Isaiah43
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.
2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.
4Since thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.
5Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth;
7every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made.
8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
10Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.
12I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God.
13Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?
14Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
15I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick):
18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
22Yet thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
23Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.
24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast burdened me with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.
26Put me in remembrance; let us plead together: set thou forth thy cause, that thou mayest be justified.
27Thy first father sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
28Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 43.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's unchangeable love for his people. (1-7). Apostates and idolaters addressed. (8-13). The deliverance from Babylon, and the conversion of the Gentiles. (14-21). Admonition to repent of sin. (22-28).
vv1-7
God's favour and good-will to his people speak abundant comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is of God's forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his Son, he has set apart for himself. Those that have God for them need not fear who or what can be against them. What are Egypt and Ethiopia, all their lives and treasures, compared with the blood of Christ? True believers are precious in God's sight, his delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. The faithful are encouraged. They were to be assembled from every quarter. And with this pleasing object in view, the prophet again dissuades from anxious fears.
vv8-13
Idolaters are called to appear in defence of their idols. Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love
vv14-21
The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.
Key Words
עַתָּה: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בָּרָא: (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
יַעֲקֹב: Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
יָצַר: to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יָרֵא: to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten
אַל: not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Isaiah 43Literal historical fulfillment of passing safely through dangerous waters under God's protection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Literal fulfillment of walking through the fire and flame and not being burned.
Supported by JFB
Reinforces the status of Israel as the witnesses of God's unique divinity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Allusion to bringing forth Pharaoh's chariots and horse to be quenched in the sea.
Supported by John Calvin
New Testament parallel of being created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the deep, everlasting love of God that makes His people precious.
Supported by JFB
The original Pentateuchal promise of gathering Israel's scattered seed from all directions.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the previous description of God's people as blind and deaf despite having faculties.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Identical declaration that there is no savior for Israel besides Jehovah.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrasts the 'former things' with the 'new things' God is about to declare.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament application of the chosen people formed to show forth God's praises.
Supported by JFB
Parallels God asking how He has wearied His people when they grew weary of Him.
Supported by John Calvin
The sweet cane required in the sacred anointing oil which they failed to buy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The immediate preceding context of God pouring out fury on a non-laying-to-heart Israel.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the sovereign truth that none can stay God's hand when He acts.
Supported by John Calvin