Isaiah 40:14 kjv
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Isaiah 40:14 nkjv
With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?
Isaiah 40:14 niv
Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
Isaiah 40:14 esv
Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?
Isaiah 40:14 nlt
Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?
Isaiah 40 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:14 | With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him? | God's unparalleled wisdom |
| Job 11:7 | Canst thou by searching find out God? | Limits of human knowledge of God |
| Job 12:12 | With the ancient is wisdom: and in length of days understanding. | God possesses true ancient wisdom |
| Job 21:22 | Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. | God's supreme judgment |
| Job 26:14 | Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? | God's works are beyond full comprehension |
| Job 36:22 | Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? | God is the ultimate teacher |
| Ps 94:10 | He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? | God's teaching and knowledge |
| Ps 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. | God's infinite understanding |
| Prov 2:6 | For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. | Source of wisdom and knowledge |
| Prov 30:18-19 | There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. | Mysteries beyond human grasp |
| Eccl 1:13 | And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom all things that are done under the heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. | Human search for wisdom |
| Isa 11:2 | And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; | The Spirit of God's attributes |
| Isa 40:28 | Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? | God's everlasting power and knowledge |
| Jer 10:7 | Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. | No one is like God in wisdom |
| Jer 23:18 | For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it? | God's counsel is exclusive |
| Rom 11:33-34 | 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! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? | God's unfathomable wisdom and mind |
| 1 Cor 1:20 | Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? | World's wisdom vs. God's wisdom |
| 1 Cor 2:10-11 | But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, save the Spirit of God. | Spirit revealing God's knowledge |
| 1 Cor 2:16 | For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. | Christ possessing the mind of God |
| Eph 3:10 | To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. | Wisdom of God revealed through the church |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 14 Meaning
This verse describes the immense power and wisdom of God, emphasizing that He gained knowledge not through instruction by humans, but through His own divine understanding and foresight. It highlights God's absolute sovereignty and self-sufficiency.
Isaiah 40 14 Context
This verse is found in Isaiah chapter 40, a section of profound comfort and hope for the exiled people of Israel. The prophet Isaiah, speaking in the context of God's sovereign power and upcoming deliverance from Babylonian captivity, addresses the people's doubts and despair. The chapter contrasts the might of God with the frailty of human empires and idols. In this specific verse, the prophet asserts God's unique position as the source of all wisdom, contrasting Him with the limited, and often foolish, wisdom sought from human counselors or idols. This rhetorical question aims to elevate God in the eyes of the people, establishing His absolute authority and ability to guide them through their current trials and into their future restoration. The immediate historical context is the Babylonian exile, where Israel might have felt abandoned and questioned God's plan. Isaiah is reasserting that God is in complete control, unhindered by human advice or limitations.
Isaiah 40 14 Word Analysis
- 'et (אֵת): A definite direct object marker.
- Indicates that the following noun is specific and definite.
- mi (מִי): Who?
- A standard interrogative pronoun used to ask about a person.
- yāʿaṣ (יָעַץ): Counsel; advice.
- Root meaning to plan, advise, or consult. Here, it implies seeking counsel or taking advice from someone.
- ləhî (לְהִי): For Him to receive/take.
- A prepositional phrase "le" (to/for) attached to the verb "ha'ya" (to be). In this context, it signifies someone taking counsel for God's benefit or guidance.
- ūšûšĕmînî (וּשְׂאוּשְּׁמִין): And instructed Him?
- The conjunction "waw" (וּ) meaning "and". The verb is from the root "shameya" (שָּׁמַע) meaning "to hear," and "hushmea" (הוּשְׁמַע) meaning "to cause to hear" or "to instruct." This suggests teaching or making someone understand.
- ’ělōhîm (אֱלֹהִים): God.
- The plural form of "El" (God), often used to emphasize God's majesty and power, or simply as the general term for God.
- lô (לוֹ): To Him; for Him.
- A possessive pronoun or dative suffix indicating "to Him" or "for Him."
- wĕrūḥô (וּרוּחֹ): And His Spirit.
- "Waw" (וּ) meaning "and." "Ruach" (רוּחַ) meaning "spirit," "wind," or "breath." The possessive suffix "o" refers to God. This could allude to God's Spirit being the source of His knowledge or the instrument of His understanding.
Groups of words analysis:
- "With whom took he counsel?": This phrase rhetorically questions if God sought advice from any human entity. It implies that God's decisions and understanding are not derived from external sources but are inherent to His nature.
- "and who instructed him?": This parallel phrase reinforces the first, questioning if any external being taught God. It emphasizes God's self-sufficiency in knowledge and understanding. The singular "him" directly refers back to God, underlining the personal nature of this divine knowledge.
Isaiah 40 14 Bonus Section
The verse employs a poetic rhetorical device common in Hebrew poetry, using parallel questions to drive home a single, powerful point. This makes the statement highly emphatic. The question implicitly challenges any belief systems or human claims of possessing divine wisdom. Furthermore, the mention of "His Spirit" in conjunction with instruction is significant; while God instructs Himself (as no one instructs Him), the Holy Spirit within the Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) is intrinsically linked to God's knowledge and wisdom. This hints at the internal unity and complexity of the Godhead. The verse is foundational to understanding biblical epistemology – how we know what we know about God, and how God knows all things. It underscores the majesty and inscrutability of God's ways, as explored throughout Scripture.
Isaiah 40 14 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and unique omniscience. It is a rhetorical question designed to emphasize that no human or any created being has contributed to God's understanding or wisdom. God's knowledge is not acquired; it is intrinsic and perfect. In the context of ancient Israel, where nations relied on prophets, oracles, or various deities for guidance, this verse clearly positions Yahweh as the one and only source of true wisdom. He does not need advisors or teachers because He is the Creator and the sustainer of all. His counsel is the ultimate counsel, and His instruction is the ultimate instruction. This understanding bolsters faith, assuring the exiles that the God who delivered them previously and promised future restoration possesses all the knowledge and power necessary for His purposes. The inability of creation to enlighten the Creator is a fundamental assertion of divine transcendence.