Isaiah 40:23 kjv
That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isaiah 40:23 nkjv
He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless.
Isaiah 40:23 niv
He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
Isaiah 40:23 esv
who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
Isaiah 40:23 nlt
He judges the great people of the world
and brings them all to nothing.
Isaiah 40 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:23 | He brings princes to naught; He makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. | Sovereignty over Rulers |
| Psalm 75:7 | But God is the judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | Divine Judgment |
| Psalm 107:40 | He pours contempt on nobles and causes them to wander in wasteland where there is no path. | Humiliation of Leaders |
| Proverbs 22:28 | Do not move the ancient boundary stone that your fathers have set. | Respect for Authority |
| Ecclesiastes 10:5 | There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error that goes from the ruler: | Consequences of Poor Rule |
| Jeremiah 1:10 | See, today I have appointed you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow, build and plant. | God's Authority over Nations |
| Daniel 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | Divine Ordination of Kings |
| Daniel 4:17 | The decision is announced by watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men. | God's Rule Over Humanity |
| Daniel 4:32 | He will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; he will eat grass like the cattle, and he will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass over him, until he acknowledges that the Most High is ruler over the kingdoms of men and appoints over them whoever he wishes. | Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation |
| Hosea 1:4 | And the Lord said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, because in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel." | Judgment on a Dynasty |
| Matthew 6:13 | And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. | Spiritual Warfare |
| Acts 12:23 | Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. | Divine Retribution |
| Romans 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | Authority from God |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; | God's Wisdom and Strength |
| 1 Timothy 6:15 | which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, | Christ's Ultimate Reign |
| Revelation 1:5 | and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood... | Christ as King of Kings |
| Revelation 17:14 | They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." | Christ's Ultimate Victory |
| Revelation 19:16 | On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. | Title of Christ |
| Proverbs 14:34 | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | Righteousness and Nations |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 23 Meaning
This verse declares that God causes princes and rulers of the earth to become insignificant, even as if they had never been. It emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over human governments and His power to nullify the authority and achievements of earthly rulers, rendering them as if they never existed.
Isaiah 40 23 Context
Isaiah 40 serves as a powerful message of comfort and hope to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. The chapter contrasts the unchangeable nature of God with the fleeting power of earthly kingdoms and rulers. It reassures them that despite their present suffering and the might of their oppressors, God is ultimately in control. The immediate context before verse 23 speaks of the nations and their rulers being as nothing before the LORD, highlighting His incomparable majesty and power. This serves to build faith in a God who can bring about their liberation. Historically, this would have resonated with the people living under the dominion of powerful empires like Babylon, reminding them that these rulers were not gods themselves but subjects of the true God's authority.
Isaiah 40 23 Word Analysis
- Who ( Hebrew: asher) - A relative pronoun, connecting this clause to the preceding statements about God's power.
- brings (Hebrew: hafaresh) - To make null, to make void, to bring to nothing. This implies an active cancellation of existence or significance.
- princes (Hebrew: sarim) - Chiefs, captains, rulers, nobles. It refers to leaders and authorities.
- to naught (Hebrew: bli- referring to absence, negation; masoh) - To a non-existent state, or to a state of being nothingness.
- He (Hebrew: hu) - Refers back to God, emphasizing His personal agency.
- makes (Hebrew: ya'ash) - To form, to fashion, to do. Here, it signifies rendering or causing something to become.
- the rulers (Hebrew: shoftei) - Judges, rulers. It denotes those who govern and administer justice.
- of the earth (Hebrew: erets) - Land, earth, ground. Denotes the terrestrial realm, the human world.
- as nothing (Hebrew: khebel) - A rope, a cord; by extension, vanity, emptiness, nothingness.
Words-Group Analysis
- "brings princes to naught": This phrase signifies God's ability to dismantle and discredit human leadership, regardless of their apparent power or authority.
- "He makes the rulers of the earth as nothing": This complements the first part by asserting that all earthly authorities, without exception, are rendered utterly insignificant before the Lord's supreme power and sovereignty.
Isaiah 40 23 Bonus Section
The sentiment expressed in Isaiah 40:23 echoes throughout Scripture, demonstrating a consistent theological theme. From the leveling of Pharaoh's might in the Exodus to the pronouncements against earthly kings in the Psalms and Prophets, God is repeatedly depicted as the ultimate sovereign who holds human power in check. This verse encourages a posture of humility and trust in God, even when faced with oppressive or seemingly insurmountable human authorities. It calls believers to place their ultimate allegiance not in the shifting sands of human power, but in the immutable character and sovereignty of God, who upholds justice and establishes His kingdom.
Isaiah 40 23 Commentary
Isaiah 40:23 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over all human institutions, particularly governmental authorities. It asserts that no earthly ruler, however powerful or imposing, can stand against the Creator of the universe. Their decrees, their armies, and their empires are ultimately subject to God's will and power. This verse not only served to comfort the exiles by reminding them that their oppressors were not ultimate powers, but it also serves as a perpetual reminder to all believers that true power and authority reside in God alone. Human rulers are transient, their reigns temporary, and their influence ultimately comes to nought when measured against God's eternal plan. The ultimate fulfillment of this is seen in the reign of Jesus Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, upon whose shoulders the government rests, and whose kingdom will never be destroyed.