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Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

KJV

Quis mensus est pugillo aquas, et cælos palmo ponderavit ? quis appendit tribus digitis molem terræ, et libravit in pondere montes, et colles in statera ?

Vulgate

Τίς ἐμέτρησεν τῇ χειρὶ τὸ ὕδωρ, καὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν σπιθαμῇ, καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν δρακί; τίς ἔστησεν τὰ ὄρη σταθμῷ καὶ τὰς νάπας ζυγῷ;

LXX

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

ASV

מִֽי מָדַ֨ד בְּ/שָׁעֳל֜/וֹ מַ֗יִם וְ/שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ בַּ/זֶּ֣רֶת תִּכֵּ֔ן וְ/כָ֥ל בַּ/שָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָ/אָ֑רֶץ וְ/שָׁקַ֤ל בַּ/פֶּ֨לֶס֙ הָרִ֔ים וּ/גְבָע֖וֹת בְּ/מֹאזְנָֽיִם

Hebrew

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In the original Hebrew

16 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.

אֶ֣רֶץ
'rts
noun · 2484×
גְּבָע֖וֹת
gb'vt
noun · 70×
ה
h
verb · 23×
הַ֣ר
hr
noun · 544×
ו
v
noun · 20×
זֶ֥רֶת
zrt
noun · 7×
יִתָּכֵ֖ן
ytkn
verb · 18×
יָּ֣מָד
ymd
verb · 51×
ךָ
k
verb · 37×
מִ֣י
my
particle · 420×
מַ֖יִם
mym
noun · 580×
מֹאזְנֵ֥י
m'zny
noun · 15×
עָפָ֥ר
'pr
noun · 109×
פֶּ֨לֶס֙
pls
noun · 2×
שְׁעָלִ֕ים
sh'lym
noun · 3×
שָּׁמַ֔יִם
shmym
noun · 419×

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Earthly things may be the type of heavenly, but the latter cannot be the types of others still superior and unknown; nor can we, without absolute madness, maintain that God is known to us only as the type of a still unknown and superior being. 1. Now the gifts, oblations, and all the sacrifices, did the people receive in a figure, as was shown to Moses in the mount, from one an…
Moreover, I will also tell you concerning the temple, how the wretched people, being deceived, set their hope on the building, and not on their God that made them, as being a house of God.
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. This chapter begins the great consolatory section of Isaiah. The voice crying in the wilderness — prepare ye the way of the Lord — is identified in the Gospels with John the Baptist. All flesh is grass, but the word of our God shall stand forever. The incomparable majesty of God is displayed in his power over creation: he measur…
Does prophecy pertain to knowledge? Is it a habit? Is it only about future contingencies? Does a prophet know all possible matters of prophecy? Does a prophet distinguish that which he perceives by the gift of God, from that which he perceives by his own spirit? Can anything false be the matter of prophecy? Article 1. Whether prophecy pertains to knowledge? Objection 1. It woul…

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 16:25 — For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.
  • Acts 17:24 — God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
  • Amos 4:13 — For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, T
  • Gen 1:2 — And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
  • Heb 1:10 — And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
  • Isa 41:4 — Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
  • Isa 42:5 — Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit
  • Isa 45:12 — I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
  • Isa 48:13 — 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.
  • Isa 48:13 — 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.
  • Jer 31:37 — Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
  • Job 9:5 — Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
  • Job 11:7 — Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
  • Job 28:25 — To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
  • Job 28:25 — To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
  • Job 38:4 — Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
  • Job 38:5 — Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
  • Prov 8:26 — While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
  • Prov 30:4 — Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and w
  • Prov 30:4 — Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and w
  • Ps 102:25 — Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
  • Ps 104:2 — Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
  • Rev 20:11 — And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
  • Zech 12:1 — The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.