Isaiah 40:18
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?
- KJV
- To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
- WEB
- To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?
- ASV
- To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
- DARBY
- To whom then will ye liken God? and what likeness will ye compare unto him?
- BLB
- And to whom would you⁺ liken God? And what likeness will you⁺ arrange for Him?
- ÅB
- Hvem vil dere da ligne Gud med? Og hva for et bilde vil dere sette ved siden av ham?
- OTB
- Hvem vil dere da sammenligne Gud med? Hvilken likhet vil dere ligne Ham med?
- B1930
- Hvem vil I da ligne Gud med? Og hvad for et billede vil I sette ved siden av ham?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 46:5
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
Read in context1 Samuel 2:2
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
Read in contextIsaiah 40:25
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Read in contextExodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Read in contextActs 17:29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Read in contextPsalms 89:6
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?
Read in contextJeremiah 10:6
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
Read in contextJob 40:9
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Read in context