What does Isaiah 40:16 mean?
"And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering." - Isaiah 40:16
Isaiah 40:16 - "And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering."
Isaiah 40:16 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering." This verse is part of the larger passage in Isaiah 40 which is often referred to as the "Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People" passage, as it speaks of God's comfort and care for his people.
The passage as a whole is a message of hope and restoration for the people of Israel. It begins with the well-known line, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." (Isaiah 40:1) The prophet Isaiah is speaking to the Israelites who have been in exile and promises them that their time of punishment is over. The imagery of God's power and care is emphasized throughout the passage, and the verse 16 reaffirms this by highlighting the insignificance of Lebanon and its resources in comparison to God's greatness.
Lebanon was known for its dense forests and abundant natural resources, including large quantities of wood. In ancient times, Lebanon was a source of timber for other nations, and the idea that even Lebanon with all its resources would not be enough to satisfy God's demands further illustrates the greatness and power of God. The use of "burnt offering" in the verse also alludes to the sacrificial system practiced by the Israelites, symbolizing the insufficiency of human offerings compared to God's greatness.
This verse serves as a reminder of the sovereignty and greatness of God. It shows that even the most abundant and valuable resources are insignificant compared to the power and majesty of God. This message would have been particularly meaningful to the Israelites who had experienced defeat and exile, as it reassured them of God's unmatched power and providence.
In a broader sense, this verse also speaks to the limitations of human efforts and offerings in comparison to the divine. It emphasizes the futility of relying solely on human resources and abilities, and instead points to the need for humble reliance on God. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes the value of spiritual treasures over material possessions and warns against the worship of wealth and material resources.
The verse also serves as a reminder of the inadequacy of worldly offerings and sacrifices. The prophet Isaiah is pointing to the insufficiency of human efforts to appease God, highlighting the need for a true heart of repentance and devotion. This theme is echoed throughout the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks against empty rituals and emphasizes the importance of sincere faith and obedience.
In summary, Isaiah 40:16 in the King James Version of the Bible conveys a powerful message of God's unmatched power and greatness, and the inadequacy of human efforts and offerings in comparison. It serves as a reminder to rely on God's providence and care, and to recognize the limitations of worldly resources and offerings. This verse is a source of comfort and hope for believers, reaffirming the greatness of God and His ability to provide for His people.
Isaiah 40:16 Artwork
Isaiah 40:16 - "And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering."
Isaiah 40:23 - "That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity."
Isaiah 40:1 - "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God."
Isaiah 40:8 - "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Isaiah 40:29 - "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
Isaiah 40:30 - "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:"
Isaiah 40:25 - "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
Isaiah 40:18 - "¶ To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?"
Isaiah 40:19 - "The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains."
Isaiah 40:17 - "All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity."
Isaiah 40:7 - "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass."
Exodus 40:16 - "Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he."
Isaiah 40:5 - "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
Job 40:16 - "Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly."
Isaiah 40:3 - "¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Acts 16:40 - "And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed."
Isaiah 40:22 - "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
Isaiah 40:15 - "Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing."
Isaiah 40:13 - "Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?" respectful, symbolic bible verse art
Ezekiel 16:40 - "They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords."
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 - "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
Isaiah 40:4 - "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:"
Isaiah 40:6 - "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:"
Isaiah 40:21 - "Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?"
Isaiah 40:28 - "¶ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."
Isaiah 40:31 - "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:10 - "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him."
Jeremiah 40:16 - "But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael."
Psalms 40:16 - "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified."