King James Bible
"It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:"
God is portrayed as enthroned above the earth's horizon or dome, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty over all creation. The Hebrew word for 'circle' (chug) reflects ancient Near Eastern cosmology while affirming God's transcendent position above earthly affairs. From God's exalted perspective, even the mightiest humans appear as tiny insects, highlighting the vast difference between divine majesty and human limitation. This imagery would have particularly resonated with Isaiah's audience facing the threat of powerful empires. God's creative power is depicted through the effortless act of unfurling the cosmos like fabric, suggesting both the ease of divine creation and the heavens as God's dwelling place. The tent metaphor connects to Israel's nomadic heritage while emphasizing that the entire universe is merely God's temporary habitation.