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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 40:12-17

The scope of these verses is to show what a great and glorious being the Lord Jehovah is, who is Israel's God and Saviour. It comes in here, 1. To encourage his people that were captives in Babylon to hope in him, and to depend upon him for deliverance, though they were ever so weak and their oppressors ever so strong. 2. To engage them to cleave to him, and not to turn aside after other gods; for there are none to be compared with him. 3. To possess all those who receive the glad tid 78da... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand ?.... The following account of the power, wisdom, and all sufficiency of God, and which is to be understood of Christ, is to show that he is equal to the work of redemption and salvation he has engaged in, and was about to come and perform, and that he is able to do it, as well as to execute his office as a shepherd; and also to observe, that though his rich grace and goodness he had condescended to take upon him the work of a saviour,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:13

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord ,.... In the creation of all things, in garnishing the heavens, and moving upon the face of the waters? not anyone, angel or man; there were none with him, nor did he need any to guide and direct him what to do F19 : or being his counsellor, hath taught him ? or, "the man of his counsel F20 איש עצתו "vir a consiliis", Junius & Tremellius Piscator. "; there was no other than the Wonderful Counsellor, the Angel of the great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:14

With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him ,.... This is the same as before, only repeated in other words, the more strongly to deny that any mere creature counselled, taught, and instructed the Spirit of Christ, in the ordering and managing the works of creation: and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding ? or gave him that judgment, knowledge, and understanding in framing the world, and all things in it, in that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:15

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket ,.... Not only the Chaldeans and Babylonians, and other nations most known, and most troublesome to the Jews, but all the nations of the world; these, in comparison of God, of his infinite and immense Being, are but as a drop of water that hangs upon the bucket, or falls from it, when water is drawn by it, or is left in it, when poured out of it; which is nothing in comparison of the well out of which the water is drawn, or even of the water in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 40:16

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn ,.... The trees of it, as the Targum; these are not sufficient to burn a sacrifice with, suitable to the dignity and majesty of God, and as his justice can require for offences committed: nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering , though it was a mountain and forest which abounded with trees, and especially cedars, and there was a great quantity of cattle in it, yet neither were sufficient to furnish out a proper burnt offering to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 40:16

And Lebanon is not sufficient - The image is beautiful and uncommon. It has been imitated by an apocryphal writer, who however comes far short of the original: - "For all sacrifice is too little for a sweet savor unto thee: And all the fat is not sufficient for thy burnt-offering." Judith 16:16. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured the waters? (comp. Proverbs 30:4 and Job 38:4-6 ). 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" (Wis. 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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 40:12-17

The greatness of God and the littleness of man. These most eloquent words, so impressive as they stand that it seems undesirable to touch them in the way of analyzing them, may speak to us of— I. THE IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS OF GOD . 1 . His Divine majesty. All that is most vast and powerful in the universe—the sea, the heavens, the land, the mountains, etc.—is small and slight indeed when compared with him; his surroundings, his possessions, all bespeak his unapproachable... read more

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