Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 40:14
With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?
14. and who instructed ] Or, so that he instructed.
path of judgment ] path of right ( mishp). See ch. Isa 28:26, where the word means orderly procedure; here the reference is to the order of nature, or else the transition is already made from creation to providence (Isa 40:15).
way of understanding ] Or, way of insight. The intermediate clause and taught him knowledge is omitted by the LXX., and since it disturbs the parallelism, and repeats the verb just used, it may be a gloss.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
With whom took he counsel – The sentiment of the former verse is repeated here, in order, probably, to make it more emphatic.
In the path of judgment – The way of judging correctly and wisely; or the way of administering justice. It denotes here his boundless wisdom as it is seen in the various arrangements of his creation and providence, by which all things keep their places, and accomplish his vast designs.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Taught him in the path of judgment; how to walk and manage all his affairs with good judgment and discretion.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. path of judgmentHiswisdom, whereby He so beautifully adjusts the places and proportionsof all created things.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him,…. This is the same as before, only repeated in other words, the more strongly to deny that any mere creature counselled, taught, and instructed the Spirit of Christ, in the ordering and managing the works of creation:
and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? or gave him that judgment, knowledge, and understanding in framing the world, and all things in it, in that beautiful and regular manner that it is; which shows it to be a work of wisdom, more than human or angelical, and to be purely divine; no one, angel or man, could have struck out such a path of judgment, such a way of understanding, or showed such exquisite skill and knowledge, as appear in the works of creation; see Ps 104:24.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. From whom took he counsel? The Prophet expresses the same thing in many ways; that we may know that nothing is more foolish than man, (115) when he ventures to lift himself up into heaven, to examine or judge by his own ability the works of God. In these words, therefore, Isaiah intended to repress more and more the insolence and rashness of men. Paul quotes this proof for the same purpose, to deter us from judging of the unsearchable counsel of God; for God does not wish us to inquire concerning his wisdom but in a sober and becoming manner. (Rom 11:34.) There is one difference, that Paul affirms that the spiritual mystery of the gospel cannot be fathomed by the human understanding, while the Prophet pronounces a commendation, in general terms, on the providence of God. But on both points we ought to learn humility, and to bring all our senses captive to obedience. All the reason or understanding that we have is mere darkness, till we have been enlightened by Christ.
(115) “ Que l’homme est plus beste que los bestes mesmes.” “That man is more a beast than the beasts themselves.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(14) Counsel . . . judgment.The cluster of words belonging to the sapiential vocabulary of the Book of Proverbs is to be noted as parallel with Pro. 11:23, Isa. 33:15.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 40:14 With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Ver. 14. With whom took he counsel? ] See Isa 40:13 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
(Isa 40:12-14) Who. . . . Who. . . With whom. . . ? Isa 40:12-14 are introductory: while the Figure of speech Erotesis emphasizes the importance of Him Who speaks.
instructed Him = made Him understand.
path. See note on Isa 2:3.
taught = trained. Hebrew. lamad.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
instructed him: Heb. made him understand
understanding: Heb. understandings. 1Co 12:4-6, Col 2:3, Jam 1:17
Reciprocal: Job 12:13 – counsel Job 21:22 – teach Job 26:2 – helped Job 34:13 – Who hath given Job 36:23 – Who hath Job 40:2 – instruct Pro 8:14 – Counsel Isa 19:12 – let them Jer 23:18 – who 1Co 2:16 – who Eph 1:11 – the counsel Rev 5:3 – General