Isaiah 46:5 — Word Study
WLCלְמִ֥י תְדַמְי֖וּנִי וְתַשְׁו֑וּ וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃
BSATo whommîy [what being, which one] will you liken Medâmâh▸ [compare, make equal] or count Me equalshâvâh▸ [make Me similar, consider Me alike] To whom will you compare Memâshal▸ [which one, what person, make Me like, consider Me equal] that we should be alikedâmâh▸ [be similar, be equal, have the same nature]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לְמִ֥י | to whom? | Preposition, pronoun |
| תְדַמְי֖וּנִי | will you liken me | Verb piel imperfect second person masculine plural, suffix |
| וְתַשְׁו֑וּ | and you may make [me] equal? | Conjunction, verb hiphil second person masculine plural |
| וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי | and will you compare? me | Conjunction, verb hiphil second person masculine plural, suffix |
| וְנִדְמֶֽה׃ | and we may be alike | Conjunction, verb qal first person common plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? |
| KJV | ¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? |
| ASV | To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? |
| YLT | To whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like? |
| WEB | “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same? |
| BBE | Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me? |
The translations agree closely on the phrasing of the rhetorical questions posed in this verse.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by two subordinate questions, emphasizing the challenge of comparing God.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 46:5
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Uniqueness and Sovereigntygenerated
Isaiah 46:5 presents a rhetorical question from God, asking who can be compared to Him. This verse is situated within a broader context that emphasizes God's eternal nature and His role as the creator and sustainer of all things. The surrounding verses further illustrate the futility of idol worship and the incomparable nature of God, as He alone is worthy of worship and reverence.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 40:18–25 | To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him? |
| 2 | Exodus 15:11 | Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? |
| 3 | Psalm 86:8 | O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours. |
| 4 | Psalm 89:6–8 | For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD? |
| 5 | Psalm 113:5 | Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תְדַמְי֖וּנִי, te.dam.Yu.nigenerated
The verb תְדַמְי֖וּנִי (te.dam.Yu.ni) is a piel imperfect form, indicating an action performed by the subject towards an object — in this case, the action of likening or comparing. It emphasizes the act of making something similar or equal, which is central to the rhetorical question posed by God.
This word is derived from the root דָּמָה (damah), meaning to resemble or be like. In this context, it highlights the absurdity of attempting to compare God to anything else, as He is inherently unique and cannot be equated with created things.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The verse is rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as 'To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal?' This wording is consistent across several translations, including the KJV, ASV, YLT, WEB, and BBE.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse is built around a series of rhetorical questions, with the finite verbs תְדַמְי֖וּנִי (will you liken me), תַשְׁו֑וּ (will you make [me] equal), and תַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי (will you compare me) forming the backbone of the inquiry. Each question builds on the previous one, emphasizing different aspects of comparison.
The use of conjunctions to link the verbs creates a rhythmic flow, reinforcing the challenge posed to the audience regarding the impossibility of equating God with anything else.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תְדַמְי֖וּנִי as με (me), which simplifies the Hebrew's nuance of comparison. This choice reflects a focus on the direct address to God rather than the broader implications of likeness.
The Greek word ἴδετε for וְתַשְׁו֑וּ suggests a call to observe or consider, which adds a layer of emphasis on the act of recognizing God's uniqueness.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 46:5 asks a series of questions about who can be compared to God. The Lord challenges the people to think about His uniqueness and the futility of trying to liken Him to anything else. This verse emphasizes that God stands alone, unmatched in His nature and power.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
To liken God to something means to compare Him to another being or object, which this verse argues is impossible due to His unique nature.
God asks these questions to provoke thought and highlight the futility of idol worship and the incomparable nature of His being.
This verse contrasts God's uniqueness with the practice of idol worship, where created things are mistakenly given attributes of divinity.
We learn that God is incomparable and cannot be equated with anything else, emphasizing His sovereignty and uniqueness.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I sometimes compare God to things in my life?
- How can I better understand and appreciate God's uniqueness?
- What are some examples of idols in my life that I need to reevaluate?
- How does recognizing God's incomparable nature change the way I worship Him?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 46:5 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleTo whom will ye liken me?.... Was it lawful that any likeness might be made, which yet is forbidden, Exodus 20:4 what likeness could be thought of?
Read John Gill on Isaiah 46 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryTo whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? To whom will ye liken me - (Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25.)
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 46 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIf you are tempted or inclined at any time to exchange me for an idol, do me and yourselves this right, seriously to consider, whether you can find another God who will be more able and more ready to do you good than I have been; which if you can do, I am content you should prefer him before me; but if not, as will appear by what I am now saying, ,7, then it is best for you to adhere to your ancient God and Friend.
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 46 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 46:5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like? Ver. 5. To whom, then, will ye liken me? &c., ] q.d., To which of your paramours? for here the Lord returneth to his discourse against idolaters and their idols, earumque inanitatem et inopiam demonstrat, inveighing against them with no less stomach and indignation than a jealous husband against his adulteress’ s gallants. Let every godless person, who idoliseth his lusts, think he heareth God thus bespeaking him, as in this text. Pathos habent verba me et cui. - A Lapide. Ibid.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 46 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) To whom will ye liken me?—The argument against idolatry is renewed in nearly its old form (Isaiah 40:18-25; Isaiah 44:9-17). The fate of Bel and Nebo is urged against those who thought that they might worship Jehovah as those deities had been worshipped. Such had been the sin of the calves at Bethel and at Dan. Like it had been the act of Israel when it had carried the ark into battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:5).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 46 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges5. Comp. the similar question of Isa 40:18, which as here introduces a sarcastic description of the manufacture of idols.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 46 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleTo whom will ye liken me - (see the notes at Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25). The design of this and the following verses is to show the folly of idolatry, and the vanity of trusting in idols.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 46 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5. To whom will ye liken me — Compare with chap. Isaiah 40:18; Isaiah 40:25. Is the compassionate and infinite Jehovah to be compared with the contemptible idols of the heathen?
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 46 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
“To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!
Tyndale line
¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye make me like or make me equall, or copare me, that I should be like him?
Strictly literal
To whom will ye liken me and make me equal, or compare me, that we may be like?
To whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye liken and assimilate me, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
From the Latin
To whom have you likened me, and made me equal, and compared me, and made me like?
Simplified
Can you think of anyone is like me? Can you consider anyone to be my equal? Can you compare anyone with me, as if we were alike?
Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint align closely, with four of the five words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the Masoretic Text, showing consistency in the wording, though some words were partially restored.
לְמִ֥י תְדַמְי֖וּנִי וְתַשְׁו֑וּ וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
למיי תדמיו׳ני ותשוי ותמשלו׳ני ואדמה
5 words on the leather.
[למי] תדמיו׳ני ותשוי ותמשלו׳ני ונדמה
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 1 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 46:5
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מִי (mi) is an interrogative pronoun primarily used to ask about persons, meaning 'who?' or 'whose?'. It can also appear in rhetorical questions and has some idiomatic uses, such as 'who among...?' or 'whosoever'. The word is rarely applied to things, and its forms can vary in emphasis.
מִי 423 pron.interrog. who? of persons
מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied
in the gen. whose
in an indirect qu.
מִי ב׳ who among … ?
strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.
various rhetorical uses whose
מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it
once, following a verb, any one
base
H4310 מִי who? of persons . מִי is rarely used of things, and usually where persons are understood or implied
. in the gen. whose
. in an indirect qu.
. מִי ב׳ who among … ?
. strengthened and emph. forms of interrog.
. various rhetorical uses whose
. מִי may sometimes be rendered whosoever, though, as the examples will shew, it does not really mean it
. once, following a verb, any one
4310 miy me
an interrogative pronoun of persons, as 4100 is of things,
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also
(indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction
with prefix or suffix:--any (man), X he, X him, + O that!
what, which, who(-m, -se, -soever), + would to God.
see HEBREW for 04100
מִי (mi) — who?.
who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever
Prep | Part — Preposition · pronounHR/Pi
דָּמָה (damah) is a primitive root meaning to be like or resemble. It encompasses the ideas of comparing, imagining, and devising, with various forms indicating different nuances such as making oneself like or considering something to be similar. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts of likeness and comparison.
דָּמָה vb. be like, resemble
Qal be like, resemble
Pi. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise
liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
imagine, form an idea, devise
Hithp. make oneself or become like
base
H1819 דָּמָה be like, resemble .be like, resemble
. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise . liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
. imagine, form an idea, devise
. make oneself or become like
1819 damah daw-maw'
a primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble,
liken, consider:--compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think,
use similitudes.
דָּמָה (da.mah) — to resemble.
1) to be like, resemble
1a) (Qal) to be like, resemble
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to liken, compare
1b2) to imagine, think
1c) (Hithpael) to make oneself like
1d) (Niphal)
Aramaic equivalent: de.mah (דְּמָה "be like" H1821)
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Verb piel imperfect second person masculine plural · suffixHVpi2mp/Sp1bs
שָׁוָה (shavah) is a Hebrew verb that conveys the idea of being even or smooth, and extends to meanings like agreeing, resembling, or making something like another. It is built from a primitive root and covers a range of uses, including to level, set, or adjust. The entries indicate various forms, such as Qal, Piel, and Hiphil, which express different nuances of the verb.
שָׁוָה vb. (be even, smooth, v. Pi., hence) agree with, be like, resemble
Qal it was not equalled to me, i.e. not requited
Pi. he hath levelled
Hiph. make like
Nithp. (appar.) are alike
base
[שָׁוָה] vb. Pi. set, place
base
H7737a שָׁוָה (be even, smooth, v. Pi., hence) agree with, be like, resemble . make like
. (appar.) are alike
H7737b שָׁוָה Pi. set, place
7737 shavah shaw-vaw'
a primitive root; properly, to level, i.e. equalize;
figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust (i.e.
counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield,
etc.):--avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail,
(be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a- )like, make plain, profit,
reckon.
שָׁוָה (sha.vah) — be like.
1) to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be like
1a2) equivalent (participle)
1a3) to set, place
1a4) setting (participle)
1b) (Piel) to level, smooth, still
1c) (Hiphil) to make like
1d) (Nithpael) to be alike
Aramaic equivalent: she.vah (שְׁוָה "be like" H7739A)
שָׁוָה (sha.vah) — to set.
(Piel) to set, place
Aramaic equivalent: she.vah (שְׁוָה "be set" H7739B)
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp — Conjunction · verb hiphil second person masculine pluralHC/Vhu2mp
e'-kwal isos:
In Eze 18:25; 29; 33:17,20, "The way of the Lord is not equal" translates Hebrew yittakhen for takhan, "to weigh," and means "is not adjusted to any fixed standard," "arbitrary," "fitful," and, therefore, "not equitable, fair, or impartial" Septuagint ("is not set straight"). Compare same Hebrew word in 1Sa 2:3, where the Lord is said to `weigh actions.' "Equal," therefore, is what will bear the closest investigation and strictest judgment. In Mt 20:12, "made them equal" means "put them upon the same footing," i.e. regarded their brief service as though it were the very same as our long hours of toil. In Lu 20:36 the context restricts the equality to a…
מָשַׁל (mashal) means to liken or represent, and can refer to using figurative language such as proverbs or poetry. It encompasses various forms, including comparing and becoming like something. The word appears notably in the context of speaking in parables, particularly in the book of Ezekiel.
[מָשַׁל] vb. represent, be like
Niph. be like, similar
Hiph. compare
Hithp. and I have become like dust
base
מָשַׁל vb. denom. use a proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry, esp. Ezek.
Qal use a proverb
Pi. is he not a maker of parables?
base
H4911a מָשַׁל represent, be like . be like, similar
. compare
. and I have become like dust
H4911b מָשַׁל vb. denom. use a proverb, speak in parables or sentences of poetry, esp. Ezek.
4911 mashal maw-shal'
denominative from 4912; to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use
figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like);
intransitively, to resemble:--be(-come) like, compare, use
(as a) proverb, speak (in proverbs), utter.
see HEBREW for 04912
מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to liken.
1) to represent, liken, be like
1a) (Niphal) to liken, be like, be similar
1b) (Hiphil) to compare
1c) (Hithpael) to become like
מָשַׁל (ma.shal) — to use a proverb.
1) to speak in a proverb, use a proverb, speak in parables, speak in sentences of poetry
1a) (Qal) to use a proverb, speak a parable or proverb
1b) (Piel) to make a parable
1b1) maker of parables (participle)
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Conjunction · verb hiphil second person masculine plural · suffixHC/Vhu2mp/Sp1bs
דָּמָה (damah) is a primitive root meaning to be like or resemble. It encompasses the ideas of comparing, imagining, and devising, with various forms indicating different nuances such as making oneself like or considering something to be similar. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts of likeness and comparison.
דָּמָה vb. be like, resemble
Qal be like, resemble
Pi. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise
liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
imagine, form an idea, devise
Hithp. make oneself or become like
base
H1819 דָּמָה be like, resemble .be like, resemble
. liken, compare; imagine, think, devise . liken, i.e. consider to be like, compare
. imagine, form an idea, devise
. make oneself or become like
1819 damah daw-maw'
a primitive root; to compare; by implication, to resemble,
liken, consider:--compare, devise, (be) like(-n), mean, think,
use similitudes.
דָּמָה (da.mah) — to resemble.
1) to be like, resemble
1a) (Qal) to be like, resemble
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to liken, compare
1b2) to imagine, think
1c) (Hithpael) to make oneself like
1d) (Niphal)
Aramaic equivalent: de.mah (דְּמָה "be like" H1821)
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-1cp — Conjunction · verb qal first person common pluralHC/Vqu1cp