Isaiah 40:12
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?
Original Language Analysis
מִֽי
H4310
מִֽי
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 16
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
מָדַ֨ד
Who hath measured
H4058
מָדַ֨ד
Who hath measured
Strong's:
H4058
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ
in the hollow of his hand
H8168
בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ
in the hollow of his hand
Strong's:
H8168
Word #:
3 of 16
the palm; by extension, a handful
מַ֗יִם
the waters
H4325
מַ֗יִם
the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
4 of 16
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙
heaven
H8064
וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙
heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
5 of 16
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
תִּכֵּ֔ן
and meted out
H8505
תִּכֵּ֔ן
and meted out
Strong's:
H8505
Word #:
7 of 16
to balance, i.e., measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate, test)
וְכָ֥ל
and comprehended
H3557
וְכָ֥ל
and comprehended
Strong's:
H3557
Word #:
8 of 16
properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses)
בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ
in a measure
H7991
בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ
in a measure
Strong's:
H7991
Word #:
9 of 16
a triple, i.e., (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e., the highest)
עֲפַ֣ר
the dust
H6083
עֲפַ֣ר
the dust
Strong's:
H6083
Word #:
10 of 16
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
הָרִ֔ים
the mountains
H2022
הָרִ֔ים
the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
14 of 16
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
Cross References
Proverbs 30:4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?Isaiah 48:13Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.Job 28:25To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
Historical Context
Against Babylonian pride in their cosmological achievements and wisdom, Isaiah declares that Israel's God alone measured and created all things, reducing Babylon's gods to nothing.
Questions for Reflection
- How does meditating on God's measureless power affect your perspective on your current problems?
- What aspects of God's character does His role as Creator reveal about His ability to save?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This series of rhetorical questions establishes God's incomprehensibility and absolute sovereignty over creation. The specific measurements—waters in His hand, heavens by span, dust in a measure—demonstrate that all creation is finite to God, manageable by His infinite power. The Hebrew 'takan' (measured) implies precise ordering, not arbitrary action.