Isaiah 40:22 kjv
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:
Isaiah 40:22 nkjv
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
Isaiah 40:22 niv
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
Isaiah 40:22 esv
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
Isaiah 40:22 nlt
God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
and makes his tent from them.
Isaiah 40 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:22 | He… stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. | Isaiah 45:12 (God’s power in creation) |
| Psalm 19:1 | The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. | Psalm 104:2 (God’s vast creation) |
| Job 9:8 | He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. | Job 38:4 (Who laid the earth’s foundation?) |
| Job 26:7 | He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. | Psalm 24:2 (Earth founded on seas) |
| Jeremiah 10:12 | But it is he who made the earth by his power, who forged the world by his wisdom and spread out the heavens by his understanding. | Jeremiah 51:15 (Same statement) |
| Jeremiah 51:15 | He made the earth by his power, he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. | |
| Nehemiah 9:6 | You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry hosts, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. | Acts 17:24 (God’s creation) |
| Acts 17:24 | The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. | |
| Psalm 148:4 | Praise him, highest heavens, and you waters above the skies. | |
| Psalm 136:5 | to him who by wisdom made the heavens—his love endures forever. | |
| Psalm 136:6 | who set the earth on its watery foundation—his love endures forever. | |
| Isaiah 42:5 | This is what the Sovereign Lord says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes from it, who gives breath to its people and life to everything that moves, I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand and keep you. | |
| Isaiah 45:18 | For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited—he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. | |
| Job 38:31 | “Can you tie back the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? | |
| Psalm 104:3 | who lays the beams of his upper chambers on the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who rides on the wings of the wind, | |
| Proverbs 8:27 | I was there when he set the boundaries of the sea and drew the designs of the earth. | |
| John 1:3 | Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. | |
| Colossians 1:16 | For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. | |
| Revelation 4:11 | “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” | |
| Genesis 1:6 | And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” | |
| Genesis 1:14 | And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,” | |
| Hebrews 1:10 | He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.” | |
| Romans 1:20 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly perceived, ever since the world was created, in the things that have been made. So people are without excuse. |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 22 Meaning
Isaiah 40:22 states that God is the One who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. This verse highlights God's immense power, sovereignty, and creative ability over the vast expanse of the universe. He is not just a creator but actively sustains and orders His creation for His purposes.
Isaiah 40 22 Context
Isaiah 40 is a chapter of comfort and hope for the Israelites in exile in Babylon. It proclaims that their period of suffering is ending, and God is about to bring them back to Jerusalem. This restoration will demonstrate His supreme power and unique deity, contrasting with the impotence of Babylonian idols. The chapter emphasizes God's role as Creator, Shepherd, and Redeemer. The verse serves to bolster faith by reminding them of the unfathomable power of their God who orchestrates cosmic events.
Isaiah 40 22 Word Analysis
- He (הוּא - hu'): Refers to God, the subject of the sentence. Emphasizes His singular, personal involvement in creation.
- stretches out (נוֹטֵה - nōṭeh): From the root נָטָה (natah), meaning to spread out, extend, or stretch. Conveys a deliberate and powerful action of expansion.
- the heavens (שָׁמַיִם - shāmayim): Refers to the sky, firmament, or the expanse above the earth. The plural form suggests vastness and multiple dimensions.
- like a curtain (כַּיָּרִיעַ - kayyāri‘ah): The prefix כַּ (ka-) means "like" or "as." יָרִיעַ (yāri‘ah) refers to a tent curtain or canopy. This simile evokes a sense of expansiveness, a covering that is both vast and accessible, perhaps like a traveler’s tent.
- and spreads them out (וּפֹרֵשׂ - ūpōrēś): The conjunction וְ (we-) means "and." פֹּרֵשׂ (pōrēś) means to spread out, unfurl, or set forth. This word amplifies the act of spreading, emphasizing the careful arrangement.
- like a tent (כָּאָהֳל — kā’ōhel): Similar to the previous comparison, this likens the heavens to a tent (אֳהֳל - 'ohel). This specific comparison might also allude to the Tabernacle, the dwelling place of God among His people, suggesting God’s presence within His vast creation.
- to dwell in (לָשֶׁבֶת — lāšeḇeṯ): From the root שָׁבַת (shāḇat), meaning to sit, dwell, remain, or settle. It indicates the purpose for which the heavens are spread out – as a dwelling place for God, implying His sovereignty and habitation within His creation.
Words-group analysis:The parallel structure, "stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent," reinforces the immense scale and purposeful design of the cosmos, portraying it as a grand dwelling prepared by God. The choice of "curtain" and "tent" provides relatable imagery of expansive coverings from the nomadic desert culture of ancient Israel, making God's cosmic power comprehensible.
Isaiah 40 22 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word for "curtain" (יָרִיעַ - yāri‘ah) can also refer to a sail or a screen. The tent analogy (אֳהֳל - 'ohel) further emphasizes the idea of God dwelling or pitching His tent among His creation, a concept echoed in the concept of God's presence with Israel in the Tabernacle and, for Christians, in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). The vastness of the universe, as described by modern astronomy, serves as a continuous testament to the truth of this ancient poetic description of God's creative power.
Isaiah 40 22 Commentary
This verse powerfully declares the Creator's omnipotence. God didn't just create the universe; He meticulously designed and continues to sustain it. The analogies of a curtain and a tent, familiar in the ancient Near East, effectively convey the immense scope and layered nature of the heavens. The tent imagery also suggests that this vast expanse is not merely empty space but is prepared by God as His dwelling. This implies His immanence – God is not distant but present within His creation. For the exiled Israelites, this was a profound assurance that the God who commanded the stars also controlled their destiny and could bring them home. The immensity of the heavens is a testament to the limitless power of God, which He employs for His redemptive purposes for His people.