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Verse Takeaways
1
God's Incomparable Majesty
Commentators explain that this verse uses powerful hyperbole, describing all nations as "less than nothing" and "vanity" to show God's absolute greatness. The word for "vanity" is the same Hebrew word (tohu) used for the formless chaos in Genesis 1:2. This isn't to say humans have no value, but that in comparison to God's infinite power, all human strength and institutions are utterly insignificant.
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Book Overview
Isaiah
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Commentaries
8
Albert Barnes
On Isaiah 40:17
18th Century
Theologian
Are as nothing - This expresses literally what had been expressed by the beautiful and striking imagery above.
Less than nothing -<…
Charles Ellicott
On Isaiah 40:17
19th Century
Bishop
Less than nothing. —Literally, as things of nothing.
Vanity. —Once more the tohu, or cha…
Charles Spurgeon
On Isaiah 40:12–17
19th Century
Preacher
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…
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John Calvin
On Isaiah 40:17
16th Century
Theologian
All nations. He repeats what he has said: that it is in God’s power and at his disposal to destroy all nations, whenever he think…
John Gill
On Isaiah 40:17
17th Century
Pastor
All nations before him are as nothing As if they were nonentities, and were not real beings in comparison of him, who is …
Matthew Henry
On Isaiah 40:12–17
17th Century
Minister
All created beings shrink to nothing in comparison with the Creator. When the Lord, by his Spirit, made the world, none directed his Spirit, or gav…