Isaiah 48:13

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Mine hand {H3027} also hath laid the foundation {H3245} of the earth {H776}, and my right hand {H3225} hath spanned {H2946} the heavens {H8064}: when I call {H7121} unto them, they stand up {H5975} together {H3162}.

Complete Jewish Bible

My hand laid the foundation of the earth, my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summoned them, at once they rose into being.

Berean Standard Bible

Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.

American Standard Version

Yea, my hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spread out the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 48:13 serves as a profound declaration of Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty and creative power, delivered to a people in exile who were prone to doubt His ability to deliver them. The verse emphatically asserts God's sole authorship of creation, from the solid earth to the expansive heavens, portraying Him as the ultimate architect and sustainer whose word commands immediate and unified obedience from all that exists. It underscores His unique identity as the only true God, contrasting His limitless power with the impotence of human-made idols and reinforcing His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 48 concludes a significant section of the book (chapters 40-48), often referred to as the "Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah," which primarily addresses the Babylonian exiles. This chapter specifically functions as a strong indictment against Israel's stubbornness and idolatry, while simultaneously reaffirming God's absolute sovereignty and His plan for their redemption. The Lord repeatedly challenges Israel to acknowledge His unique identity as the only God who declares the end from the beginning, contrasting His prophetic foresight and creative power with the futility of idols. Verse 13 is a climactic statement within this argument, serving as irrefutable proof of God's authority and ability to fulfill His promises, particularly His promise to bring Israel out of exile. It reinforces the themes of divine uniqueness and the reliability of God's word, which resonate throughout this entire section of Isaiah.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 48 is the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national crisis for Judah. Having been conquered by Babylon in 586 BC, the Jewish people were living in a foreign land, surrounded by polytheistic cultures and the impressive might of the Babylonian empire, which boasted its own powerful deities and grand temples. The exiles were tempted to question Yahweh's power and faithfulness, wondering if the gods of Babylon had triumphed over Him. Culturally, the act of "laying foundations" and "spanning heavens" would have resonated with ancient Near Eastern creation myths, but Isaiah's declaration emphatically distinguishes Yahweh as the *sole* and *unrivaled* Creator, not one among many gods. The imagery of a craftsman measuring and building would have been familiar, but here applied to God on a cosmic scale, emphasizing His effortless control over all existence.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Omnipotence and Sovereignty**, asserting God's absolute control over all creation. He is not merely a part of the universe but its ultimate architect and sustainer, as seen in the foundational [creation account](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"). This ties directly into the **Uniqueness of God**, a recurring motif in Isaiah 40-48, where Yahweh consistently contrasts Himself with the powerless idols of other nations (e.g., [Isaiah 44:6-20](/isaiah/44-6 "Isaiah 44:6-20 - The Folly of Idolatry")). The declaration of His creative acts serves as irrefutable proof of His singular identity and power. Furthermore, the phrase "when I call unto them, they stand up together" highlights the **Unquestioning Obedience of Creation** to God's command, emphasizing His complete dominion and the inherent order He established. This theme of God's powerful word is central, echoing throughout scripture, such as in [Psalm 33:9](/psalm/33-9 "Psalm 33:9 - God Speaks and It Is Done"), where His spoken word brings things into being.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** (H3027) This primitive word refers to the open hand, indicating power, means, and direction. In this context, "Mine hand" and "my right hand" are powerful anthropomorphisms, emphasizing God's direct, personal, and effective agency in creation. It signifies not merely a physical action but the full extent of God's capability and authority.
* **laid the foundation (Hebrew, _yâçad'_):** (H3245) A primitive root meaning "to set" or "to found." Intensively, it means "to establish" or "to lay a foundation." This word conveys the idea of God's deliberate, purposeful, and stable establishment of the earth. He is not a chaotic force but an intentional builder who brings order and stability.
* **spanned (Hebrew, _ṭâphach'_):** (H2946) A primitive root, perhaps from dandling on the palms, meaning "to flatten out or extend (as a tent)." This imagery suggests God's effortless and precise measurement and stretching out of the vast heavens, as if measuring the entire cosmos with a mere hand-span. It speaks to both the immense scale of His creation and the ease with which He accomplished it, implying meticulous design and control.
* **stand up (Hebrew, _ʻâmad'_):** (H5975) A primitive root meaning "to stand," in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive). Here, it denotes the immediate, unwavering, and collective obedience of creation to God's command. It implies a readiness to serve and a stable, enduring presence that is entirely dependent on His word.
* **together (Hebrew, _yachad'_):** (H3162) From a root meaning "a unit," this adverb signifies "unitedly" or "alike." When God calls, the elements of creation respond in perfect unison and harmony, demonstrating His absolute and comprehensive authority over every part of the cosmos. There is no resistance or delay, only immediate, collective obedience.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth":** This clause declares God's direct and personal involvement in the creation of the terrestrial realm. The "hand" symbolizes His power, agency, and deliberate action. "Laid the foundation" portrays Him as the master architect, establishing the earth with stability, order, and purpose. This is not a random occurrence but a foundational act of divine will and design.
* **"and my right hand hath spanned the heavens":** Complementing the first clause, this part extends God's creative power to the celestial realm. The "right hand" is a common biblical idiom for strength, authority, and effective action, emphasizing the might behind God's creative acts. "Spanned" suggests not only the vastness of the heavens but also God's effortless measurement and establishment of their boundaries, as if measuring the cosmos with a mere hand-span. This highlights His meticulous design and comprehensive control over the entire universe.
* **"when I call unto them, they stand up together":** This final clause powerfully illustrates the absolute and immediate obedience of creation to its Creator. "When I call" signifies God's authoritative word, His command. "Unto them" refers to the earth and the heavens, indeed, all created things. "They stand up together" conveys a unified, instantaneous, and unwavering response. There is no hesitation, no resistance, no disunity in creation's submission to God's voice, underscoring His ultimate sovereignty and the inherent order He established.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 48:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey God's majesty. **Anthropomorphism** is prominent, as God is described with "Mine hand" and "my right hand," attributing human physical actions to the divine to make His creative power relatable and tangible. This emphasizes His personal agency in creation. **Hyperbole** is implied in the image of "spanning the heavens" with a hand, exaggerating the ease and effortlessness with which God controls the vast cosmos, thus magnifying His omnipotence. The phrase "they stand up together" uses **personification**, giving agency and immediate obedience to inanimate creation (earth and heavens), vividly illustrating their complete submission to God's command. This also creates a sense of **cosmic harmony** and order, directly resulting from God's authoritative word. The entire verse functions as a powerful **affirmation** and **declaration**, designed to instill awe and reinforce the unique, unrivaled power of Yahweh to His doubting people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 48:13 is a cornerstone declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and His unique role as the sole Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos. This truth is foundational to all biblical theology, establishing God as distinct from His creation and utterly supreme over it. It counters any notion of a limited or struggling deity, portraying Him as the effortless architect whose word alone brings forth and upholds all things. This divine power is not merely an abstract concept but the very basis for His ability to intervene in history, fulfill His promises, and redeem His people, providing immense comfort and assurance to those who trust in Him. The same power that established the universe is at work in His covenant faithfulness.

* [Psalm 19:1](/psalm/19-1 "Psalm 19:1 - The Heavens Declare God's Glory")
* [Jeremiah 32:17](/jeremiah/32-17 "Jeremiah 32:17 - Nothing Is Too Hard for God")
* [Nehemiah 9:6](/nehemiah/9-6 "Nehemiah 9:6 - God Alone Made Heaven and Earth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 48:13 offers profound reassurance and a compelling call to worship for believers today. In a world often marked by chaos, uncertainty, and the rise and fall of human powers, this verse reminds us that the same God who laid the foundation of the earth and effortlessly spans the heavens remains in ultimate control. His power is limitless, and His word is absolute. This truth fosters deep trust in His divine plans, even when they are unseen or difficult to comprehend, encouraging us to surrender our anxieties to the One who holds all things together. It calls us to live in awe of our Creator, recognizing His sovereignty over all circumstances, and finding comfort in the knowledge that His power to create is also His power to sustain, redeem, and meticulously guide our lives. Just as the heavens and earth obey His call without question, we too are called to respond to His divine authority and purposes, trusting in His steadfastness and ability to bring about His perfect will, knowing that His creative power is intimately linked to His redemptive power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does reflecting on God's creative power in Isaiah 48:13 impact your trust in His ability to handle your personal challenges and uncertainties?**
* **In what ways might we, like the exiles, be tempted to doubt God's power or compare Him to lesser "gods" (e.g., wealth, success, human ideologies) in our modern context?**
* **What does the immediate and unified obedience of creation to God's call teach us about our own response to His commands and purposes?**

### FAQ
**Does Isaiah 48:13 imply that God literally has hands?**

Answer: No, Isaiah 48:13 uses **anthropomorphism**, which is the attribution of human characteristics or behaviors to God. While God is Spirit and does not have a physical body, biblical writers often describe Him in human terms (e.g., God's "hand," "arm," "eyes," "ears") to help us understand His actions and attributes. "Mine hand" and "my right hand" are powerful metaphors emphasizing God's direct, personal, and effective agency in creation. The "right hand" specifically denotes strength, authority, and decisive action, signifying that God Himself, with His full power, accomplished these cosmic feats. This language makes the abstract concept of divine power more relatable and comprehensible to human readers, underscoring that the universe is the result of His deliberate and mighty work, not random chance or the work of multiple deities. This is consistent with other biblical passages that use similar language, such as [Psalm 8:3](/psalm/8-3 "Psalm 8:3 - The Work of Your Fingers") which speaks of the "work of your fingers."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 48:13, with its majestic declaration of God's creative power and the immediate obedience of the cosmos to His call, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that the very "hand" and "right hand" of God, which laid the foundation of the earth and spanned the heavens, are embodied in the Son. [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Him") explicitly states, "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." Similarly, [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ, Creator and Sustainer") declares that "by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This means that the "call" to which creation responds in Isaiah 48:13 is, in essence, the very word of Christ. He is not only the agent of creation but also its sustainer, upholding the universe by the word of His power ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")). Therefore, the sovereign Creator of the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament as Jesus, the one through whom all things were made and by whom they are sustained. His authority over creation, demonstrated in calming storms ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and multiplying food, is a testament to His divine identity as the very God who laid the earth's foundation and spanned the heavens, now come in flesh to redeem His creation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 40:26

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these [things], that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that [he is] strong in power; not one faileth.

Exodus 20:11

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Psalms 102:25

Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens [are] the work of thy hands.

Hebrews 1:10

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Hebrews 1:12

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Isaiah 45:18

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else.

Isaiah 42:5

¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: