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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/40-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/23_Isa_40_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 40:12 - Here is Your God!" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? 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Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? <a href="/nlt/isaiah/40.htm">New Living Translation</a> Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? <a href="/esv/isaiah/40.htm">English Standard Version</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? <a href="/bsb/isaiah/40.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? <a href="/kjv/isaiah/40.htm">King James Bible</a> 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? <a href="/nkjv/isaiah/40.htm">New King James Version</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance? <a href="/nasb_/isaiah/40.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And measured the heavens with a span, And calculated the dust of the earth with a measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? <a href="/nasb/isaiah/40.htm">NASB 1995</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? <a href="/nasb77/isaiah/40.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance, And the hills in a pair of scales? <a href="/lsb/isaiah/40.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And encompassed the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? <a href="/amp/isaiah/40.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens with a span [of the hand], And calculated the dust of the earth with a measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? <a href="/csb/isaiah/40.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains on a balance and the hills on the scales? <a href="/hcsb/isaiah/40.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in the scales? <a href="/asv/isaiah/40.htm">American Standard Version</a> 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? <a href="/cev/isaiah/40.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Did any of you measure the ocean by yourself or stretch out the sky with your own hands? Did you put the soil of the earth in a bucket or weigh the hills and mountains on balance scales? <a href="/erv/isaiah/40.htm">English Revised Version</a> 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? <a href="/gwt/isaiah/40.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Who has measured the water of the sea with the palm of his hand or measured the sky with the length of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a bushel basket or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills on a balance? <a href="/gnt/isaiah/40.htm">Good News Translation</a> Can anyone measure the ocean by handfuls or measure the sky with his hands? Can anyone hold the soil of the earth in a cup or weigh the mountains and hills on scales? <a href="/isv/isaiah/40.htm">International Standard Version</a> "Who has measured the waters of the sea in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the width of his hand? Who has enclosed the dust of the earth in a measuring bowl, or weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? <a href="/msb/isaiah/40.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? <a href="/net/isaiah/40.htm">NET Bible</a> Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales? <a href="/nheb/isaiah/40.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? <a href="/wbt/isaiah/40.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and measured 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? <a href="/web/isaiah/40.htm">World English Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/isaiah/40.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, "" And has meted out the heavens by a span, "" And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, "" And has weighed the mountains in scales, "" And the hills in a balance? <a href="/ylt/isaiah/40.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Who hath measured in the hollow of his hand the waters? And the heavens by a span hath meted out, And comprehended in a measure the dust of the earth, And hath weighed in scales the mountains, And the hills in a balance? <a href="/slt/isaiah/40.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Who measured the water in his palm, and measured the heavens with a span, and held the dust of the earth in a third, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the bills in scales?<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/isaiah/40.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and weighed the heavens with his palm? who hath poised with three fingers the bulk of the earth, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? <a href="/cpdv/isaiah/40.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and who has weighed the heavens with his palm? Who has suspended the mass of the earth with three fingers, and who has weighed the mountains on a balance and the hills on a scale? <a href="/nabre/isaiah/40.htm">New American Bible</a> Who has measured with his palm the waters, marked off the heavens with a span, held in his fingers the dust of the earth, weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? <a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/40.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/40.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and meted out heaven with a span and gathered the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? <a href="/hpbt/isaiah/40.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and he measured Heaven with a hand’s breadth and measured the dust of the Earth in the palm of his hand, and weighed the mountains in a scale and the hills in a balance<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/isaiah/40.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> 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? <a href="/sep/isaiah/40.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Who has measured the water in his hand, and the heaven with a span, and all the earth in a handful? Who has weighed the mountains in scales, and the forests in a balance? <a href="/parallel/isaiah/40-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=8561" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/isaiah/40.htm">Here is Your God!</a> …11He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. 12<a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî- (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/4058.htm" title="4058: mā·ḏaḏ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To measure. A primitive root: properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure; figuratively, to be extended.">has measured</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: ma·yim (N-mp) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">the waters</a> <a href="/hebrew/8168.htm" title="8168: bə·šā·‘o·lōw (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Hollow hand, handful. From an unused root meaning to hollow out; the palm; by extension, a handful.">in the hollow of his hand,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8505.htm" title="8505: tik·kên (V-Piel-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to balance, i.e. Measure out; figuratively, arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling.">or marked off</a> <a href="/hebrew/8064.htm" title="8064: wə·šā·ma·yim (Conj-w:: N-mp) -- Heaven, sky. Dual of an unused singular shameh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky.">the heavens</a> <a href="/hebrew/2239.htm" title="2239: baz·ze·reṯ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- A span. From zarah; the spread of the fingers, i.e. A span.">with the span of his hand?</a> <a href="/hebrew/3557.htm" title="3557: wə·ḵāl (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To comprehend, contain. A primitive root; properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain.">Who has held</a> <a href="/hebrew/6083.htm" title="6083: ‘ă·p̄ar (N-msc) -- Dry earth, dust. From aphar; dust; hence, clay, earth, mud.">the dust</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/7991.htm" title="7991: baš·šā·liš (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Or shalowsh; or shalosh; from shalowsh; a triple, i.e. a triangle; also a three-fold measure; also a general of the third rank.">in a basket,</a> <a href="/hebrew/8254.htm" title="8254: wə·šā·qal (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To weigh. A primitive root; to suspend or poise.">or weighed</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·rîm (N-mp) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">the mountains</a> <a href="/hebrew/6425.htm" title="6425: bap·pe·les (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A balance, scale. From palac; a balance.">on a scale</a> <a href="/hebrew/1389.htm" title="1389: ū·ḡə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- A hill. Feminine from the same as Geba'; a hillock.">and the hills</a> <a href="/hebrew/3976.htm" title="3976: bə·mō·zə·nā·yim (Prep-b:: N-md) -- Balances, scales. From 'azan; a pair of scales.">with a balance?</a> 13Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/job/38-4.htm">Job 38:4-11</a> Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. / Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? / On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, ... <a href="/proverbs/8-27.htm">Proverbs 8:27-29</a> I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, / when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, / when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. <a href="/psalms/104-5.htm">Psalm 104:5-9</a> He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved. / You covered it with the deep like a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. / At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— ... <a href="/jeremiah/31-35.htm">Jeremiah 31:35-37</a> Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name: / “Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.” / This is what the LORD says: “Only if the heavens above could be measured and the foundations of the earth below searched out would I reject all of Israel’s descendants because of all they have done,” declares the LORD. <a href="/job/28-24.htm">Job 28:24-25</a> For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. / When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters, <a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6-9</a> By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. / He piles up the waters of the sea; He puts the depths into storehouses. / Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ... <a href="/amos/4-13.htm">Amos 4:13</a> For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.” <a href="/job/11-7.htm">Job 11:7-9</a> Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? / They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? / Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. <a href="/psalms/89-11.htm">Psalm 89:11-12</a> The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded. / North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name. <a href="/job/26-7.htm">Job 26:7-14</a> He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth upon nothing. / He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their own weight. / He covers the face of the full moon, spreading over it His cloud. ... <a href="/romans/11-33.htm">Romans 11:33-36</a> O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” / “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” ... <a href="/hebrews/1-10.htm">Hebrews 1:10-12</a> And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. / You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.” <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16-17</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. <a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-3</a> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a> “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Who has 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?measured<a href="/isaiah/48-13.htm">Isaiah 48:13</a> Mine 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.<a href="/job/11-7.htm">Job 11:7-9</a> Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? … <a href="/job/38-4.htm">Job 38:4-11</a> Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding… measure.<a href="/job/28-25.htm">Job 28:25</a> To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/38-18.htm">Able</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-23.htm">Balance</a> <a href="/isaiah/30-24.htm">Basket</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-8.htm">Breadth</a> <a href="/romans/15-2.htm">Calculated</a> <a href="/job/38-18.htm">Comprehended</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-9.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-31.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/songs/4-12.htm">Enclosed</a> <a href="/isaiah/17-8.htm">Fingers</a> <a href="/job/16-12.htm">Grasped</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-10.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-16.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-14.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-17.htm">Held</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-3.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-3.htm">Hollow</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-29.htm">Marked</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-17.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-17.htm">Measured</a> <a href="/isaiah/18-7.htm">Meted</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-24.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-21.htm">Pair</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-22.htm">Scales</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-5.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-15.htm">Span</a> <a href="/isaiah/21-15.htm">Stretched-Out</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-25.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-18.htm">Weighed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/43-13.htm">Able</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-15.htm">Balance</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-27.htm">Basket</a> <a href="/ezekiel/40-5.htm">Breadth</a> <a href="/romans/15-2.htm">Calculated</a> <a href="/matthew/16-12.htm">Comprehended</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-15.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-21.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/lamentations/3-9.htm">Enclosed</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-3.htm">Fingers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-11.htm">Grasped</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-10.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-18.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm">Heavens</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-14.htm">Held</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Hills</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-6.htm">Hollow</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-1.htm">Marked</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-9.htm">Measure</a> <a href="/jeremiah/13-25.htm">Measured</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-13.htm">Meted</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Mountains</a> <a href="/amos/2-6.htm">Pair</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-15.htm">Scales</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-3.htm">Sky</a> <a href="/lamentations/2-20.htm">Span</a> <a href="/jeremiah/21-5.htm">Stretched-Out</a> <a href="/isaiah/43-2.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/jeremiah/32-9.htm">Weighed</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 40</div>1. <a href="/isaiah/40-1.htm">The promulgation of the Gospel</a> 3. <a href="/isaiah/40-3.htm">The preaching of John Baptist foretold</a> 9. <a href="/isaiah/40-9.htm">The preaching of the apostles foretold</a> 12. <a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">The prophet, by the omnipotence of God</a> 18. <a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">And his incomparableness</a> 26. <a href="/isaiah/40-26.htm">Comforts the people.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/40.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/40.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand This phrase emphasizes God's omnipotence and sovereignty over creation. The imagery of measuring the vast waters of the earth in the hollow of one's hand highlights the infinite power and wisdom of God. In biblical context, water often symbolizes chaos and the unknown, yet God is portrayed as having complete control over it. This echoes <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a>, where the Spirit of God hovers over the waters, bringing order from chaos. The hollow of the hand suggests intimacy and care, indicating God's personal involvement in creation.or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? The heavens, representing the sky and the universe, are depicted as being measured by God with the span of His hand, illustrating His immense power and authority. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of the heavens as a vast, immeasurable expanse, yet God is portrayed as having mastery over it. The span, a unit of measurement from the thumb to the little finger, signifies precision and control. This connects to <a href="/psalms/19.htm">Psalm 19:1</a>, where the heavens declare the glory of God, and to <a href="/job/38.htm">Job 38</a>, where God questions Job about the creation of the world, underscoring His unmatched wisdom and power.Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket The dust of the earth symbolizes humanity and mortality, as seen in <a href="/genesis/2-7.htm">Genesis 2:7</a>, where God forms man from the dust. Holding the dust in a basket suggests God's ability to contain and manage the entirety of creation. This imagery conveys God's intimate knowledge and care for the earth and its inhabitants. The basket, a common tool in ancient times for carrying goods, implies God's provision and sustenance for His creation.or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? Weighing the mountains and hills signifies God's supreme authority and precision in creation. Mountains often represent strength and stability in scripture, as seen in <a href="/psalms/125-2.htm">Psalm 125:2</a>, where the mountains surround Jerusalem, symbolizing God's protection. The use of a scale and balance indicates fairness and justice, attributes of God's character. This imagery connects to <a href="/proverbs/16-11.htm">Proverbs 16:11</a>, where honest scales and balances are the Lord's, highlighting His righteousness and integrity. The phrase underscores God's meticulous care and governance over the natural world, affirming His role as the ultimate Creator and Sustainer.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a> A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is traditionally credited with writing the Book of Isaiah. His prophecies often focus on the themes of judgment and redemption. 2. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a> The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as the Creator with immense power and wisdom, capable of measuring the universe with ease. 3. <a href="/topical/c/creation.htm">Creation</a> The verse poetically describes elements of creation—waters, heavens, earth, mountains, and hills—highlighting God's sovereignty over all.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_power.htm">God's Sovereignty and Power</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12</a> reminds us of God's unmatched power and authority over creation. Recognizing His sovereignty can bring comfort and assurance in times of uncertainty. <a href="/topical/h/human_limitations.htm">Human Limitations</a> The rhetorical questions highlight human limitations in contrast to God's infinite capabilities. This should lead us to humility and reliance on God. <a href="/topical/w/worship_and_awe.htm">Worship and Awe</a> Understanding the vastness of God's creation should inspire worship and awe. Reflect on the majesty of God in your daily life and let it deepen your worship. <a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_wisdom.htm">Trust in God's Wisdom</a> Just as God has perfectly measured and balanced creation, we can trust His wisdom in the details of our lives. Seek His guidance and trust His plans.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_40.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 40</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_the_city_of_god.htm">What defines the City of God?</a> <a href="/q/do_you_believe_in_what_you_cannot_see.htm">What is Zion's significance in biblical prophecy?</a> <a href="/q/is_'wells_of_salvation'_purely_symbolic.htm">Isaiah 12:3: Does the metaphor of drawing water from the 'wells of salvation' reflect a purely symbolic concept with no scientific or historical grounding?</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_fake_news.htm">What is God's Holy Mountain?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/40.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) Who hath measured . . .?--Another section opens, expanding the thought of the eternal majesty of Jehovah, as contrasted with the vanity of the idols, or "no-gods," of the heathen. The whole passage in form and thought supplies once more a parallelism with <a href="/job/38-4.htm" title="Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.">Job 38:4</a>; <a href="/job/38-25.htm" title="Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;">Job 38:25</a>; <a href="/job/38-37.htm" title="Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,">Job 38:37</a>. The whole image is divinely anthropomorphic. The Creator is the great Work-master (<a href="//apocrypha.org/wisdom_of_solomon/13-1.htm" title="Surely vain are all men by nature, who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things that are seen know him that is: neither by considering the works did they acknowledge the workmaster;">Wisdom Of Solomon 13:1</a>) of the universe, ordering all things, like a human artificer, by number and weight and measure. The mountains of the earth are as dust in the scales of the Infinite.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/40.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 12-31. - THE MIGHT AND GREATNESS OF GOD CONTRASTED WITH THE WEAKNESS OF MAN AND THE FUTILITY OF IDOLS. If captive Israel is to be induced to turn' to God, and so hasten the time of its restoration to his favour and to its own land, it must be by rising to a worthy conception of the nature and attributes of the Almighty. The prophet, therefore, in the remainder of this chapter, paints in glorious language the power and greatness, and at the same time the mercy, of God, contrasting him with man (vers. 15-17, 23, 28-31), with idols (vers. 19, 20), and with the framework of material things (vers. 21, 22, 26), and showing his infinite superiority to each and all. In contrasting him with man, he takes occasion to bring into prominence his goodness and loving-kindness to man, to whom he imparts a portion of his own might and strength (vers. 29-31 ). Verse 12. - Who hath measured the waters? (comp. <a href="/proverbs/30-4.htm">Proverbs 30:4</a> and <a href="/job/38-4.htm">Job 38:4-6</a>). The might of God is especially shown in creation, which Isaiah assumes to be God's work. How infinitely above man must he be, who arranged in such perfection, "by measure and number and weight" (Wisd. 11:20), the earth, the waters, and the heavens, so proportioning each to each as to produce that admirable order and regularity which the intelligent observer cannot but note in the material universe as among its chief characteristics! In the hollow of his hand. The anthropomorphism is strong, no doubt, but softened by the preceding mention (in ver. 10) of God's "arm," and by the comparison of God to a shepherd (in ver. 11). Isaiah's exalted notion of God renders him fearless with regard to anthropomorphism. And meted out heaven with the span; rather, with a span (comp. <a href="/isaiah/48-13.htm">Isaiah 48:13</a>, "My right hand hath spanned the heavens"). And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure; literally, in a tierce (as in the margin). The measure intended is probably the seah, which was the third part of an ephah, and held about three gallons. The seah was "the ordinary measure for household purposes." In scales... in a balance. The peles, here translated "scales," is probably the steelyard, while the mozenaim is "the balance" or "pair of scales" ordinarily used for weighing. God metes out all things with measures, scales, and balances of his own, which are proportioned to his greatness. <a href="/commentaries/isaiah/40-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Who מִֽי־ (mî-) Interrogative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix has measured מָדַ֨ד (mā·ḏaḏ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4058.htm">Strong's 4058: </a> To stretch, to measure, to be extended the waters מַ֗יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> Water, juice, urine, semen in the hollow of his hand, בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ (bə·šā·‘o·lōw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8168.htm">Strong's 8168: </a> Hollow hand, handful or marked off תִּכֵּ֔ן (tik·kên) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8505.htm">Strong's 8505: </a> To balance, measure out, arrange, equalize, levelling the heavens וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (wə·šā·ma·yim) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8064.htm">Strong's 8064: </a> Heaven, sky with the span of his hand? בַּזֶּ֣רֶת (baz·ze·reṯ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2239.htm">Strong's 2239: </a> The spread of the fingers, a span Who has held וְכָ֥ל (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3557.htm">Strong's 3557: </a> To keep in, to measure, to maintain the dust עֲפַ֣ר (‘ă·p̄ar) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6083.htm">Strong's 6083: </a> Dust, clay, earth, mud of the earth הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land in a basket, בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ (baš·šā·liš) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7991.htm">Strong's 7991: </a> A triple, a triangle, a three-fold measure, a general of the third rank or weighed וְשָׁקַ֤ל (wə·šā·qal) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8254.htm">Strong's 8254: </a> To suspend, poise the mountains הָרִ֔ים (hā·rîm) Noun - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> Mountain, hill, hill country on a scale בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ (bap·pe·les) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6425.htm">Strong's 6425: </a> A balance, scale and the hills וּגְבָע֖וֹת (ū·ḡə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1389.htm">Strong's 1389: </a> A hillock with a balance? בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃ (bə·mō·zə·nā·yim) Preposition-b | Noun - md <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3976.htm">Strong's 3976: </a> A pair of scales <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/isaiah/40-12.htm">Isaiah 40:12 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/40-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 40:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 40:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/40-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 40:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 40:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>