Isaiah 40:14-18

40:14 From whom does he receive directions? ¹ 

Who ²  teaches him the correct way to do things, ³ 

or imparts knowledge to him,

or instructs him in skillful design? ⁴ 

40:15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are regarded as dust on the scales.

He lifts ⁵  the coastlands ⁶  as if they were dust.

40:16 Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; ⁷ 

its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings. ⁸ 

40:17 All the nations are insignificant before him;

they are regarded as absolutely nothing. ⁹ 

40:18 To whom can you compare God?

To what image can you liken him?

[40:14]  ¹ tn Heb “With whom did he consult, so that he gave discernment to him?”

[40:14]  ² tn Heb “and taught him.” The vav (ו) consecutive with prefixed verbal form continues the previous line. The translation employs an interrogative pronoun for stylistic reasons.

[40:14]  ³ tn The phrase אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּט (’orakh mishpat) could be translated “path of justice” (so NASB, NRSV), but in this context, where creative ability and skill is in view, the phrase is better understood in the sense of “the way that is proper or fitting” (see BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 6); cf. NIV, NCV “the right way.”

[40:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “or the way of understanding causes him to know?”

[40:15]  ⁵ tn Or “weighs” (NIV); NLT “picks up.”

[40:15]  ⁶ tn Or “islands” (NASB, NIV, NLT).

[40:16]  ⁹ tn The words “for a sacrifice” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[40:16]  ¹⁰ sn The point is that not even the Lebanon forest could supply enough wood and animals for an adequate sacrifice to the Lord.

[40:17]  ¹³ tn Heb “[as derived] from nothing and unformed.”