Isaiah 48:13

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.

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}.

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.

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

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.

Context

Isaiah 48:13 is part of a larger section (chapters 40-48) where God is challenging His people, Israel, particularly those in Babylonian exile, to remember His unique identity and power. Throughout this chapter, the Lord contrasts His omnipotence and prophetic foresight with the impotence of pagan idols and the false gods of Babylon. He reminds Israel of His past prophecies and their fulfillment as proof of His divine authority. This verse serves as a powerful declaration of God's unmatched creative power and absolute control over the universe, reinforcing His ability to deliver His people and fulfill His promises.

Key Themes

  • Divine Omnipotence and Sovereignty: The verse emphatically states God's absolute power over all creation. He is not merely a part of the universe but its ultimate architect and sustainer.
  • God as Creator: It highlights God's role as the sole Creator of the cosmos, from the solid ground beneath our feet to the vast expanse of the heavens above.
  • Unquestioning Obedience of Creation: The phrase "when I call unto them, they stand up together" vividly portrays the immediate and unified response of the universe to God's command. This emphasizes His complete dominion and the inherent order He established.
  • God's Uniqueness: This declaration stands in stark contrast to the powerless idols of other nations, asserting that Yahweh alone is the true and living God, whose word brings existence and order.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hath spanned the heavens" comes from the Hebrew word ṭâphach (טָפַח), which literally means to "stretch out" or "measure with the span of the hand." This imagery conveys not only God's immense power in creating the vastness of the heavens but also His precision and ease in doing so, as if measuring the entire cosmos with a mere hand-span. The "right hand" (Hebrew: yāmîn) is a common biblical idiom symbolizing strength, authority, and effective action, underscoring the might behind God's creative acts.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 48:13 offers profound reassurance and a call to worship. In a world often marked by chaos and uncertainty, this verse reminds us that the same God who laid the foundation of the earth and spans the heavens is in ultimate control. His power is limitless, and His word is absolute. This truth fosters trust in His plans, even when they are unseen or difficult to comprehend. It encourages 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 and redeem. Just as the heavens and earth obey His call, we too are called to respond to His divine authority and purposes, trusting in His steadfastness and ability to bring about His perfect will, just as He spoke, and it was done.

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.

  • 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:

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