Isaiah 43

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:8

Bring forth the blind people - Many have understood this of the Jews. So Vitringa, Rosenmuller, Grotius, and others understand it. But Lowth, more correctly, regards it as referring to the Gentiles. It is designed as an argument to show the superiority of God over all idols, and to demonstrate that he was able to deliver his people from captivity and exile. He appeals, therefore Isaiah 43:9, to his own people in proof of his divinity and power. None of the pagan Isaiah 43:8 had been able to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:9

Let all the nations be gathered together - Let them be assembled to give evidence, or to adduce proofs that their idols are worthy of confidence Isaiah 41:1.Who among them can declare this? - Who among them hath predicted this state of things? Who has foretold the events which are now occurring? It is implied here, that Yahweh had done this, but none of the pagan gods had done it (see the note at Isaiah 41:21).And show us former things - (see the note at Isaiah 41:22). The order of events, the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:10

Ye are my witnesses - They were his witnesses, because, first, he had given in them predictions of future events which had been literally fulfilled: secondly, by his power of delivering them so often manifested, he had shown that he was a God able to save. Neither of these had been done by the idol-gods (compare Isaiah 44:8).And believe me - Or rather, confide in me.Before me there was no God formed - I am the only true, the eternal God. In this expression, Yahweh says that he was the first... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:11

I, even I, am the Lord - The repetition of the pronoun ‘I’ makes it emphatic. The design is, to affirm that there was no other being to whom the name ‘Yahweh’ pertained. There was no other one who had the attributes which the name involved; there was, therefore, no other God. On the meanins of the word Yahweh, see the note at Isaiah 1:2.And beside me there is no Saviour - There is no one who can deliver from oppression, and captivity, and exile, such as the Jews suffered in Babylon; there is no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:12

I have declared - I have announced or predicted future events; I have warned of danger; I have marked out the path of safety. He had thus shown that he was the true God (see the note at Isaiah 41:22-23).And have saved - I have delivered the nation in former times of danger, and have thus shown that I would protect them.And have showed - Hebrew, ‘Caused to hear.’ I have made known future events, and have thus showed that I was God.When there was no strange god among you - Before the time when... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:13

Yea, before the day was - Before the first day, or before the beginning of time; from eternity. The Septuagint renders it correctly, Ἀπ ̓ ἀρχης Ap' archēs, and the Vulgate (Ab initio), ‘From the beginning.’I am he - I am the same Isaiah 43:10.I will work - I will accomplish my designs.And who shall let it? - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Turn it back.’ The meaning is, ‘Who can hinder it?’ And the doctrine taught here is:1. That God is from everlasting, for if he was before time, he must have been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:14

Thus saith the Lord your Redeemer - This verse commences another argument for the safety of his people. It is the assurance to the Jews in Babylon that he had sent to them a deliverer, and would bring down the pride of the Chaldeans, and demolish their city.Your Redeemer - (See the note at Isaiah 43:1).I have sent to Babylon - That is, the Persians and Medes, under the command of Cyrus (compare the note at Isaiah 13:3). This implies that God had command over all their armies and had the power... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:15

I am the Lord - I am Yahweh - proved to be such, as the connection demands that we should interpret this, by sending to Babylon and bringing down your oppressors. This interposition in destroying Babylon would be a demonstration that he was Yahweh, the only true God, and their God.The Creator of Israel - (See the note at Isaiah 43:1).Your King - Ruling over you, and showing the right to do it by delivering you from your foes. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:16

Thus saith the Lord - This verse contains a reference to the deliverance from Egyptian servitude - the great storehouse of argument and illustration with the sacred writers; the standing demonstration of God’s merciful interposition in behalf of their nation, and proof that he was their God.Which maketh - Whose characteristic it is to open a path of safety for his people even when deep and rapid floods are before them The standing roof of this which undoubtedly the prophet had in his eye, was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:17

Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse - The reference here is, undoubtedly, to the occurrences which are recorded in Exodus 14:4, following, when Pharaoh and his host are said to have followed the Israelites, but were all submerged in the sea. God is said to have brought them forth in accordance with the general statement so often made, that he controls and directs princes and nations (see the note at Isaiah 10:5-6).They shall lie down together - They shall sink together to death, as... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:17

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands