Isaiah 40:12, 13

Isaiah 40:12

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. ASV: 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? [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: 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? [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Amplified Bible Classic: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, marked off the heavens with a [nine-inch] span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: 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?

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Who measured the waters in His palm, gauged th Heavens with a span, measured in a huge vessel the dust of the earth, and weighed mountains with a scale and hills with a balance? [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]

1. “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,…”

a. Who [Strong: 4310 miy me an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things, who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.]

b. [hath] measured [Strong: 4058  mâdad, maw-dad'; a primitive root; properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended:—measure, mete, stretch self.]

c. [the] waters [Strong: 4325 mayim, mah'-yim; dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen:— piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).]

d. [in the] hollow of his hand [Strong: 8168  shôʻal, sho'-al; from an unused root meaning to hollow out; the palm; by extension, a handful:—handful, hollow of the hand.]

1). When God created the earth, He beforehand had the amount of water that should be on the earth, and measured it out by the handfuls. God also created the water cycle.

a). Ecclesiastes 1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

2). The Lord used the creation of water, as he did with all of creation, and weaved it into the history of the redemption of man. All of creation was designed with the glory of God and the redemption of mankind in view.

a). Isaiah 55:10, 11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

b). John 4:5-15 

c). Psalm 145:10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.

3). God in his wisdom set boundaries for the seas and oceans: Job 38:8-11.

a). Job 38:8-11 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

38:10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

2. “…and meted out heaven with a span,”

a. [and] meted out [Strong: 8505  tâkan, taw-kan'; a primitive root; to balance, i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate, test):—bear up, direct, be (un-)equal, mete, ponder, tell, weigh.]

b. heaven [Strong: 8064 shâmayim, shaw-mah'-yim; dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה shâmeh; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; 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 revolve):—air, × astrologer, heaven(-s).]

c. [with a] span [Strong: 2239 zereth, zeh'-reth; from H2219; the spread of the fingers, i.e. a span:—span.]

1). Proverbs 3:19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

a). understanding [Strong: 8394  tabuwn taw-boon' and (feminine) tbuwnah {teb-oo-naw'}; or towbunah {to-boo-naw'}; from 995; intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice:--discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.]

b). established [Strong: 3559 kuwn koon a primitive root; properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish, fix, prepare, apply), or figurative (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous):--certain(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare (self), provide, make provision, (be, make) ready, right, set (aright, fast, forth), be stable, (e-)stablish, stand, tarry, X very deed.] 

c). When God created the heavens, he prepared it with skilful intelligence.

2). Amateur Astronomer’s Handbook: “I we construct a scale model of the solar system, with the sun about 4 inches across, the  earth will be about 25 feet away, the size of a grain of sand, and Pluto [Just recently demoted from being a planet.] will be about 300 yards away. But the nearest star to the sun, represented by another 4 inch globe would have to be placed almost 1500 miles away.” [The nearest star is Alpha Centauri, 4 and1/3 light years away: 186,000 miles per second for a year = 6 million million miles.]

3). Stars, Planets, and Galaxies: “There are at least 100 billion stars in this expansive disk [The Milky Way] which is so large that a light beam would require 100,000 years to cross it.”

4). Amateur Astronomer’s Handbook: “It is obvious, then, that the whole galaxy is of enormous extent, and that a mile is an absurdly inadequate unit of distance. Instead, astronomers make use of the light year.” [God uses his hands! Chuckle, Chuckle.]

5). Popular Science, 2/78; “Giant Telescopes”: “One thing is certain. There’s enough universe out there for all the 1000 inch telescopes we could ever dream of building. A single gnat flying a foot in front of your face on a summer evening, hides the light of dozens of distant galaxies, each containing some 100,000 million (100 billion) suns…”

6). Stars, Planets, and Galaxies; Clusters of Galaxies: “At a distance of several diameters from the Local Group there are other clusters of galaxies. North of Spica in Virgo, there is a region called the Realm of the Galaxies. Here, vast assemblages are found containing thousands of galaxies in one of the largest clusters known. Its distance is about 40 million light years. The number of galaxies contained may be numbered in the tens of thousands, with the greatest concentration toward the constellation Virgo; the number of Galaxies tapers off as the Local Group is reached. From all appearances, this is the local Supergalaxy, a galaxy of galaxies, instead of stars. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is one in tens of thousands far out on the rim of a gigantic wheel of galaxies whose flat distribution indicates a rotation about the center. The local supergalaxy is only one of many, for investigations show others in the direction of Hydra and Pavo. Clusters of galaxies extend into space in all directions many billions of light years. Thus, we can see that the universe is composed of hierarchies of increasing magnitude, in constant motion, in an unimaginably vast sea of space.”

a). Jeremiah 33:22  As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me. 

b). Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

3. “…and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure…”

a. [and] comprehended [Strong: 3557 kûwl, kool; a primitive root; properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses):—(be able to, can) abide, bear, comprehend, contain, feed, forbearing, guide, hold(-ing in), nourish(-er), be present, make provision, receive, sustain, provide sustenance (victuals).]  

1). comprehend [Webster: To grasp with the mind, conceive.]

b. [the] dust [Strong: 6083 ʻâphâr, aw-fawr'; from H6080; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud:—ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish.]

c. [of the] earth [Strong: 776 ʼerets, eh'-rets; from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):—× common, country, earth, field, ground, land, × natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). We were created out of the dust of the ground: Genesis 2:7; And we will return: Genesis 3:19. Hence Job 7:21; Psalm 22:15. 

2). God’s behavior towards his children is tempered with the fact he knows we are but dust: Psalm 103:13, 14.

3). Dust is a symbol of humility: Job 42:6.

d. [in a] measure [Strong: 7991 shâlîysh, shaw-leesh'; or שָׁלוֹשׁ shâlôwsh; (1 Chronicles 11:11; 1 Chronicles 12:18), or שָׁלֹשׁ shâlôsh; (2 Samuel 23:13), from H7969; a triple, i.e. (as a musical instrument) a triangle (or perhaps rather three-stringed lute); also (as an indefinite, great quantity) a three-fold measure (perhaps a treble ephah); also (as an officer) a general of the third rank (upward, i.e. the highest):—captain, instrument of musick, (great) lord, (great) measure, prince, three (from the margin).]

4. “…and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance.”

a. [and] weighed [Strong: 8254 shâqal, shaw-kal'; a primitive root; to suspend or poise (especially in trade):—pay, receive(-r), spend, × throughly, weigh.]

b. [the] mountains [Strong: 2022 har, har; a shortened form of H2042; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively):—hill (country), mount(-ain), × promotion.]

c. [in] scales [Strong: 6425 peleç, peh'-les; from H6424; a balance:—scales, weight.]

d. [and the] hills [Strong: 1389 gibʻâh, ghib-aw'; feminine from the same as H1387; a hillock:—hill, little hill.]

e. [in a] balance [Strong: 3976 môʼzên, mo-zane'; from H239; (only in the dual) a pair of scales:—balances.]

1). God mentally weighed the mountains and hills.

Isaiah 40:13

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him?

a. ASV: Who hath directed the Spirit of Jehovah, or being his counsellor hath taught him? [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Who hath meted out the Spirit of Jehovah, And, being His counsellor, doth teach Him! [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Amplified Bible Classic: Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: Who has known the mind of the Lord? and who has been his counsellor, to instruct him?

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Who can appraise the Spirit of HASHEM, His man of counsel who informs Him? [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ltd.]

1. “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord…”

a. Who [Strong: 4310 miy me an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things, who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that! what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.]

b. [hath] directed [Strong: 8505 tâkan, taw-kan'; a primitive root; to balance, i.e. measure out (by weight or dimension); figuratively to arrange, equalize, through the idea of levelling (ment, estimate, test):—bear up, direct, be (un-)equal, mete, ponder, tell, weigh.]

c. the [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

d. Spirit [Strong: 7307 rûwach, roo'-akh; from H7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):—air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, ×quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).]

e. [of the] LORD [Strong: 3068  Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.] 

1). Wisdom directed the Spirit of God.

a).  Ecclesiastes 10:10  If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

b). Proverbs 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

c). Proverbs 8:22-31

2).  Purpose of wisdom directing creation.

a). To give a revelation of God: Job 12:7-10.

b). His eternal power and Godhead: Romans 1:19, 20.

c). A revelation that produced faith: Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 10:17, 18.

2. “...or being his counselor hath taught him?

a.  or [Strong: 376 'iysh eesh contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

b. [being his] counselor [Strong: 6098 `etsah ay-tsaw' from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.]

c. [hath] taught [him] [Strong: 3045 yâdaʻ, yaw-dah'; a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.):—acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.]

1). Paul cited this verse when describing the depth of the wisdom and riches of the knowledge of God.

a). Romans 11:33-35  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

2). There are a number of instances in Scripture where the Spirit of God operated in creation.

a). Psalm 104:24-30 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 

104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumberable, both small and great beasts. 

104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them there meat in due season.

104:28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 104:29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 

104:30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

b). Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

c). Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

3). Likewise in the born again experience, it is the Holy Spirit that recreates our spirit man.

a). Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

b). 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4). We have been given that same Spirit.

a). 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love hem. 

2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.