My hand also hath founded the earth, and my right hand hath measured the heavens: I shall call them, and they shall stand together.
Ibn Ezra
ידי Mine hand. My left hand. It is a figurative expression; the right hand is used in connection with the heavens, because they are higher in rank than the earth. אף has in this verse the same meaning as כי for.—It is true that I am the first and last, because I created every thing. טפחה Hath put round, Comp. טפחתי I have swaddled (Lam. 2:22). Others explain it: Hath measured with the handbreadth יעמדו יחדיו —.(טֶפַח) They stand up together. From this phrase some of the commentators derive their opinion, that heaven and earth were created simultaneously, not consecutively. The literal meaning, however, is: I have made them, and when I call them to do My will and desire they stand both before Me like servants; comp. למשפטיך עמדו they stand up according to Thy ordinances (Ps. 119:91). For else how should God call them, when not yet existing.
Hebrew and Aramaic words are the commentator’s citations of the sacred text; the English translation that follows each is the translator’s.
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.