Bible Strands
Isaiah 40:13
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the exiled community of Israel, using a rhetorical question to contrast human limitation with divine sovereignty.
The words — מִֽי (mi) translates as “who?” and תִכֵּן (ti.Ken) means “has he directed.” The verse literally asks who has directed Yahweh’s spirit or informed Him regarding His counsel.
The thread — The question appears in 1 Corinthians 2:16 and Romans 11:34 as Greek citations of the Septuagint, while Job 21:22 poses a parallel inquiry about teaching God.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God requires no guidance, instruction, or counsel from any created being.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 2:16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
- Romans 11:34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
- Job 21:22 Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
- Job 36:22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
- Luke 10:22 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”
- Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
- John 1:13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.