Bible Strands
Isaiah 40:15
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet delivers God’s response to Israel following rhetorical questions about divine counsel in Isaiah 40:14. The declaration immediately precedes the contrast with Lebanon’s insufficient resources in Isaiah 40:16.
The words — מֹאזְנַיִם (moz.Na.yim) means "scales," and נֶחְשָׁ֑בוּ (nech.Sha.vu) translates to "they are regarded." These terms establish the weighing metaphor used to evaluate human power.
The thread — The measurement motif continues in Isaiah 40:22 where earth’s inhabitants are diminished, Jeremiah 10:10 where God is declared the eternal King, and Job 34:14 where divine withdrawal alters creation. Each passage traces the same contrast between finite creation and sovereign control.
Why it lands — The text states that nations and islands hold negligible weight when measured against divine authority. Readers must abandon reliance on human strength and acknowledge God’s unmatched sovereignty.
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
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
- Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.
- Job 34:14 If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
- Isaiah 29:5 But your many foes will be like fine dust, the multitude of the ruthless like blowing chaff. Then suddenly, in an instant,
- Isaiah 11:11 On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
- Genesis 10:5 From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.
- Isaiah 41:5 The islands see and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward.
- Isaiah 59:18 So He will repay according to their deeds: fury to His enemies, retribution to His foes, and recompense to the islands.
- Isaiah 66:19 I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
- Daniel 11:18 Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him.