Isaiah 48:13 kjv
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
Isaiah 48:13 nkjv
Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together.
Isaiah 48:13 niv
My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.
Isaiah 48:13 esv
My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.
Isaiah 48:13 nlt
It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,
my right hand that spread out the heavens above.
When I call out the stars,
they all appear in order."
Isaiah 48 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 48:12 | Hear me, O Jacob, and Israel whom I called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. | O.T. (Identity & Sovereignty) |
| Isaiah 44:6 | Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” | O.T. (Exclusivity of God) |
| Isaiah 43:10 | “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. | O.T. (Divine Witness & Identity) |
| Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | O.T. (Creation) |
| Psalm 33:6 | By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. | O.T. (God's Creative Word) |
| Job 38:4-7 | “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the carpenter’s line across it? On what were its foundations sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? | O.T. (God's Control over Creation) |
| Jeremiah 10:10-12 | But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations cannot endure his indignation. Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” He made the earth by his power, he established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. | O.T. (Contrast with Idols) |
| Jeremiah 32:17 | “‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. | O.T. (God's Power in Creation) |
| John 1:3 | All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. | N.T. (Christ as Creator) |
| Colossians 1:16 | For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. | N.T. (Christ's Role in Creation) |
| Hebrews 1:2 | but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. | N.T. (Christ as Creator) |
| Revelation 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | N.T. (Eternal Nature) |
| Revelation 4:11 | “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” | N.T. (Worship of Creator) |
| Acts 17:24-25 | The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hand, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to allmemiş life and breath and everything. | N.T. (God as Creator and Sustainer) |
| 1 Corinthians 8:6 | yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. | N.T. (Trinity and Creation) |
| Deuteronomy 4:39 | Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no other. | O.T. (God's Sovereignty) |
| Psalm 90:2 | Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. | O.T. (Eternal God) |
| Nehemiah 9:6 | You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. | O.T. (God as Creator and Preserver) |
| Acts 4:24 | When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,... | N.T. (Praise to Creator) |
| Ephesians 3:9 | and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. | N.T. (God's Eternal Plan) |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 13 Meaning
This verse declares God's supreme power and sole agency in creation and in directing historical events. It asserts that God alone fashioned the world and continues to hold dominion over it, specifically highlighting His singular role in Israel's destiny and His ability to control opposing forces.
Isaiah 48 13 Context
Isaiah 48 is part of a larger prophetic message to the nation of Israel, particularly during the Babylonian exile. God is addressing Jacob (representing Israel) and reminding them of His unique power and faithfulness, contrasting it with the idols of the surrounding nations. He is proving that He, and not the Babylonian gods, is the true sovereign Lord who foretold and orchestrated their coming judgment and future restoration. This particular verse stands out by powerfully affirming God's role as the singular creator and sustainer of the universe, emphasizing His ultimate authority over all existence and His active involvement in their history. The emphasis on His primordial act of creation underscores His unmatched power and right to command their obedience and trust.
Isaiah 48 13 Word Analysis
- And I (וַאֲנִי) - The Hebrew conjunction "and" (וְ, ve) links this statement to the preceding verses, continuing the divine self-declaration. The pronoun "I" (אֲנִי, ani) forcefully emphasizes the speaker's personal presence and agency.
- the hand (יַד, yad) - Refers to the physical action, the instrumentality or power of God's doing.
- my right hand (יְמִינִי, yemini) - The right hand traditionally symbolizes strength, authority, and power in the ancient Near East. It signifies the direct and forceful execution of God's will.
- stretched out (מָתַחְתִּי, matachti) - This verb signifies extension or spreading out, used here for the act of spanning or creating the heavens. It conveys a deliberate and expansive act.
- the heavens (שָׁמַיִם, shamayim) - The word for sky or heavens, referring to the celestial expanse.
- all their host (צְבָאָם, tzva'am) - "Host" (צָבָא, tzva') can refer to an army, a multitude, or the heavenly bodies (stars, sun, moon). Here, it encompasses all the celestial creations, emphasizing the totality of God's dominion over the cosmos.
- and all their host - The repetition reinforces the comprehensive nature of God's creative work, leaving no aspect of the celestial realm unaddressed.
Word Group Analysis
- "And I the hand my right hand stretched out the heavens" - This entire phrase vividly portrays God as a powerful artisan, using His own powerful hand as the instrument to create and extend the vastness of the heavens. It’s a physical metaphor for divine creative action and authority. The repetition of "hand" emphasizes the personal, direct, and mighty involvement of God.
Isaiah 48 13 Bonus Section
The concept of "stretching out the heavens" is a recurring motif in Isaiah, often emphasizing God's power to expand, protect, and transform. This imagery is echoed in other prophetic writings and New Testament passages. The inclusion of "all their host" emphasizes that even the vastness of the cosmos and the intricate order of the stars are subject to His direct command and design, further alienating the polytheistic worship that often focused on celestial bodies as deities themselves. This verse directly polemicizes against the Babylonian creation myths, which often described the universe arising from cosmic battles and the dismemberment of a divine being. Isaiah asserts a singular, volitional, and orderly creation by one Almighty God.
Isaiah 48 13 Commentary
This verse is a foundational declaration of God's sovereignty rooted in His identity as the sole Creator. It’s a profound affirmation that precedes and underpins all other attributes and actions of God towards His people. The image of God stretching out His own hand to create the heavens, along with all their celestial array, serves as the ultimate proof of His unique power and supreme authority. There is no other entity capable of such a feat. This establishes the basis for Israel's (and by extension, believers') absolute trust in Him, for the One who brought the universe into existence is certainly able to orchestrate their history, deliver them from their enemies, and fulfill His promises. It challenges any notion of co-creators or powers rivaling His dominion.