Isaiah 40:24
Isaiah 40:24 in Multiple Translations
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Yea, they have not been planted; yea, they have not been sown; yea, their stock hath not taken root in the earth: moreover he bloweth upon them, and they wither, and the whirlwind taketh them away as stubble.
They have only now been planted, and their seed put into the earth, and they have only now taken root, when he sends out his breath over them and they become dry, and the storm-wind takes them away like dry grass.
In fact they are hardly even planted, hardly even sown, hardly even taken root, when he blows on them and they wither, and the wind carries them away like straw.
As though they were not plated, as though they were not sowen, as though their stocke tooke no roote in the earth: for he did euen blow vpon them, and they withered, and the whirlewinde will take them away as stubble.
Yea, they have not been planted, Yea, they have not been sown, Yea, not taking root in the earth is their stock, And also He hath blown upon them, and they wither, And a whirlwind as stubble taketh them away.
They are planted scarcely. They are sown scarcely. Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground. He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.
Yes, they shall not be planted; yes, they shall not be sown: yes, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
And surely their stock was neither planted, nor sown, nor rooted in the earth: suddenly he hath blown upon them, and they are withered, and a whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
They start to rule, like small plants start to grow and form roots; but then he gets rid of them as though [MET] they withered when he blew on them, like [SIM] chaff that is blown away by the wind.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 40:24
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Isaiah 40:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 40:24
Study Notes — Isaiah 40:24
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 40:24 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:24
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:24
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:24
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:24
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
- Sermons on Isaiah 40:24
Context — Here Is Your God!
24No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner have their stems taken root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like stubble.
25“To whom will you liken Me, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 41:16 | You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. |
| 2 | Isaiah 17:13 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. |
| 3 | Haggai 1:9 | You expected much, but behold, it amounted to little. And what you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD of Hosts. Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 23:19 | Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out with fury, a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked. |
| 5 | Proverbs 1:27 | when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you. |
| 6 | Job 18:16–19 | The roots beneath him dry up, and the branches above him wither away. The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land. He is driven from light into darkness and is chased from the inhabited world. He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived. |
| 7 | Job 15:30–33 | He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away. Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish. He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms. |
| 8 | Job 4:9 | By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed. |
| 9 | Zechariah 7:14 | But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known, and the land was left desolate behind them so that no one could come or go. Thus they turned the pleasant land into a desolation.” |
| 10 | Hosea 13:3 | Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window. |
Isaiah 40:24 Summary
[Isaiah 40:24 teaches us that God is all-powerful and in control of everything, even the smallest details of our lives. Just like how easily plants can wither and die, God can remove or change anything that is not aligned with His plans, as seen in Psalm 103:19. This verse reminds us to trust in God's sovereignty and not to put our confidence in human leaders or earthly things, but rather in God's power and love, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to blow on these plants and cause them to wither?
This phrase is a metaphor for God's judgment and power, as seen in Isaiah 40:24, similar to how He withers the grass in Psalm 37:2, showing His sovereign control over all creation, including the rise and fall of nations and leaders.
Is this verse talking about literal plants or is it symbolic?
The plants in Isaiah 40:24 are symbolic of human leaders and nations, as indicated by the context of the surrounding verses, such as Isaiah 40:22-23, which talks about God's power over the princes and rulers of the earth.
How does this verse relate to the idea of God's sovereignty?
This verse highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all things, including the rise and fall of human leaders and nations, as stated in Isaiah 46:10, where God declares that His plans will stand, and His purposes will be fulfilled.
What is the significance of comparing the withered plants to stubble?
The comparison to stubble in Isaiah 40:24 emphasizes the ease with which God can destroy or remove anything that opposes Him, much like how stubble is easily blown away by the wind, as seen in Matthew 3:12, where John the Baptist talks about the coming judgment.
Reflection Questions
- How does the image of God blowing on plants and causing them to wither make you feel about His power and control in your life?
- In what ways can you see God's sovereignty at work in the world around you, and how does that impact your trust in Him?
- What are some areas in your life where you may be trying to 'take root' in your own strength, rather than relying on God's power and provision?
- How can you apply the lesson of Isaiah 40:24 to your own life, recognizing that your accomplishments and successes are fleeting and subject to God's sovereignty?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:24
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:24
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:24
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:24
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:24
Sermons on Isaiah 40:24
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Exultant Joy by Joy Dawson | Joy Dawson emphasizes the significance of exultant joy in the life of a Christian, highlighting that true joy comes from knowing God intimately and fulfilling His conditions for jo |
|
The Remnant and Martyrdom by Michael Howard | This sermon emphasizes the importance of truly living by faith and trusting God for provision, rather than manipulating circumstances for personal gain. It calls for a return to bu |
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When Life Is Overwhelming - Chuck Smith by From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the fourth chapter of Zechariah verse 6, where God speaks to the rebel and declares that His spirit, not human might or power, will accompli |
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Revival Tornadoes -- No New Name for Revivals by Martin Knapp | Martin Knapp preaches about the powerful impact of genuine revival, likening it to a tornado in the spiritual world, accompanied by divine truth, disturbed elements, and saving pow |




