Verse 14 continues the theme of God knowing everything and not needing any advice. The vocabulary here is used frequently in Wisdom texts (compare, for example, Pro 1.2-6).

The Hebrew interrogative pronoun at the beginning of this verse is an object this time, not a subject, so it is rendered Whom. Here it introduces four rhetorical questions.

Whom did he consult for his enlightenment implies that God did not consult anyone in order to learn anything. It is similar to the last question of the previous verse. The Hebrew verb rendered consult comes from the same root as the noun translated “counselor” there. For his enlightenment is literally “and caused him to understand.” Revised English Bible suggests “to gain discernment,” while New American Bible has “to gain knowledge.”

And who taught him the path of justice implies that no one taught God the right way to live. He himself provided the Law, so he knew how to live according to it. The path of justice refers to living according to the demands of the Law (see the comments on 1.17 and 26.8). New International Version says “the right way,” and Good News Translation has “how things should be done” (similarly Bible en français courant).

And taught him knowledge implies that God did not need help in gaining any kind of knowledge. He is the source of all knowledge. Taught is same verb used in the previous line. For knowledge see the comments on 11.2. For this line Contemporary English Version has “Who gave him knowledge…?”

And showed him the way of understanding implies that God did not need help in becoming wise. He is the source of all wisdom. The Hebrew verb rendered showed is the same one translated “instructed” in the previous verse. Like the word path in the second line, the term way is a metaphor for a lifestyle. The way of understanding refers to living wisely. Revised English Bible says “the way of wisdom” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The Hebrew word for understanding comes from the same root as the term for enlightenment in the first line. For understanding see the comments on 11.2.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Whom did he consult in order to gain understanding,
or who taught him the way of justice?
Who taught him to know everything
or showed him the road to understanding?

• Whom did he consult in order to become wise,
or who taught him the right way to live?
Who helped him know everything
or taught him how to be wise?

• The LORD consulted nobody to understand things,
and nobody taught him the just way to live.
Nobody helped him know everything
or taught him how to understand things.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .