Isaiah 40 25

Isaiah 40:25 kjv

To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25 nkjv

"To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25 niv

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25 esv

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25 nlt

"To whom will you compare me?
Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One.

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 25 Meaning

Isaiah 40:25 is a rhetorical question from God Himself, asserting His incomparable and transcendent nature. It emphatically declares that no being, human construction, or power can be likened to Him, nor can any be considered His equal. This verse highlights God's absolute uniqueness, supreme authority, and His utter distinction from anything created or conceived by man, especially idols. It serves as a profound statement of divine incomparability, inviting the audience to recognize the infinite gap between the Creator and all creation.

Isaiah 40 25 Context

Isaiah chapter 40 inaugurates what scholars call the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55) within Isaiah. This section is addressed primarily to the exiles in Babylon, offering hope, consolation, and reassurance of God's power and faithfulness, in stark contrast to their despair and the impotence of the Babylonian gods. The chapter begins by proclaiming God's comfort and preparing the way for His glorious return (Isa 40:1-5). It then contrasts human fragility with God's enduring Word (Isa 40:6-8), declares Zion's redemption (Isa 40:9-11), and powerfully portrays God's ultimate sovereignty over creation (Isa 40:12-17).

Verse 25 specifically builds on this depiction of God's cosmic power by challenging the notion that anyone or anything could ever compare to Him. Verses 18-20 introduce the idea of idols as empty counterfeits, then verses 21-24 emphasize God's role as Creator, establishing the earth and ruling over rulers. Therefore, verse 25 is a climax, explicitly refuting idolatry and any attempt to reduce God to a finite or comprehensible level, flowing logically from the earlier descriptions of His unparalleled power and wisdom, ultimately leading to the promise of renewed strength for those who wait on Him (Isa 40:27-31). The historical context is the pending (or current) Babylonian exile, where Israel faced a dominant polytheistic culture, making the affirmation of YHWH's sole deity profoundly significant.

Isaiah 40 25 Word analysis

• To whom then: (לְמִי־) lĕmî. This rhetorical interrogative particle expects no comparable answer. It forcefully demands a negative response, underlining absolute uniqueness. The "then" ('ap-pen) can add emphasis, implying "given all I've shown you about myself."
• will you liken me: (תְדַמְיוּנִי) təḏammyûnî. From the root dāmâ (דָּמָה), meaning 'to liken,' 'compare,' 'resemble,' or 'imagine.' Here, it is in the Hiphil stem, which denotes a causative sense: "cause to be like me" or "make a comparison." The rhetorical question directly challenges the human tendency to conceptualize God using familiar terms or finite forms, specifically challenging idol construction.
• or who: (וְכָמ֥וֹהוּ מִי־) wəkhāmôhû mî. This translates literally as "and who [is] like him/me?" It functions as a parallelism, reiterating and intensifying the previous question.
• shall be my equal?: (יִשְׁוֶה) yishveh. From the root shāvâ (שָׁוָה), meaning 'to be equal,' 'to compare favorably,' 'to correspond.' It expresses parity or equivalence. The term here rejects any peer or rival to God in power, wisdom, or authority.
• says: (יֹאמַר) yōʾmar. The future tense 'will say' or a continuous 'says' indicates a definitive, ongoing declaration from God, making the question a divine decree rather than a mere query.
• the Holy One: (קָדוֹשׁ) qāḏôš. This is a significant divine title. The root qādaš means 'to be set apart,' 'sacred,' 'consecrated.' Referring to God as "the Holy One" emphasizes His utter distinctness from all creation, His moral perfection, and His divine transcendence. This title is especially prominent in Isaiah ("Holy One of Israel"), indicating both His moral purity and His covenant faithfulness, even when Israel strayed. He is distinct not just in power, but in moral character and being.

Words-group analysis:

• "To whom then will you liken me, or who shall be my equal?": These are two parallel rhetorical questions forming a powerful theological statement. They leave no room for a positive answer, definitively stating God's absolute incomparability. The first asks about making a mental or physical comparison, the second about finding a peer. Together, they reject all forms of polytheism and idolatry by establishing YHWH's exclusive claim to ultimate power and unique existence.
• "says the Holy One": This phrase attributes the statement directly to God Himself, asserting divine authority and veracity. The title "the Holy One" anchors God's incomparable nature in His fundamental essence – His complete otherness and perfect moral purity. It connects His identity with the absolute standard of holiness, against which all created things are inherently unholy or, at best, derivative.

Isaiah 40 25 Bonus section

The concept of "likening" or "equaling" God is a central theme not just in Isaiah 40 but throughout the monotheistic core of the Old Testament. This constant reiteration reflects the historical struggle Israel had with idolatry and the surrounding pagan cultures where gods were numerous, often anthropomorphic, and sometimes subject to human manipulation or comparison with other deities. By explicitly and repeatedly asking "To whom will you liken Me?", God aims to dismantle these faulty worldviews and firmly establish the foundation for true worship and covenant fidelity. This polemic against idolatry isn't just a critique of false worship; it's an invitation to understand and appreciate the true nature of YHWH, whose being is the source of all existence and the standard of all reality. This understanding leads to the renewed strength promised later in the chapter, for those who truly recognize Him for who He is.

Isaiah 40 25 Commentary

Isaiah 40:25 serves as a potent theological anchor within the larger narrative of Isaiah, a declaration of divine exclusivity against a backdrop of despairing Israel and a polytheistic world. God, the "Holy One," is inherently incomparable. This verse is not merely a statement of fact but a profound challenge to human understanding and belief. It dismantles any attempt to contain God within human frameworks, physical representations (idols), or philosophical systems that seek to diminish His transcendence. The rhetorical questions demand that the audience acknowledge that any comparison diminishes God.

The force of the declaration rests on the title "the Holy One." This isn't just an attribute but a descriptor of His very being – separate, distinct, morally pure, and ultimately unapproachable except by His own initiative. For a people facing exile and surrounded by idols, this truth offered both comfort (a God who is truly supreme and active) and a renewed call to worship this one, true, incomparable God. Practically, this verse calls believers to surrender human efforts to define or limit God, encouraging an attitude of humility and adoration for His immeasurable greatness and holiness, fostering trust in His omnipotence rather than relying on visible, tangible, or human-fashioned solutions.