Isaiah 40:25-26
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God isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's declaring his absolute uniqueness and holiness by calling himself "the Holy One." This title, used without an article here, elevates it almost to a proper name, emphasizing that his supreme holiness is what sets him apart from every other being or idol.
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just described God's supreme power over all creation, especially the vast expanse of the heavens and the stars, the prophet poses a rhetorical question. This question, echoing an earlier one, emphasizes the utter absurdity of comparing God to anything, especially the lifeless idols people were creating and worshipping. It sets the stage for God's unique, holy nature to be recognized above all else.
Have you ever tried to describe something truly awe-inspiring, only to find words fall short? Isaiah grapples with this, asking who could possibly measure up to God.
The prophet Isaiah, after marveling at God's immense power and glory, poses a rhetorical question: 'To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him?' This isn't a question seeking an answer, but a powerful statement of God's uniqueness. It directly challenges any attempt to equate God with idols, kings, or even the grandest elements of creation. The emphasis is on God's absolute sovereignty and unmatched nature. He is not just like something else; He is in a category all His own.
The verse ends with a title for God that might seem simple, but it carries profound weight. What does it truly mean that God is 'the Holy One'?
The title 'the Holy One' (or 'Qadosh' in the original Hebrew) is used frequently by Isaiah to describe God. It doesn't just mean God is 'good' or 'moral.' Holiness, in the biblical sense, speaks to God's absolute separation from sin and evil. It signifies His perfection, His otherness, His transcendence. When God declares Himself 'the Holy One' in this context, He is emphasizing that His nature is utterly distinct from anything we know. This inherent holiness is the very reason why no comparison is adequate; He is set apart from all creation and all human constructs.
Understand the original words
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qadowsh · Hebrew Adjective
A title for God emphasizing His moral purity, set-apartness, and transcendence above all created beings.
bara · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew verb used here signifies the act of bringing something into existence out of nothing, a prerogative reserved solely for God in the biblical account.
tsaba · Hebrew Noun
Referring to the heavenly bodies, this term conveys the idea of a vast, organized military-like assembly under God's command and sovereign authority.
This verse directly repeats the question from Isaiah 40:18, emphasizing God's unparalleled nature and the foolishness of idolatry.
Psalm 89:6This passage echoes the rhetorical question of God's uniqueness in the heavenly assembly, highlighting His supreme authority.
Romans 11:34Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13, a passage closely related to God's unsearchable wisdom and unmatched understanding, reinforcing His incomparable nature.
Job 38:4-7God Himself asks Job challenging questions about creation, implying no one else could have orchestrated such magnificent works, similar to Isaiah's point about the host of heaven.
barnesIsaiah 40:25: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
To whom then will ye liken me? - (See Isaiah 40:18 ) The prophet having thus set forth the majesty and glory of God, asks now with great emphasis, what could be an adequate and proper representation of such a God. And if God was such a Being, how great was the folly of idolatry, and how vain all their confidence in the gods which their own hands had made.
bensonIsaiah 40:25: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."
Isaiah 40:25-26 . To whom then will ye liken me — He repeats what he said Isaiah 40:18 , that he might oblige them to the more serious and frequent consideration of the absurdity of idolatry. Lift up your eyes on high — To the high and starry heaven, as appears from the following words. Who created these things — Which you see on high? The host of heaven, as it follows. That bringeth out their host — That at…
God isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's declaring his absolute uniqueness and holiness by calling himself "the Holy One." This title, used without an article here, elevates it almost to a proper name, emphasizing that his supreme holiness is what sets him apart from every other being or idol.
Having just described God's supreme power over all creation, especially the vast expanse of the heavens and the stars, the prophet poses a rhetorical question. This question, echoing an earlier one, emphasizes the utter absurdity of comparing God to anything, especially the lifeless idols people were creating and worshipping. It sets the stage for God's unique, holy nature to be recognized above all else.
Having just described God's supreme power over all creation, especially the vast expanse of the heavens and the stars, the prophet poses a rhetorical question. This question, echoing an earlier one, emphasizes the utter absurdity of comparing God to anything, especially the lifeless idols people were creating and worshipping. It sets the stage for God's unique, holy nature to be recognized above all else.
"To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the…" — God isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's declaring his absolute uniqueness and holiness by calling himself "the Holy One." This title, used without an article here, elevates it almost to a p…
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Last reviewed October 2026
