To whom will you liken God?This rhetorical question emphasizes the incomparability of God, a central theme in
Isaiah 40. The prophet challenges the people to consider the uniqueness of God, who is beyond human understanding and comparison. This echoes the monotheistic belief that God is singular and supreme, unlike the gods of surrounding nations. In the historical context, Israel was surrounded by polytheistic cultures that created idols to represent their deities. Isaiah's question underscores the futility of such practices. Theologically, this points to the transcendence of God, a concept also found in passages like
Exodus 15:11 and
Psalm 89:6, which highlight God's unmatched power and holiness.
To what image will you compare Him?
This phrase critiques the practice of idolatry, which was prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Israelites were often tempted to adopt the idol worship of their neighbors, despite the clear commandments against it (Exodus 20:4-5). The use of "image" refers to the physical representations of deities, which were common in the ancient world. Isaiah's message is that no crafted image can capture the essence or glory of the true God. This is further supported by passages such asDeuteronomy 4:15-19, which warn against making any form of idol. Theologically, this points to the idea that God is spirit (John 4:24) and cannot be contained or represented by physical objects. This also foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who is described as the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), providing a true representation of God's nature without the limitations of idolatry.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.
2.
God (Yahweh)The central figure in this verse, God is portrayed as incomparable and beyond human understanding or representation.
3.
IdolsThough not directly mentioned in this verse, the context implies a comparison between God and man-made idols, which were prevalent in the cultures surrounding Israel.
4.
IsraelThe primary audience of Isaiah's prophecies, the nation of Israel often struggled with idolatry and needed constant reminders of God's uniqueness and sovereignty.
5.
Ancient Near EastThe cultural and historical backdrop of Isaiah's ministry, where idol worship was common among the nations surrounding Israel.
Teaching Points
God's Incomparable NatureGod is beyond human comprehension and cannot be adequately represented by any physical form or image. This calls us to a deeper reverence and awe in our worship.
The Futility of IdolatryIdolatry, whether ancient or modern, is futile because it attempts to reduce the infinite God to finite terms. We must guard against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or the elevation of personal desires above God.
Worship in Spirit and TruthTrue worship involves recognizing God's unique nature and responding with genuine devotion, free from the constraints of physical representations.
Trust in God's SovereigntyUnderstanding God's incomparability should lead us to trust in His sovereignty and wisdom, especially in times of uncertainty or trial.
Reflecting God's ImageAs humans created in God's image, we are called to reflect His character and attributes in our lives, rather than creating images of Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 40:18?
2.How does Isaiah 40:18 challenge our understanding of God's incomparable nature?
3.What idols today might we mistakenly compare to God, as warned in Isaiah 40:18?
4.How can Isaiah 40:18 deepen our worship and reverence for God?
5.Connect Isaiah 40:18 with Exodus 20:4-5 on the prohibition of idols.
6.How should Isaiah 40:18 influence our daily trust and reliance on God?
7.How does Isaiah 40:18 challenge the concept of idolatry in today's world?
8.What does Isaiah 40:18 imply about God's uniqueness compared to other deities?
9.How does Isaiah 40:18 influence our understanding of God's incomparability?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 40?
11.What defines a graven image?
12.Who compares to me?
13.How does Isaiah 45:9's analogy of the clay questioning the potter align with human free will and responsibility for evil?
14.Romans 9:20-21: Why would a just God compare humans to clay destined for either honorable or dishonorable use?What Does Isaiah 40:18 Mean
To whom will you liken God?Isaiah opens with a question that stops us in our tracks. No one—past, present, or future—can be placed on the same level as the LORD.
• Scripture repeatedly makes this point. InIsaiah 40:25, God Himself says, “To whom will you compare Me, or who is My equal?” InIsaiah 46:9 He reminds His people, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.”
• Moses tells Israel, “You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other but Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35).
• Even the heavens testify to His singular greatness: “For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?” (Psalm 89:6).
Every human hero, every angelic being, every power is finite, created, and contingent. God alone is infinite, uncreated, and self-existent. The verse invites us to lift our eyes from whatever we might admire and fix them on the One who stands utterly alone in majesty.
To what image will you compare Him?The second question zooms in on the folly of trying to capture God in a physical form.
• The Ten Commandments already laid the foundation: “You shall not make for yourself an idol” (Exodus 20:4).
• Isaiah later ridicules the craftsman who “cuts down cedars” and with part of the wood warms himself, yet with the rest makes “a god, his idol” (Isaiah 44:14–17).
• Paul echoes the same truth in Athens: “We should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone—an image formed by man’s skill and imagination” (Acts 17:29).
Idols are powerless and lifeless (Psalm 115:4–8), while God is living and active. Any physical representation limits Him, distorts His glory, and pulls our worship downward. Isaiah’s question exposes the absurdity of substituting a created image for the Creator: nothing fashioned by human hands can even begin to reflect the fullness of His splendor.
summaryIsaiah 40:18 confronts us with a pair of probing questions that shatter every rival claim to God’s supremacy. No person, no force, no cosmic power can stand beside Him, and no man-made image can capture His glory. The verse calls us to abandon all substitutes, lift our eyes to the incomparable LORD, and give Him the wholehearted worship He alone deserves.
(18)
To whom then will ye liken God . . .--The thought of the infinity of God leads, as in St. Paul's reasoning (
Acts 17:24-29), to the great primary argument against the folly of idolatry. It is characteristic, partly of the two men individually, partly of the systems under which they lived, that while the tone of Isaiah is sarcastic and declamatory, that of St Paul is pitying, and as with indulgent allowance for the "times of ignorance." We must remember, of course, that the Apostle speaks to those who had known nothing better than the worship of their fathers, the prophet to those who were tempted to fall into the worship of the heathen from a purer faith.
Verse 18. is more the complement of what precedes than the introduction to what follows (comp. ver. 25). If God be all that has been said of him in vers. 12-17, must he not be wholly unique and incomparable? Then, out of this, the thought arises of the strange, the poor, the mean "likenesses" of God, which men have in their folly set up in various times and places. It has been said that Israel in captivity did not need to be warned against idolatry, of the inclination to which the Captivity is supposed at once to have cured them (Urwick, 'Servant of Jehovah,' p. 15). But there is no evidence of this. Rather, considering the few that returned, and the many that remained behind (Joseph., 'Ant Jud.,' 11:1), we may conclude that a large number adopted the customs, religion, and general mode of life of their masters.'
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
To whomמִ֖י(mî)Interrogative
Strong's 4310:Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffixwill you likenתְּדַמְּי֣וּן(tə·ḏam·mə·yūn)Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1819:To compare, to resemble, liken, considerGod?אֵ֑ל(’êl)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410:Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the AlmightyTo whatוּמַה־(ū·mah-)Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100:What?, what!, indefinitely whatimageדְּמ֖וּת(də·mūṯ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1823:Resemblance, model, shape, likewill you compare Him?תַּ֥עַרְכוּ(ta·‘ar·ḵū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6186:To set in a, row, arrange, put in order
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will you liken God? (Isa Isi Is) 
