (ver. 22) and over humanity (vers. 23, 24), to whom can he be likened? Is he not altogether unique and incomparable? Saith the Holy One. (comp. Isa_57:15) Isaiah"s special designation of God, at once pregnant and almost peculiar (see the comment on Isa_1:4), is "the Holy One of Israel." This is, here and Isa_57:15, abbreviated.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The thought of Isa 40:18 now recurs like a refrain, a conclusion being appended to the premises by means of ו, as was the case there. "And to whom will ye compare me, to whom I can be equal? saith the Holy One." Not haqqâdōsh, because a poetical or oratorical style omits the article wherever it can be dispensed with. The Holy One asks this, and can ask it, because as such He is also exalted above the whole world (Job 15:15; Job 25:5).

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

“And (now) to whom will ye liken me, and (to whom) shall I be equal? saith the holy One.” He winds up His argument by coming back to the triumphant challenge of v. 18.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

To whom then will you compare me, whom do I resemble?

Yahweh uses two similar rhetorical questions to emphasize that there is no one like him. AT: "There is no one to whom you can compare me. There is no one whom I resemble." (See: Rhetorical Question and Parallelism)

Who has created all these stars?

This is a leading question that anticipates the answer, Yahweh. AT: "Yahweh has created all these stars!" (See: Rhetorical Question)

He leads out their formations

Here the word "formations" refers to military formations. The prophet speaks of the stars as if they were soldiers whom Yahweh commands to appear. (See: Metaphor)

By the greatness of his might and by the strength of his power

The phrases "the greatness of his might" and "the strength of his power" form a doublet that emphasizes Yahweh's power. AT: "By his great might and powerful strength" (See: Doublet)

not one is missing

This negative statement emphasizes the positive. AT: "every one is present" (See: Litotes)

translationWords

Holy One

heaven

create

call

name

might

power

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

To whom then will you liken me, etc. The prophet addresses the idolatrous people, saying, Are there men more honoured by you than princes and judges? and yet you see that God destroys them in a moment.

ואשוה That I be equal to him.

The holy. God is too holy to be compared with one of His creatures, much less with the products of His creatures.

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.