OET interlinear ISA 40:12

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

מִֽי מָדַ֨ד בְּ⁠שָׁעֳל֜⁠וֹ מַ֗יִם וְ⁠שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ בַּ⁠זֶּ֣רֶת תִּכֵּ֔ן וְ⁠כָ֥ל בַּ⁠שָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָ⁠אָ֑רֶץ וְ⁠שָׁקַ֤ל בַּ⁠פֶּ֨לֶס֙ הָרִ֔ים וּ⁠גְבָע֖וֹת בְּ⁠מֹאזְנָֽיִם

who? measured in,the_hollow_of,of_his_hand waters and_[the],heavens with,span marked_off and=all in_(the),a_measure dust_of the=earth/land and,has_he_weighed? with,scale[s] mountains and,hills with,balances

Isaiah is using the question form to emphasize that no human being could do these things that Yahweh alone, the all-powerful Creator, can do. If a speaker of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as a statement or as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Surely no one has measured the waters in his palm or measured the heavens with a span or held the dust of the earth in a triple or weighed the mountains in a scale or the hills in a balance!]

Note 2 topic: writing-poetry

For poetic purposes, Isaiah is using two different words that have basically the same meaning. The ULT translates each one as measured because English does not have two different words that it can use in this context. But if your language does, it would be appropriate to use them here

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

מַ֗יִם

waters

By the waters, Isaiah means all the waters on the earth. You could indicate this explicitly in your translation if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [all the waters on the earth]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּ⁠שָׁעֳל֜⁠וֹ

in,the_hollow_of,of_his_hand

Here, his palm represents the small amount that a person can hold or measure in his hand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [in his cupped hand]

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

בַּ⁠שָּׁלִ֖שׁ

in_(the),a_measure

A triple is a a Hebrew unit of dry measurement for grain or flour which literally means “a third.” If your readers would not be familiar with what a triple is, you could use the name of a similar thing that your readers would recognize, or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [a measuring bowl] or [a cup]