Isaiah 40:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 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, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? | Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance? | 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, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? |
In context
Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| who? | מִֽי־ | mi- | H4310 | who?מִי (mi) who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever |
| has he measured | מָדַ֨ד | ma-DAD | H4058 | to measureמָדַד (ma.dad) 1) to measure, stretch 1a) (Qal) to measure 1b) (Niphal) to be measured 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to extend, continue 1c2) to measure, measure off 1d) (Po) measured 1e) (Hithpolel) to extend oneself, stretch oneself Also means: mid.dad (מָדַד "to extend" H4059) |
| in [the] hollow of hand his | בְּשָׁעֳל֜וֹ | be-sho-'o-LO | H8168 | handfulשֹׁ֫עַל (sho.al) 1) hollow hand, hollow of hand, handful 1a) hollow hand, hollow of hand 1b) handful |
| [the] waters | מַ֗יִם | MA-yim | H4325G | waterמַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.) |
| and [the] heavens | וְשָׁמַ֙יִם֙ | ve-sha-MA-yim | H8064 | heavenשָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065) |
| with the span | בַּזֶּ֣רֶת | ba-ZE-ret | H2239 | spanזֶ֫רֶת (ze.ret) 1) span 1a) a unit of measure, approx half-cubit, or the distance from the thumb to the little finger on an outstretched hand |
| has he marked off? | תִּכֵּ֔ן | ti-KEN | H8505 | to measureתָּכַן (ta.khan) 1) to regulate, measure, estimate, ponder, balance, make even, level, weigh, be equal, be weighed out, test, prove 1a) (Qal) estimate (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be estimated 1b2) to be made even or right, be adjusted to the standard 1c) (Piel) to weigh out, mete out 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be weighed out, be measured out 1d2) measured out (participle) |
| and has he contained? | וְכָ֥ל | ve-khol | H3557 | to sustainכּוּל (kul) 1) to seize, contain, measure 1a)(Qal) to measure, calculate 1b) (Pilpel) to sustain, maintain, contain 1b1) to sustain, support, nourish 1b2) to contain, hold in, restrain 1b3) to support, endure 1c) (Polpal) to be supplied 1d) (Hilpil) to contain, hold, hold in, endure 1d1) to contain 1d2) to sustain, endure |
| in the third of a measure | בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ | ba-sha-LISH | H7991A | thirdשָׁלִישׁ (sha.lish) 1) third part 1a) name of a measure |
| [the] dust of | עֲפַ֣ר | 'a-FAR | H6083 | dustעָפָר (a.phar) 1) dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish 1a) dry or loose earth 1b) debris 1c) mortar 1d) ore |
| the earth | הָאָ֑רֶץ | ha-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| and has he weighed? | וְשָׁקַ֤ל | ve-sha-KAL | H8254 | to weighשָׁקַל (sha.qal) 1) to weigh, weigh out, pay out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to weigh 1a2) to weigh out (a price) 1a3) of grief (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be weighed 1b2) to be weighed out Aramaic equivalent: te.qal (תְּקַל "to weigh" H8625A) |
| with the balance | בַּפֶּ֙לֶס֙ | ba-PE-les | H6425 | balanceפֶּ֫לֶס (pe.les) balance, scale |
| mountains | הָרִ֔ים | ha-RIM | H2022G | mountain: mountהַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount |
| and hills | וּגְבָע֖וֹת | u-ge-va-'ot | H1389I | hillגִּבְעָה (giv.ah) 1) hill 1a) hill (lower than a mountain) 1b) as a place of illicit worship 1c) poetic for mountain 1d) used in place names |
| with scales | בְּמֹאזְנָֽיִם׃ | be-mo-ze-NA-yim | H3976 | balanceמֹאזֵן (mo.zen) scales, balances Aramaic equivalent: mo.zen (מֹאזֵנְיָא "scale" H3977) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.