Isaiah 40:22

Authorized King James Version

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:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
It is he that sitteth
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#2
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#3
ח֣וּג
upon the circle
a circle
#4
הָאָ֔רֶץ
of the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#5
לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
It is he that sitteth
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#6
כַּחֲגָבִ֑ים
thereof are as grasshoppers
a locust
#7
הַנּוֹטֶ֤ה
that stretcheth out
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
#8
כַדֹּק֙
as a curtain
something crumbling, i.e., fine (as a thin cloth)
#9
שָׁמַ֔יִם
the heavens
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
#10
וַיִּמְתָּחֵ֥ם
and spreadeth them out
to stretch out
#11
כָּאֹ֖הֶל
as a tent
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
#12
לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
It is he that sitteth
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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