Isaiah 40 26

Isaiah 40:26 kjv

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Isaiah 40:26 nkjv

Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 niv

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 esv

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 nlt

Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 26 Meaning

This verse highlights the power and majesty of God as the Creator. He is the one who "lifted up His eyes on high and saw who has created these things." This implies God's comprehensive knowledge and control over the vast cosmos. The subsequent revelation is that He "brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name." This emphasizes God's intimate relationship with and detailed orchestration of the universe, calling each celestial body by its specific, unique designation.

Isaiah 40 26 Context

This verse is found within Isaiah chapter 40, a chapter that begins with comforting words to Jerusalem, announcing the end of their punishment and the coming of God's salvation. The prophet emphasizes God's immeasurable power and glory in contrast to the futility of idols. God's ability to create and control the entire universe, including the vast array of stars, serves as a powerful testament to His unique divinity. The surrounding verses speak of God as the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who does not faint or grow weary. This chapter seeks to reassure a people in exile by reminding them of the incomparable might and tender care of their God.

Isaiah 40 26 Word Analysis

• Lifted (Hebrew: nasa'): This verb can mean to lift, carry, raise, or even to set one's mind or eyes upon something. Here, it conveys a deliberate and attentive gaze.
• His eyes (Hebrew: ‘eyney): Refers to His sight and perception, emphasizing His awareness and knowledge.
• On high (Hebrew: mah): Can signify "what" or "who," but in this context, it emphasizes looking upward towards the heavens.
• And saw (Hebrew: wa-yar'): "Saw" indicates perception and recognition.
• Who (Hebrew: mi): Introduces a rhetorical question about the identity of the creator.
• Has created (Hebrew: bara’): A fundamental Hebrew word for "create," often used for God's unique act of bringing something into existence ex nihilo (out of nothing). It signifies divine, originating power.
• These things (Hebrew: ‘eleh): Refers to the celestial bodies, the stars, sun, moon, and galaxies mentioned or alluded to in the context of the heavens.
• To bring out (Hebrew: hotze’): Denotes the act of causing something to emerge or come forth.
• Their host (Hebrew: tsava’am): "Tsava" refers to an army, a multitude, or an assembly. In the context of the heavens, it signifies the vast multitude of stars, planets, and other celestial bodies, often conceived of as a divinely ordered army.
• By number (Hebrew: bemeqem): Implies a meticulous count, indicating precision and order, not chaos.
• He calls (Hebrew: yivore’) : The Hebrew word "qara" means to call out, to summon, or to name. It implies a personal and intimate knowledge.
• Them (Hebrew: otam): Refers back to the "host."
• All (Hebrew: kol): Emphasizes the completeness of God's knowledge and control over every single celestial body.
• By name (Hebrew: beshem): Signifies unique identity and personal designation. It underlines the specific and personal knowledge God has of each star.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Lifted up His eyes on high and saw who has created these things": This phrase sets up God as the ultimate observer and initiator of the cosmos. It moves beyond mere existence to active recognition of the Creator. The upward gaze signifies the vastness of the creation being surveyed.
• "Who has created these things": This is a rhetorical assertion. The answer, understood by the audience and stated elsewhere in scripture, is God Himself. It serves to underscore His unique power.
• "He brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name": This part details the nature of God's creation and dominion. It's not a haphazard assembly but a precisely ordered multitude. The idea of calling each by name reveals a personal relationship and perfect knowledge of every element within the grand cosmic "host."

Isaiah 40 26 Bonus Section

The concept of God calling the stars by name is echoed in Psalm 147:4: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." This suggests a shared theological understanding in ancient Israel regarding God's meticulous oversight of the cosmos. This detailed knowledge implies sovereignty; to name something is to have authority over it. The Hebrew word bara' used for "created" often signifies creation from nothing, emphasizing God's unique, transcendent power, distinct from human crafting or the pagan concept of creation from pre-existing chaotic matter. The "host" (tsava) also relates to the angelic armies, hinting at the ordered, perhaps even hierarchical, nature of the heavenly realms under God's command. The application of this divine power to cosmic entities amplifies the promise that God has the power to deliver His people from exile and re-establish them.

Isaiah 40 26 Commentary

Isaiah 40:26 is a powerful declaration of God's sovereign authority and intimate knowledge of His creation. Unlike the pagan deities whose worshippers believed their gods were limited to certain domains or ignorant of the vastness of the cosmos, the God of Israel is depicted as actively surveying, meticulously numbering, and personally naming every star. This verse counters any notion of a distant, indifferent deistic creator. Instead, it presents a God who is both immensely powerful to have fashioned the entirety of the universe and deeply engaged with it, down to the individual designation of each celestial body. This immense scale, coupled with such specific intimacy, serves as a profound assurance of God's capability to bring about His promised salvation and to care for His people. The meticulous naming of stars highlights that nothing is too small or insignificant for God's attention, extending assurance of His care to the exiles themselves.