Isaiah 40:12
Old Testament • 16 words with Strong's data
"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?"
Word-by-Word Analysis
מָדַד
mâdad
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
מַיִם
mayim
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
כַּף
kaph
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-...
יָד
yâd
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
שָׁמַיִם
shâmayim
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r...
זֶרֶת
zereth
the spread of the fingers, i.e. a span
καταλαμβάνω
katalambánō
to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively)
עָפָר
ʻâphâr
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
אֶרֶץ
ʼerets
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מָדַד
mâdad
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
שָׁקַל
shâqal
to suspend or poise (especially in trade)
הַר
har
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת
qasqeseth
a scale (of a fish); hence a coat of mail (as composed of or covered with jointed plates of metal)
מֹאזֵן
môʼzên
(only in the dual) a pair of scales
Key Terms in This Verse
καταλαμβάνω katalambánō
to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively)
Study G2638 →כַּף kaph
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power
Study H3709 →קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת qasqeseth
a scale (of a fish); hence a coat of mail (as composed of or covered with jointed plates of metal)
Study H7193 →מָדַד mâdad
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Study H4058 →מָדַד mâdad
properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Study H4058 →Cross References
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and w...
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
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