Isaiah 40:26 - Exposition

Lift up your eyes , etc. Once more an appeal is made to creation, as proving God's greatness. "Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these (heavens), bringing out their host ( i.e. the stars) by number, or in their full number (Cheyne), and calling them all by names" (comp. Psalms 147:4 , Psalms 147:5 , "He telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names," which, however, is probably later than Isaiah). Omnipotence alone could have created the starry host. Omniscience is required to know their number and their names. The Israelites are supposed to have "learned that the constellations had names, in Babylon" (Cheyne, ad loc. ); but a special name for each star , which the Babylonians did not give, seems to be here intended. Not one faileth ; i.e. "not one star neglects to attend the muster when God marshals the host." The stars are viewed as his army.