Isaiah 40 15

Isaiah 40:15 kjv

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Isaiah 40:15 nkjv

Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

Isaiah 40:15 niv

Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.

Isaiah 40:15 esv

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

Isaiah 40:15 nlt

No, for all the nations of the world
are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
as though it were a grain of sand.

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 15 Meaning

Isaiah 40:15 declares that the nations are like a drop in a bucket or dust on scales, signifying their insignificance when compared to God. This verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty and unmatched power over all creation. The nations, however numerous or mighty they may appear, are rendered negligible and utterly powerless before the Creator of the universe.

Isaiah 40 15 Context

Isaiah 40 marks a significant shift in the prophetic book, moving from judgment upon Judah to a message of comfort and hope. The preceding chapters detailed the impending exile and its reasons. This chapter, however, begins with a powerful proclamation of God's impending restoration and deliverance for His people. The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile, and Isaiah is speaking to a disheartened people. The primary message is to prepare them for God's return and to emphasize His incomparable might. This verse directly confronts any potential reliance on the power of earthly nations or empires.

Isaiah 40 15 Word Analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnêh): An interjection used to call attention, to introduce something important or surprising. It commands the hearer's focus on what follows.
• the nations (הַגּוֹיִם - haggōyim): Refers to the Gentile nations, particularly those surrounding Israel, like Egypt and Babylon, which were seen as oppressors and rivals to God's people. In this context, it encompasses all earthly powers and their perceived strength.
• as (כְּ־ - kə-): A preposition indicating comparison or likeness.
• a drop (נֶטֶף - neṭep̄): A small drop, a drip, a mere tiny quantity. Emphasizes minuteness.
• of a bucket (נֹאד - nōʼḏ): A waterskin or a wineskin, typically made from animal hide. Suggests a vessel that holds liquid. A single drop from such a container is extremely small.
• and (וְ־ - wə-): Conjunction connecting clauses or ideas.
• are counted (נֶחְשְׁבוּ - neḥšəḇû): Are reckoned, accounted for, considered. In the context of scales, it refers to being weighed or estimated.
• as (כְּ־ - kə-): Preposition of comparison.
• the small dust (עָבָר - ʻāḇār): Fine dust, powder, or particles. Suggests something light and easily blown away.
• of the balance (מֹאזְנָיִם - mōʼzənaim): Scales, specifically weighing scales. The dust settling on the pan of a balance would be imperceptible.

Words-group analysis

• "the nations are as a drop of a bucket": This phrase vividly illustrates the comparative insignificance of even the largest empires. The nation that seems immense and powerful is no more substantial than a single, tiny drop of liquid that would escape from a waterskin. It suggests no lasting weight or consequence in God's sight.
• "and are counted as the small dust of the balance": This amplifies the idea of worthlessness and inconsequentiality. The "dust of the balance" refers to the fine particles that might accumulate on the weighing pans or fall from them, so fine that they don't even register as a measurable weight. It points to absolute negligible value.

Isaiah 40 15 Bonus Section

The polemic intent of this verse is clear: it counters the idolatrous reliance on political or military strength, which was common in the ancient Near East. Nations often attributed their success to their gods, elevating their patron deities alongside or above the God of Israel. Isaiah refutes this by showing that the "gods" of the nations are themselves subject to the ultimate authority of the God of Israel, who created everything. The concept of God's transcendence is key here; He is not just powerful among other powers, but He is wholly other and operates outside the constraints that govern earthly existence. This truth underpins the gospel message that true deliverance and lasting security are found solely in God.

Isaiah 40 15 Commentary

This verse provides a powerful corrective to human pride and nationalistic boasting. When facing seemingly insurmountable worldly powers, God's people are reminded that all nations, despite their grandeur and influence in the human realm, are utterly insignificant from God's eternal perspective. This understanding should foster humility and trust in God's sovereign power, which dwarfs any earthly might. The imagery of a drop in a bucket and dust on scales communicates an overwhelming sense of relative insignificance. It implies that God's actions and purposes operate on a scale far beyond human comprehension or national capabilities. For believers today, it's a reminder to anchor their hope and security in the unshakeable power of God, rather than in the shifting fortunes of nations or human endeavors.