Isaiah 40 16

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 verses

Isaiah 40 16 Meaning

Isaiah 40:16 emphatically declares the infinite majesty and incomparability of God by highlighting the utter insufficiency of even the grandest earthly resources to truly honor Him or atone for sin. It asserts that the vast cedar forests of Lebanon could not provide enough fuel for a burnt offering, nor could all its abundant wild animals suffice for the sacrifice itself. This stark hyperbole conveys that no human effort, no matter how extravagant, can adequately meet the standard of worship and propitiation due to a God of such limitless glory and power, foreshadowing the need for a spiritual and divinely provided means of approach.

Isaiah 40 16 Context

Isaiah chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the book of Isaiah, moving from prophecies of judgment to a message of comfort and hope for Israel, particularly anticipating their return from Babylonian exile. It opens with "Comfort, comfort my people" (v. 1). The chapter immediately establishes God's absolute sovereignty and immense power over creation and nations (vv. 12-15). Isaiah 40:16 follows directly after God is described as measuring waters, heaven, earth, and weighing mountains (v. 12), and nations as a mere drop in a bucket or dust on the scales (v. 15). The verse therefore functions to further amplify God's unchallengeable greatness, asserting that even the most abundant earthly resources (Lebanon) are utterly inadequate to properly respond to such an infinitely glorious God. This serves to both comfort Israel with God's power and remind them of their utter dependence on Him, rather than any human endeavor or ritual. Historically, Lebanon was famous for its grand cedar forests (1 Ki 5:6-8) and diverse wildlife, symbolizing the height of natural wealth and resource in the ancient Near East.

Isaiah 40 16 Word analysis

• Lebanon (הַלְּבָנוֹן, hal-leḇā·nō·wn): Refers to the renowned mountain range north of Israel, celebrated for its towering cedar forests. In ancient literature, Lebanon represented immense natural wealth, majesty, and an inexhaustible supply of timber, vital for grand construction like Solomon's Temple. Its inclusion here establishes a high bar for "abundance," which is then declared insufficient.
• would not suffice (לֹא-דֵי, lō'-ḏê): "Not enough," or "insufficient." This emphatic negation highlights absolute inadequacy. The phrase is powerful in its directness, stating that even an ultimate natural resource like Lebanon falls far short.
• for fuel (לְבָעֵר, lə·ḇā·‘êr): Specifically means "for burning" or "for kindling." This directly refers to the requirement for fire in cultic sacrifices, particularly the massive amounts needed for a complete burnt offering. It implies an immense scale of combustion needed for an offering that reflects God's glory.
• nor its animals (וְחַיָּתוֹ, wə·ḥay·yā·ṯōw): "And its wild beasts/animals." Lebanon was known not just for trees but also for its rich and varied fauna (Ps 104:16-18), representing prime sources for sacrificial animals. Even this peak of animal abundance is declared inadequate.
• enough (דֵּי, dê): Repeats the word for "sufficiency" or "enough" from "would not suffice," intensifying the declaration of absolute inadequacy. Its repetition serves for strong emphasis.
• for a burnt offering (לְעוֹלָה, lə·‘ō·lāh): The ʿōlāh was a "whole burnt offering" in which the entire animal (except the hide) was consumed by fire on the altar. It was a primary offering for atonement and a symbol of complete dedication to God (Lev 1). The inability of all Lebanon's animals to serve as one such adequate offering underscores God's immeasurable worth.

Words-group analysis:

• "Lebanon would not suffice for fuel": This phrase establishes the inadequacy of the grandest earthly vegetation (cedars) as mere means to an end for honoring God. The hyperbole vividly portrays the vast quantity of material resources that would hypothetically be required to appropriately burn an offering worthy of God.
• "nor its animals enough for a burnt offering": This expands the hyperbole from resources (fuel) to the offering itself (animals). It indicates that even if one could assemble all the impressive wildlife from such a majestic region, it still wouldn't constitute a sufficient sacrifice to truly reflect the magnitude of God's holiness and power. The conjunction "nor" binds these two insufficiencies, forming a single, profound statement about the limitation of all human-controlled, material attempts to honor God.

Isaiah 40 16 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Isaiah 40:16 extends beyond merely comparing God's greatness to human efforts; it challenges anthropocentric tendencies in religious thought, common in the Ancient Near East, where gods were often viewed as needing physical sustenance or offerings to be appeased. Isaiah counters this by portraying Yahweh as entirely self-sufficient, requiring nothing, and indeed owning everything. The value in any offering, therefore, rests not in the material gift itself, but in the spirit of the worshipper, the obedience it represents, and ultimately, its pointer to God's own promised redemption. This sets up a crucial distinction between cultic practices meant to earn favor and acts of worship as responses of gratitude and love to a transcendent God. The grandeur of Lebanon itself became a symbol for ephemeral glory when contrasted with the eternal nature of God (Isa 2:13, Zec 11:1).

Isaiah 40 16 Commentary

Isaiah 40:16 functions as a dramatic climax to the preceding verses (12-15) which meticulously catalogue God's cosmic power and unmatched sovereignty. The verse uses vivid hyperbole rooted in the ancient world's perception of "Lebanon" as the pinnacle of natural abundance, especially for its magnificent cedars and teeming wildlife. By stating that even this immense resource cannot furnish enough fuel or animals for a single adequate burnt offering, the prophet starkly conveys that no human ritual or material gift, no matter how extravagant, can ever match the infinite majesty, holiness, or worth of the true God. This does not invalidate sacrifice per se, but critiques the presumption that humans, by their own efforts, can fully honor, impress, or placate God on His terms. It underlines that all human-originated sacrifices are inherently limited, setting the stage for a divine provision, and underscoring a call for spiritual rather than merely material worship. Ultimately, this verse lays groundwork for the New Covenant understanding that only Christ's perfect, divinely appointed sacrifice is truly sufficient.