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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 40:23 He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/40-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/23_Isa_40_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 40:23 - Here is Your God!" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/40-23.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/40-23.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/40.htm">Chapter 40</a> > Verse 23</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm" title="Isaiah 40:22">◄</a> Isaiah 40:23 <a href="/isaiah/40-24.htm" title="Isaiah 40:24">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/40.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/40.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/40.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/40.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/40.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/40.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/40.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/40.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br /><i>It is</i> He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/40.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/40.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />He <i>it is</i> who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/40.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />It is He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth <i>utterly</i> formless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/40.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />It is He who reduces dignitaries to nothing, Who makes the judges (rulers) of the earth meaningless (useless).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/40.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth like a wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/40.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth irrational. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/40.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />that bringeth princes to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/40.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God brings down rulers and turns them into nothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/40.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />that bringeth princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/40.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He makes rulers unimportant and makes earthly judges worth nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/40.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He brings down powerful rulers and reduces them to nothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/40.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />who brings princes to nothing, and makes void the rulers of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/40.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/40.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth's leaders insignificant. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/40.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />who brings princes to nothing; who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/40.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/40.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />who brings princes to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/40.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />He who is making princes become nothing, "" Has made judges of earth formless;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/40.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> He who is making princes become nothing, Judges of earth as emptiness hath made;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/40.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He gave princes to nothing; he made the judges of the earth as vanity.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/40.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He that bringeth the searchers of secrets to nothing, that hath made the judges of the earth as vanity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/40.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He has brought those who examine what is secret to nothingness. He has brought the judges of the earth to emptiness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/40.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Who brings princes to nought and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/40.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/40.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Who brings princes to nought; and makes the judges of the earth as if they were nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/40.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Who made the Rulers nothing and the Judges of the Earth as if they are not<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/40.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />That bringeth princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as a thing of nought.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/40.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />he that appoints princes to rule as nothing, and has made the earth as nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/40-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=8669" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/40.htm">Here is Your God!</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: han·nō·w·ṯên (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">He brings</a> <a href="/hebrew/7336.htm" title="7336: rō·wz·nîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To be weighty, judicious or commanding. A primitive root; probably to be heavy, i.e. honorable.">the princes</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: lə·’ā·yin (Prep-l:: Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">to nothing</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">and makes</a> <a href="/hebrew/8199.htm" title="8199: šō·p̄ə·ṭê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To judge, govern. ">the rulers</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’e·reṣ (N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">of the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/8414.htm" title="8414: kat·tō·hū (Prep-k, Art:: N-ms) -- From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation, i.e. Desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain.">meaningless.</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/4-35.htm">Daniel 4:35</a></span><br />All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/12-21.htm">Job 12:21</a></span><br />He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Psalm 107:40</a></span><br />He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/2-1.htm">Psalm 2:1-4</a></span><br />Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-10.htm">Psalm 33:10</a></span><br />The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/75-6.htm">Psalm 75:6-7</a></span><br />For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, / but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-9.htm">Jeremiah 25:9-14</a></span><br />behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. / Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. / And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/21-26.htm">Ezekiel 21:26-27</a></span><br />This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. / A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! And it will not be restored until the arrival of Him to whom it belongs, to whom I have assigned the right of judgment.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-7.htm">1 Samuel 2:7-8</a></span><br />The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. / He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/34-19.htm">Job 34:19</a></span><br />who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-52.htm">Luke 1:52</a></span><br />He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/12-21.htm">Acts 12:21-23</a></span><br />On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. / And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” / Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-19.htm">1 Corinthians 1:19</a></span><br />For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-6.htm">James 4:6</a></span><br />But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/13-1.htm">Romans 13:1-2</a></span><br />Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">That brings the princes to nothing; he makes the judges of the earth as vanity.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/19-13.htm">Isaiah 19:13,14</a></b></br> The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, <i>even they that are</i> the stay of the tribes thereof… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/23-9.htm">Isaiah 23:9</a></b></br> The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, <i>and</i> to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/24-21.htm">Isaiah 24:21,22</a></b></br> And it shall come to pass in that day, <i>that</i> the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones <i>that are</i> on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-17.htm">Emptiness</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-23.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-20.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/isaiah/27-9.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/isaiah/37-8.htm">Making</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-17.htm">Meaningless</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-21.htm">Naught</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-17.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-12.htm">Princes</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-26.htm">Reduces</a> <a href="/isaiah/32-1.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-17.htm">Value</a> <a href="/isaiah/40-17.htm">Vanity</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-11.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/40-24.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-29.htm">Emptiness</a> <a href="/jeremiah/11-20.htm">Judges</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-2.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-21.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-15.htm">Making</a> <a href="/matthew/6-7.htm">Meaningless</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-12.htm">Naught</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-12.htm">Nought</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-25.htm">Princes</a> <a href="/leviticus/6-10.htm">Reduces</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-25.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-24.htm">Value</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-29.htm">Vanity</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-17.htm">World</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 40</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-1.htm">The promulgation of the Gospel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-3.htm">The preaching of John Baptist foretold</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-9.htm">The preaching of the apostles foretold</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-12.htm">The prophet, by the omnipotence of God</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-18.htm">And his incomparableness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/40-26.htm">Comforts the people.</a></span><br></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><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/isaiah/40.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>He brings the princes to nothing</b><br />The phrase "He brings the princes to nothing" underscores the sovereignty and omnipotence of God over earthly authorities. The Hebrew word for "princes" is "שָׂרִים" (sarim), which refers to leaders or officials. Historically, princes were seen as powerful figures, often wielding significant influence and control. However, this verse emphasizes that in the grand scheme of God's divine plan, even the most powerful human leaders are rendered insignificant. This reflects the biblical theme that God alone is the ultimate authority, as seen in other scriptures like <a href="/daniel/2-21.htm">Daniel 2:21</a>, where God is described as the one who "removes kings and establishes them." The phrase serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human power compared to the eternal and unchanging nature of God's rule.<p><b>and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless</b><br />The continuation "and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless" further illustrates the futility of human power when contrasted with divine authority. The Hebrew word for "rulers" is "שֹׁפְטִים" (shofetim), which can also mean judges or governors. These were individuals who held significant sway over the affairs of nations and peoples. Yet, the term "meaningless" (from the Hebrew "תֹּהוּ" - tohu) conveys a sense of emptiness or void, similar to the chaos before creation in <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a>. This suggests that without God's purpose and direction, even the most esteemed rulers are devoid of true significance. Historically, this can be seen in the rise and fall of empires and leaders throughout biblical history, such as Pharaoh in Exodus or Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, who were ultimately subject to God's will. This phrase encourages believers to place their trust not in human institutions or leaders, but in God, who holds ultimate control over the destiny of nations and individuals alike.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/40.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">That bringeth the princes to nothing.</span>--The words imply, like those of <a href="/isaiah/14-9.htm" title="Hell from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming: it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.">Isaiah 14:9</a>, the prophetic strain of experience. The past is full of the records of kingdoms that are no more; so also shall the future be; <span class= "ital">mortalia facta peribunt. </span>In "vanity" we have the familiar t<span class= "ital">ohu </span>once more.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/40.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The princes... the judges</span>; rather, <span class="accented">princes</span>, <span class="accented">judges.</span> The entire class of such is meant, not any special individuals (comp. <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Psalm 107:40</a>; <a href="/job/12-19.htm">Job 12:19-21</a>). <span class="cmt_word">As vanity</span>; or, <span class="accented">as chaos - the</span> same word that is used in ver. 17. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/40-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He brings</span><br /><span class="heb">הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן</span> <span class="translit">(han·nō·w·ṯên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the princes</span><br /><span class="heb">רוֹזְנִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(rō·wz·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7336.htm">Strong's 7336: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be weighty, judicious or commanding</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to nothing</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאָ֑יִן</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ā·yin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and makes</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשָֽׂה׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·śāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the judges</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹׁ֥פְטֵי</span> <span class="translit">(šō·p̄ə·ṭê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8199.htm">Strong's 8199: </a> </span><span class="str2">To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the earth</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֖רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">meaningless.</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּתֹּ֥הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(kat·tō·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8414.htm">Strong's 8414: </a> </span><span class="str2">A desolation, desert, a worthless thing, in vain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/40-23.htm">Isaiah 40:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/40-23.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 40:23 Who brings princes to nothing (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/40-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 40:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 40:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/40-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 40:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 40:24" /></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>