Isaiah 40:18

18 And to whom will you liken God? And to what likeness will you compare him?

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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Isaiah 40:18 In-Context

16 And Lebanon [is] not enough to light a fire, and its animals not enough for a burnt offering.

17 All the nations [are] like nothing before him; they are counted by him as nothing and emptiness.

18 And to whom will you liken God? And to what likeness will you compare him?

19 A craftsman pours out the idol, and a {goldsmith} overlays it with gold, and [he] smelts chains of silver.

20 The one who is [too] impoverished [for] a gift chooses wood [that] will not rot; he seeks a skillful artisan for himself to set up an image [that] will not be knocked over.