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Selected Verse: Isaiah 40:22 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Isa 40:22 |
Strong Concordance |
It is he that sitteth [03427] upon the circle [02329] of the earth [0776], and the inhabitants [03427] thereof are as grasshoppers [02284]; that stretcheth out [05186] the heavens [08064] as a curtain [01852], and spreadeth them out [04969] as a tent [0168] to dwell in [03427]: |
| |
King James |
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
It is he--rather, connected with last verse, "Have ye not known?"--have ye not understood Him that sitteth . . .? (Isa 40:26) [MAURER].
circle--applicable to the globular form of the earth, above which, and the vault of sky around it, He sits. For "upon" translate "above."
as grasshoppers--or locusts in His sight (Num 13:33), as He looks down from on high (Psa 33:13-14; Psa 113:4-6).
curtain--referring to the awning which the Orientals draw over the open court in the center of their houses as a shelter in rain or hot weather. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
It is he that sitteth - Margin, 'Him that sitteth,' that is, have you not known him? The Hebrew literally means 'the sitter, or he sitting on the circle of the each;' and it may be connected either with Isa 40:21, 'Have ye not known him sitting on the circle of the earth?' or with Isa 40:18, 'What likeness will ye compare to him that sitteth on the circle of the earth?' In either case the phrase is designed to show the majesty and glory of God. The word 'sitteth' refers to God as a sovereign or monarch, making the circle of the earth his throne.
The circle of the earth - Or rather, "above" (על ‛al) the circle of the earth. The word rendered 'circle' (חוּג chûg) denotes "a circle, sphere, or arch"; and is applied to the arch or vault of the heavens, in Pro 8:27; Job 22:14. The phrase 'circle,' or 'circuit of the earth,' here seems to be used in the same sense as the phrase orbis terrarum by the Latins; not as denoting a sphere, or not as implying that the earth was a globe, but that it was an extended plain surrounded by oceans and mighty waters. The globular form of the earth was then unknown; and the idea is, that God sat above this extended circuit, or circle; and that the vast earth was beneath his feet.
And the inhabitants thereof are like grasshoppers - Or rather, like locusts, for so the Hebrew word properly means. This is designed to show that the inhabitants of the earth, numerous and mighty as they are, are as nothing compared with God. The idea is that God is so exalted, that, as he looks down from that elevated station, all the inhabitants of the world appear to him as locusts - a busy, agirated, moving, impatient multitude, spread over the vast circle of the earth beneath him - as locusts spread in almost interminable bands over the plains in the East. What a striking illustration of the insignificance of man as he is viewed from the heavens! What an impressive description of the nothingness of his mighty plans, and of the vanity of his mightiest works!
That stretcheth out the heavens - Referring to the firmament above, as that which seems to be stretched out, or expanded over our heads. The heavens above are often thus compared to an expanse - either solid Gen 1:7, or to a curtain, or tent (compare the note at Isa 34:4).
As a curtain - The word used here (דק doq) denotes properly fineness, thinness; and then a fine or thin cloth, or curtain. Here it means a thin canopy that is stretched over us. The same expression occurs in Psa 104:2 (compare Job 9:8; Isa 44:24). Probably the reference here is to the veil, curtain, or awning which the Orientals are accustomed to draw over the court in their houses. Their houses are constructed with an open court in the center, with the rooms ranged round it. In that court or open square there are usually fountains, if the situation is so that they can be constructed; and they are cool and refreshing places for the family to sit in the heat of the summer. In hot or rainy weather, a curtain or awning is drawn over this area. According to the imago of the prophet here, the heavens are spread out over our heads as such an awning.
And spreadeth them out as a tent - As a tent that is made for a habitation. Perhaps the idea is, that the heavens are extended like a tent in order to furnish a dwelling-place for God. Thus the Chaldee renders it. If so, it proves that the universe, so vast, was suited up to be the dwelling-place of the High and Holy One, and is a most impressive representation of his immensity. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
circle
A remarkable reference to the sphericity of the earth. See, also, (Isa 42:5); (Isa 44:24); (Isa 51:13); (Job 9:8); (Psa 104:2); (Jer 10:12). |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
The prophet now proceeds to describe the God whom both His works and word proclaim. The participles which follow are predicates of the subject, which filled the consciousness of the prophet as well as that of every believer. "He who is enthroned above the vault of the earth, and its inhabitants resemble grasshoppers; who has spread out the heavens like gauze, and stretched them out like a tent-roof to dwell in." He, the manifested and yet unknown, is He who has for His throne the circle of the heavens (chūg shâmayim, Job 22:14), which arches over the earth, and to whom from His inaccessible height men appear as diminutive as grasshoppers (Num 13:33); He who has spread out the blue sky like a thin transparent garment (dōq, a thin fabric, like daq, fine dust, in Isa 40:15), and stretched it out above the earth like a tent for dwelling in ('ōhel
(Note: The noun 'ōhel is derived from the root אל, from which come Arab. 'wl, coaluit, cohaesit, to thicken within or gain consistency (hence, regarded on another side, to lose in outward extent or outward bulk, to shrink; to go back to its original or essential condition; to issue in something as the final result; or generally, to draw back or return from a distance), and Arab. 'h', to attach one's self or accustom one's self to a person or thing, equivalent to alifa and anisa; to take up one's abode in a place, or absolutely, to commence housekeeping by marrying, like the Italian accasarsi, Turkish ewlenmek (from ew, a house); or, when applied to a place itself, to be habitable, inhabited, and cultivated (= pass. uhila, more especially in the participle âhil, = ‛âmir = ma‛mūr). (Hence ahl, one who belongs to a person or place, with its numerous applications, and also אהל, a tent (primarily a dwelling generally, Engl. abode), which stands at the end of this etymological series.)
lâshebheth). The participle brings to view the actions and circumstances of all times. In the present instance, where it is continued in the historical sense, it is to be resolved into the perfect; in other cases, the preservation of the world is evidently thought of as a creatio continua (see Psychol. P. 111). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Sitteth - Far above this round earth, even in the highest heavens; from whence he looketh down upon the earth, where men appear to him like grasshoppers. As here we have the circle of the earth, so elsewhere we read of the circle of heaven, Job 22:14, and of the circle of the deep, or sea, Pro 8:27, because the form of the heaven, and earth and sea is circular. Spreadeth - For the benefit of the earth and of mankind, that all parts might partake of its comfortable influences. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| As a curtain "As a thin veil" - "It is usual in the summer season, and upon all occasions when a large company is to be received, to have the court sheltered from heat or inclemency of the weather by a velum, umbrella, or veil, as I shall call it; which being expanded on ropes from one side of the parapet wall to the other, may be folded or unfolded at pleasure. The psalmist seems to allude to some covering of this kind in that beautiful expression of spreading out the heavens like a curtain." - Shaw's Travels, p. 274. |
4 The LORD [03068] is high [07311] above all nations [01471], and his glory [03519] above the heavens [08064].
5 Who is like unto the LORD [03068] our God [0430], who dwelleth [03427] on high [01361],
6 Who humbleth [08213] himself to behold [07200] the things that are in heaven [08064], and in the earth [0776]!
13 The LORD [03068] looketh [05027] from heaven [08064]; he beholdeth [07200] all the sons [01121] of men [0120].
14 From the place [04349] of his habitation [03427] he looketh [07688] upon all the inhabitants [03427] of the earth [0776].
33 And there we saw [07200] the giants [05303], the sons [01121] of Anak [06061], which come of the giants [05303]: and we were in our own sight [05869] as grasshoppers [02284], and so we were in their sight [05869].
26 Lift up [05375] your eyes [05869] on high [04791], and behold [07200] who hath created [01254] these things, that bringeth out [03318] their host [06635] by number [04557]: he calleth [07121] them all by names [08034] by the greatness [07230] of his might [0202], for that he is strong [0533] in power [03581]; not one [0376] faileth [05737].
24 Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], thy redeemer [01350], and he that formed [03335] thee from the womb [0990], I am the LORD [03068] that maketh [06213] all things; that stretcheth forth [05186] the heavens [08064] alone; that spreadeth abroad [07554] the earth [0776] by myself;
8 Which alone spreadeth out [05186] the heavens [08064], and treadeth [01869] upon the waves [01116] of the sea [03220].
2 Who coverest [05844] thyself with light [0216] as with a garment [08008]: who stretchest out [05186] the heavens [08064] like a curtain [03407]:
4 And all the host [06635] of heaven [08064] shall be dissolved [04743], and the heavens [08064] shall be rolled together [01556] as a scroll [05612]: and all their host [06635] shall fall down [05034], as the leaf [05929] falleth off [05034] from the vine [01612], and as a falling [05034] fig from the fig tree [08384].
7 And God [0430] made [06213] the firmament [07549], and divided [0914] the waters [04325] which [0834] were under [08478] the firmament [07549] from the waters [04325] which [0834] were above [05921] the firmament [07549]: and it was so [03651].
14 Thick clouds [05645] are a covering [05643] to him, that he seeth [07200] not; and he walketh [01980] in the circuit [02329] of heaven [08064].
27 When he prepared [03559] the heavens [08064], I was there: when he set [02710] a compass [02329] upon the face [06440] of the depth [08415]:
18 To whom then will ye liken [01819] God [0410]? or what likeness [01823] will ye compare [06186] unto him?
21 Have ye not known [03045]? have ye not heard [08085]? hath it not been told [05046] you from the beginning [07218]? have ye not understood [0995] from the foundations [04146] of the earth [0776]?
12 He hath made [06213] the earth [0776] by his power [03581], he hath established [03559] the world [08398] by his wisdom [02451], and hath stretched out [05186] the heavens [08064] by his discretion [08394].
2 Who coverest [05844] thyself with light [0216] as with a garment [08008]: who stretchest out [05186] the heavens [08064] like a curtain [03407]:
8 Which alone spreadeth out [05186] the heavens [08064], and treadeth [01869] upon the waves [01116] of the sea [03220].
13 And forgettest [07911] the LORD [03068] thy maker [06213], that hath stretched forth [05186] the heavens [08064], and laid the foundations [03245] of the earth [0776]; and hast feared [06342] continually [08548] every day [03117] because [06440] of the fury [02534] of the oppressor [06693], as if [0834] he were ready [03559] to destroy [07843]? and where is the fury [02534] of the oppressor [06693]?
24 Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], thy redeemer [01350], and he that formed [03335] thee from the womb [0990], I am the LORD [03068] that maketh [06213] all things; that stretcheth forth [05186] the heavens [08064] alone; that spreadeth abroad [07554] the earth [0776] by myself;
5 Thus saith [0559] God [0410] the LORD [03068], he that created [01254] the heavens [08064], and stretched them out [05186]; he that spread forth [07554] the earth [0776], and that which cometh out [06631] of it; he that giveth [05414] breath [05397] unto the people [05971] upon it, and spirit [07307] to them that walk [01980] therein:
15 Behold, the nations [01471] are as a drop [04752] of a bucket [01805], and are counted [02803] as the small dust [07834] of the balance [03976]: behold, he taketh up [05190] the isles [0339] as a very little thing [01851].
33 And there we saw [07200] the giants [05303], the sons [01121] of Anak [06061], which come of the giants [05303]: and we were in our own sight [05869] as grasshoppers [02284], and so we were in their sight [05869].
14 Thick clouds [05645] are a covering [05643] to him, that he seeth [07200] not; and he walketh [01980] in the circuit [02329] of heaven [08064].
27 When he prepared [03559] the heavens [08064], I was there: when he set [02710] a compass [02329] upon the face [06440] of the depth [08415]:
14 Thick clouds [05645] are a covering [05643] to him, that he seeth [07200] not; and he walketh [01980] in the circuit [02329] of heaven [08064].