Isaiah 43

1 Now [at this time, in this moment] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says— He who created [brought into existence, formed from nothing] you, O Jacob [the supplanter, a key figure in Israel’s history], and He who formed [shaped, molded] you, O Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob]: “Do not fear [be not afraid, do not be anxious], for I have redeemed [bought back, saved] you; I have called [summoned, invited] you by your name [your identity, character]; you are Mine [belonging to Me, My possession]! word study 2 When you pass through the waters [deep rivers, floods], I will be with you [as your constant companion]; and when you go through the rivers [overflowing streams], they will not overwhelm [overflow, engulf] you. When you walk through the fire [trial, refining flames], you will not be scorched [burned, consumed]; the flames [blazing heat] will not set you ablaze [kindled against you]. word study 3 For I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God], the Holy [set apart, sacred] One of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob], your Savior [Moshiea, one who saves]; I give [put, set] Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] for your ransom [a redemption price, atonement], Cush [Ethiopia, the region south of Egypt] and Seba [a son of Cush, possibly Ethiopia] in your place [underneath, as a substitute]. word study 4 Because you are [highly valued] precious and honored [esteemed, glorified] in My sight [My gaze, My presence], and because I [deeply, unconditionally] love you, I will give men [people, individuals] in exchange for you and nations [peoples, communities] in place of your life [your soul, your being]. word study 5 Do not [be terrified, have no fear] be afraid, for I [am present with you, near to you] am with you; I will bring your offspring [descendants, seed] from the [direction of sunrise, the east] east and gather you from the [direction of sunset, the west] west. word study 6 I will say [declare, command] to the north [Zaphon, the direction of darkness], ‘Give them up [release, set free]!’ and to the south [the direction of light], ‘Do not hold them back [restrain, hinder]!’ Bring My sons [children, descendants] from afar [a distant place, far away], and My daughters [female children, beloved ones] from the ends [the farthest reaches, borders] of the earth [the land, the world]— word study 7 everyone [all, every single one] called [invited, summoned] by My name [My identity, character] and created [brought into being, formed] for My glory [honor, splendor], whom I have indeed [verily, truly] formed [shaped, molded] and made [brought into existence, accomplished].” word study 8 Bring out [send forth, summon] a people [nation, community] who have eyes [sight, spiritual perception] but are blind [physically or spiritually unable to see], and who have ears [the ability to hear, listen] but are deaf [unable to hear, unresponsive to God’s voice]. word study 9 All [every single one, the entirety of] the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrew communities] gather together [collect, assemble, come together in unity] and the peoples [large groups, communities, tribes] assemble [come together, meet]. Who [which one, what person] among them can declare [tell, proclaim, make known] this [these events, this prophecy], and proclaim [announce, show, reveal] to us the former things [the first events, the things that happened before]? Let them present [bring forth, give] their witnesses [testimonies, evidence, those who have seen] to vindicate [justify, prove right, demonstrate] them, so that others may hear [listen, pay attention, give heed] and say [declare, affirm, acknowledge], “It is true [truth, faithfulness, reality].” word study 10 “You [my chosen people, witnesses of my power] are My witnesses,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], “and My servant [faithful attendant, one who serves me] whom I have chosen [selected, appointed for a purpose], so that you may consider [reflect, ponder] and believe Me [trust, have faith in me] and understand [comprehend, discern] that I am He [the one true God, eternal and unchanging]. Before Me [in my presence, face to face] no god [false deity, idol] was formed [created, shaped], and after Me [following my existence] none will come [exist, be formed]. word study 11 I, yes I [even I, only I], am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and there is no Savior [beside me, apart from me] but Me [the one true Deliverer]. word study 12 I alone [alone, the only one] decreed [declared, proclaimed] and saved [rescued, delivered] and proclaimed [made known, announced]— I [Yehovah], and not some foreign [strange] god [deity, idol] among you. So you are My witnesses [testifiers, those who have seen],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], “that I am God [Elohim, the all-powerful One]. word study 13 Even from eternity [before all time, from the very first] I am He [the eternal, self-existent One], and none can deliver [rescue, snatch away] out of My hand [power, authority]. When I act [work, bring to pass], who [what person, what power] can reverse [turn back, hinder] it?” word study 14 Thus says [in this manner, at this time] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your Redeemer [the Holy One who buys back, rescues], the Holy One [set apart, sacred] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]: “For your sake [because of you, on your behalf], I will send [dispatch, cause to depart] to Babylon [the city and empire of confusion] and bring them all [every single one, the entire nation] as fugitives [those who flee, escape], even the Chaldeans [the inhabitants of Chaldea, known for wisdom and astrology], in the ships [vessels that sail on the water] in which they rejoice [take pride, cry out in triumph]. word study 15 I [the existing One] am the LORD [The covenant Name of God, Yehovah], your Holy One [set apart, sacred], the Creator [Maker, one who brings into being] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants], and your King [the sovereign ruler, having divine authority].” word study 16 Thus [in this manner, at this time] says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who makes [gives, creates] a way [road, path] in the sea [large body of water] and a path [road, journey] through the surging [strong, mighty] waters [liquid, source of refreshment], word study 17 who brings out [summons, leads forth] the chariots [vehicles, cavalry] and horses [swallow, war horses], the armies [military forces, troops] and warriors [mighty men, powerful ones] together, to lie down [rest, sleep, be still], never to rise again [not stand up, be extinguished]; to be extinguished [put out, quenched], snuffed out [like flax, as a wick] like a wick: word study 18 “Do not [never, under no circumstances] call to mind [remember, recall, or think about] the former things [past events, previous experiences, or what has been]; pay no attention [do not consider, or give thought to] to the things of old [ancient times, bygone eras, or what has been forgotten]. word study 19 Behold [look, take notice], I am about to do something [entirely] new [recently created, renewed]; even now [at this time, already] it is coming [springing forth, growing]. Do you not see [perceive, understand] it? Indeed [verily, truly], I will make [create, bring into existence] a way [road, path] in the wilderness [desert, empty place] and streams [rivers, floods] in the desert [wasteland, dry country]. word study 20 The beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field [open land, wilderness] will honor [glorify, give weight to] Me, the jackals [dragons, monsters] and the ostriches [daughters of the ostrich], because I provide [give, set forth] water [refreshment, life-giving liquid] in the wilderness [desolate place, empty land] and rivers [streams, flowing waters] in the desert [dry and barren land], to give drink [quench the thirst, satisfy] to My chosen [selected, preferred] people [nation, community]. word study 21 The people [a nation, a community] I formed [shaped, molded like a potter] for Myself [for my own purpose, to belong to me] will declare [show forth, recount] My praise [a song of worship, admiration]. word study 22 But you have not [never] called on Me [invoked my name, sought my help], O Jacob [descendant of the patriarch], because you have grown [become, been] weary [exhausted, tired] of Me, O Israel [God’s chosen people, symbolic name of Jacob]. word study 23 You have not [failed to] brought Me sheep [or goats, young animals] for burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire], nor honored [glorified, shown respect] Me with your sacrifices [offerings to God]. I have not burdened [weighed heavily upon] you with offerings [gifts, donations], nor wearied [exhausted, made tired] you with frankincense [a fragrant resin used in worship]. word study 24 You have not [never] bought Me sweet cane [fragrant reeds, calamus] with your silver [money], nor satisfied [filled, quenched] Me with the fat [richest part, choicest portion] of your sacrifices [offerings, atonements]. But you have burdened [weighed down, oppressed] Me with your sins [guilt, iniquities, rebellions]; you have wearied [exhausted, toiled] Me with your iniquities [moral evil, wickedness]. word study 25 I, yes I [the one true God], am He who blots out [wipes away, erases] your transgressions [rebellions, sins] for My own sake [because of who I am, for My own purpose] and remembers [recalls, brings to mind] your sins [guilt, punishment] no more [not at all, never again]. word study 26 Remind [put in remembrance, recall to mind] Me, let us argue [plead, be judged] the matter together [in unity, as one]. State [declare, recount] your case [cause, evidence], so that you may be vindicated [justified, declared righteous, made right]. word study 27 Your [very first, primary] first father [first ancestor, paternal figure] sinned [missed the mark, went wrong], and your spokesmen [teachers, leaders, interpreters] rebelled [transgressed, broke away] against Me [in defiance, against my will]. word study 28 So I will disgrace [treat with contempt, profane] the princes [rulers, leaders] of your sanctuary [Holy Place, set-apart area], and I will devote [give over to destruction, make a curse] Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah] to destruction [devoted thing, doomed] and Israel [the descendants of Jacob] to reproach [reviling, vilification].” word study