Isaiah 40:16 kjv
And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
Isaiah 40:16 nkjv
And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.
Isaiah 40:16 niv
Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
Isaiah 40:16 esv
Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
Isaiah 40:16 nlt
All the wood in Lebanon's forests
and all Lebanon's animals would not be enough
to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.
Isaiah 40 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 40:15 | Behold, the nations are as a drop from a bucket, and are counted as the dust of the balance. | Isa 40:15 (Completes the thought of incomparability) |
| Isa 40:18 | To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness will you compare him to? | Isa 40:18 (Direct question reinforcing the point) |
| Ps 50:7-12 | "Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God. I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or for your burnt offerings, which are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that fills it." | Ps 50:7-12 (God declares He doesn't need earthly offerings) |
| Ps 147:15 | He sends out his commandment by reason of the earth; his word runs very swiftly. | Ps 147:15 (Highlights God's power over creation) |
| Job 41:11 | Who has preceded me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is mine. | Job 41:11 (Affirms God's ownership of all things) |
| Acts 17:24-25 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all. mankind life and breath and everything." | Acts 17:24-25 (Echoes God's self-sufficiency and transcendence) |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." | 1 Sam 15:22 (Emphasizes obedience over ritual sacrifice) |
| Rom 11:34 | "For who has understood the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" | Rom 11:34 (Rhetorical question about God's inscrutable wisdom) |
| Col 1:16-17 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." | Col 1:16-17 (Establishes Christ as Creator, reiterating God's ownership) |
| Heb 10:4 | "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." | Heb 10:4 (Points to the insufficiency of animal sacrifices in NT) |
| Ps 96:7-8 | "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in holy attire;" | Ps 96:7-8 (Calls for worship fitting to God's name) |
| Deut 4:35 | "To you it was shown, that you might see that the Lord, he is God. There is no other besides him." | Deut 4:35 (Reinforces God's unique nature) |
| Isa 45:5-6 | "I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other." | Isa 45:5-6 (Explicit declaration of God's uniqueness) |
| John 4:24 | "God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” | John 4:24 (God's nature requires a different form of worship) |
| Ps 24:1 | "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." | Ps 24:1 (Statement of God's universal dominion) |
| Ps 135:5-6 | "For I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." | Ps 135:5-6 (Affirms God's power and sovereignty) |
| Jer 7:22-23 | "For I did not speak to your fathers or command them on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them, 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may go well with you.'" | Jer 7:22-23 (Highlights God's priority of obedience) |
| Hab 2:18-19 | "What profit does the idol make when its maker has carved it, or the metal image, a teacher of lies? For the maker trusts in his own work when he makes mute idols! Woe to him who says to what is made of wood, 'Awake,' to the silent stone, 'Arise!' Is that not able to teach? For it is encased in silver and gold, and there is no breath in it." | Hab 2:18-19 (Contrasts true God with powerless idols) |
| John 1:1-3 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." | John 1:1-3 (Emphasizes God's creative power, present in Christ) |
| Matt 22:37-40 | "And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”" | Matt 22:37-40 (The essence of God's requirement – love) |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 16 Meaning
Isaiah 40:16 describes the incomparability of God, stating that the cedar of Lebanon is insufficient to burn, and its beasts are not enough for a burnt offering. This signifies that no earthly offering or material possession can adequately represent or honor the greatness of God. His majesty transcends all physical creation.
Isaiah 40 16 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 40, which marks a significant shift in the book, moving from pronouncements of judgment to messages of comfort and hope for the exiled people of Judah in Babylon. The chapter declares the greatness and sovereignty of God as the ultimate power, in contrast to the lifeless idols worshipped by the Babylonians. It asserts that God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the only true God, who is able to deliver His people. The immediate context highlights God's unparalleled nature, emphasizing that no earthly power or offering can compare to His might and majesty.
Isaiah 40 16 Word Analysis
- Kī (כִּי): "For" or "Indeed" - Introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
- lō’ (לֹא): "not" - Negates the verb.
- rēwāh (רְוָה): "fullness" or "satisfied" - Here used with the verb "to give to drink," implying something that satisfies or is abundant.
- ‘eṣ-ba’rôh (עֵץ בְּרֹו): "its tree" or "tree of it."
- ‘eṣ (עֵץ): "tree" - Refers to wood, specifically mentioning the cedar of Lebanon.
- ba’ăr (בָּעַר): from the root meaning "to burn." The Hebrew noun bā‘ūr often means "wild beast" or "grazing animal" (derived from a sense of being driven), but here it is used in construction with ‘eṣ likely implying an animal associated with the tree or the habitat of such animals, or a hunting context.
- lehib‘îr (לְהַבְעִיר): "to cause to burn" or "to kindle" - Used here with offerings.
- wə‘ūṭam (וּמֵעוּטָם): "and their scarcity" or "and their abundance" (depending on interpretation of root ‘aṭa - to be few or to be present).
- wə‘attəh (וְעָתֶּה): another possible reading suggests "and their presence/abundance" of wild animals.
- yəḥḏî-‘ô (יַחַד עֹ): "they were gathered" or "they shall be collected."
- yəḥḏî (יַחַד): "together" or "union."
- ‘ō (עֹ): Possibility related to an indefinite plural subject, "they."
- lā‘ōlāh (לְעֹלָה): "for a burnt offering."
Group Analysis:
- "The cedars are not enough for it": This phrase emphasizes the inadequacy of even the grandest timber (cedar of Lebanon being highly prized) for a sufficient burnt offering. It highlights the vastness and sufficiency of God compared to the highest material provisions.
- "nor its wild beasts enough for a burnt offering": This extends the idea to animal sacrifices. Even all the wild animals of the region associated with the cedars are not enough to adequately represent God's worth. This powerfully communicates that God’s majesty is far beyond what can be captured by any physical offering or creature from His own creation.
Isaiah 40 16 Bonus Section
The reference to the cedar of Lebanon is significant culturally. Cedar wood was highly valued in the ancient Near East for its aromatic qualities, durability, and use in constructing temples and palaces, signifying prestige and strength. In this context, using it as an offering would imply presenting one's very best. The mention of "beasts of the forest" refers to the fauna that would inhabit such cedar forests, encompassing a range of creatures. The verse’s implication is that if even the best and most of creation is not enough, then humanity should look for a different way to approach God. This sets the stage for the revelation of God's provision for humanity's inability to offer what is truly worthy. The inadequacy of human offerings points forward to God's self-offering for redemption, as reflected in Jesus’ complete sacrifice which is sufficient for all who believe.
Isaiah 40 16 Commentary
Isaiah 40:16 powerfully underscores God's unparalleled sovereignty and majesty. The cedar of Lebanon, renowned for its strength, height, and enduring quality, symbolized the best of earthly grandeur. Yet, the verse asserts that even this prized timber, and all the wild creatures that inhabit the forest, are utterly insufficient for a burnt offering to God. This isn't a literal shortage of materials, but a theological statement about God's infinite worth. He is the Creator of all these things; therefore, His own creations cannot be used to buy His favor or adequately represent His glory. This teaches that true worship comes not from expensive or elaborate physical sacrifices, but from a contrite heart and a willing spirit, as emphasized throughout Scripture. The inadequacy of these offerings points to a deeper need, fulfilled in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose atoning work is more than sufficient for all humanity. The message encourages an understanding of God's transcendence, prompting worship that acknowledges His infinite superiority.