Isaiah 40:18

18 Can you compare God to anything? Can you compare him to an image of anything?

Isaiah 40:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 40:18

To whom then will ye liken God?
&c.] There is nothing in the whole creation that can bear any resemblance to him, or he to them; since all nations are as a drop of the bucket, as the small dust of the balance, as nothing, yea, less than nothing, and vanity: "or what likeness will ye compare unto him", F23 order, ordain, and appoint for him? in what rank can he be placed? to what class of beings can he be likened? what similitude can be given of him? what is there that is fit to be named with him, or compared to him? this, with what follows, is mentioned as an antidote to prevent the Jews falling into idolatry in Babylon, where they would be exposed unto it; or rather to prevent Christians in Gospel times from going into the idolatry of the Papists; see ( Acts 17:28 Acts 17:29 ) ( Revelation 19:20 Revelation 19:21 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F23 (wl wkret twmd hmw) "et quid similitudinis ponetis ei", Pagninus; "ordinabitis", Montanus; "disponetis", Vatablus.

Isaiah 40:18 In-Context

16 All the trees in Lebanon are not enough for the altar fires, and all the animals in Lebanon are not enough for burnt offerings.
17 Compared to the Lord all the nations are worth nothing; to him they are less than nothing.
18 Can you compare God to anything? Can you compare him to an image of anything?
19 An idol is formed by a craftsman, and a goldsmith covers it with gold and makes silver chains for it.
20 A poor person cannot buy those expensive statues, so he finds a tree that will not rot. Then he finds a skilled craftsman to make it into an idol that will not fall over.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.