Isaiah 40:17

All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

All nations {H1471} before him are as nothing; and they are counted {H2803} to him less than nothing {H657}, and vanity {H8414}.

Before him all the nations are like nothing. He regards them as less than nothing.

All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.

All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing, and vanity.

Isaiah 40:17 powerfully asserts the absolute sovereignty and incomparable greatness of God, contrasting it with the utter insignificance of all human nations and their collective power. This verse is part of Isaiah's "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-66), delivered to a people facing or experiencing the Babylonian exile, a time when the might of earthly empires seemed overwhelming.

Context

Chapter 40 opens a new section in Isaiah, shifting from prophecies of judgment to messages of hope, comfort, and restoration for Israel. The prophet aims to assure the exiles that despite the seemingly insurmountable power of Babylon, their God remains supreme. Leading up to this verse, Isaiah has already declared God's unique power in creation (Isaiah 40:12) and His independence from any human counsel (Isaiah 40:13). Verse 17 extends this divine supremacy to encompass all earthly nations, reducing their perceived might to nothing in God's sight.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse unequivocally declares God's ultimate authority over all earthly kingdoms. No nation, no matter how powerful or vast, holds any true standing or lasting significance before the Almighty. This theme offers immense comfort to those oppressed by seemingly invincible powers, reminding them of God's control.
  • Incomparable Greatness of God: God is portrayed as so infinitely vast and powerful that the sum total of all human achievement, power, and population amounts to less than nothing in His presence. This highlights God's unrivaled majesty and power.
  • Human Insignificance: From an eternal, divine perspective, the might and influence of human empires are fleeting and ultimately meaningless. This serves as a humbling reminder for humanity not to place ultimate trust or fear in earthly powers.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong language to convey the idea of utter worthlessness: "as nothing," "less than nothing," and "vanity."

  • The Hebrew word for "nothing" here is ‘ephes (אֶפֶס), signifying emptiness or nullity.
  • The phrase "less than nothing" intensifies this, combining ‘ephes with tohu (תֹהוּ). Tohu is famously used in Genesis 1:2 to describe the earth as "without form, and void" before creation. Its inclusion here suggests not just non-existence, but a state of chaos, futility, or utter waste.
  • "Vanity" is also tohu, reinforcing the idea of emptiness, futility, and lack of substance. It's not just that nations are small; they are utterly without substance or purpose apart from God's will.

Reflection and Application

Isaiah 40:17 offers profound encouragement and a vital perspective for believers today. In a world often dominated by political struggles, economic anxieties, and the rise and fall of nations, this verse reminds us where true power lies. It calls us to:

  • Place Our Trust in God: Rather than fearing human governments or relying on their strength, we are encouraged to place our ultimate trust in the God who holds all nations in His hand (Psalm 33:10).
  • Maintain Humility: For those in positions of power, it serves as a sobering reminder that all earthly authority is temporary and ultimately accountable to the Most High.
  • Gain Perspective: Our daily struggles and the grand narratives of human history are seen through the lens of God's eternal majesty. This perspective helps us to not be overwhelmed by worldly events, knowing that God's plan will ultimately prevail.

This verse underscores the awe-inspiring nature of God and invites us to worship Him, the only truly significant and eternal being.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 62:9

    Surely men of low degree [are] vanity, [and] men of high degree [are] a lie: to be laid in the balance, they [are] altogether [lighter] than vanity.

  • Daniel 4:34

    ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

  • Daniel 4:35

    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?

  • Isaiah 29:7

    And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:11

    ¶ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

  • Job 25:6

    How much less man, [that is] a worm? and the son of man, [which is] a worm?

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