Isaiah 40:15

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.

Behold, the nations {H1471} are as a drop {H4752} of a bucket {H1805}, and are counted {H2803} as the small dust {H7834} of the balance {H3976}: behold, he taketh up {H5190} the isles {H339} as a very little thing {H1851}.

The nations are like a drop in a bucket, they count like a grain of dust on the scales. The islands weigh as little as specks of dust.

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.

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are accounted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Commentary

Isaiah 40:15 is a powerful declaration of God's incomparable majesty and supreme sovereignty over all earthly powers. In this verse, the prophet Isaiah uses vivid imagery to convey the utter insignificance of nations when compared to the Creator of the universe. The nations, with all their might, armies, and political influence, are presented as mere trifles before the Almighty God.

Context

This verse is situated within the majestic and comforting portion of the Book of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah chapter 40, which begins with a message of hope and restoration for Israel after their period of exile. The chapter shifts from prophecies of judgment to prophecies of comfort, emphasizing God's glory, eternal nature, and unparalleled power as the basis for His ability to deliver and sustain His people. The preceding verses (e.g., Isaiah 40:12) describe God's immense power in creation, setting the stage for the contrast between His greatness and the smallness of human entities.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse unequivocally asserts God's absolute control and dominion over all nations. He is not merely a regional deity but the supreme ruler of all the earth.
  • Insignificance of Human Power: By likening nations to a "drop of a bucket" or "small dust of the balance," Isaiah underscores the fragility and ultimate powerlessness of human empires and governments before God. Their grand designs and formidable strength are nothing in His sight.
  • God's Immeasurable Greatness: The imagery serves to magnify God's boundless power and majesty. He can "take up the isles as a very little thing," implying that even vast landmasses are trivial to Him.

Linguistic Insights

The metaphors employed are highly effective:

  • "drop of a bucket": This signifies something so small it barely registers, perhaps even a residual drop clinging to the bottom of a bucket after it's emptied.
  • "small dust of the balance": This refers to the fine, almost imperceptible dust that might settle on a scale, so light it has no bearing on the measurement. It emphasizes extreme lightness and inconsequence.
  • "taketh up the isles as a very little thing": The "isles" (or coastlands) often represented distant, powerful nations or vast territories. To "take them up as a very little thing" conveys the ease with which God handles even the largest of human domains, treating them as insignificant objects.
These vivid comparisons highlight God's transcendence and omnipotence.

Related Scriptures

This theme of God's sovereignty over nations is a recurring one in Scripture.

  • Isaiah 40:22-23 further expands on this, stating that God "bringeth the princes to nothing" and "maketh the judges of the earth as vanity."
  • The psalmist echoes this sentiment in Psalm 33:10, "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect."
  • Daniel 4:35 declares, "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

Practical Application

For believers, Isaiah 40:15 offers profound comfort and a call to humility.

  • Comfort in Troubled Times: When facing powerful governments, political instability, or overwhelming global events, this verse reminds us that God is ultimately in control. We do not need to fear the might of nations, but rather trust in the One who holds them as nothing.
  • Humility for Humanity: It serves as a stark reminder that human achievements, power, and wisdom are finite and insignificant before the infinite God. This should lead to humility and a recognition of our dependence on Him.
  • Inspiration for Worship: The sheer scale of God's power and majesty should inspire awe and worship. He is worthy of all praise for His incomparable greatness.
This verse encourages us to place our hope and trust not in fleeting human institutions, but in the eternal and sovereign God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 40:22

    [It is] he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof [are] as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

  • Jeremiah 10:10

    But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

  • Isaiah 29:5

    Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones [shall be] as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

  • Isaiah 11:11

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

  • Job 34:14

    If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

  • Job 34:15

    All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

  • Isaiah 59:18

    According to [their] deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
← Back