Isaiah 43

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:18

Remember ye not ... - So great and wonderful shall be God’s future interpositions in your behalf, that what he has done, great as that was, shall be comparatively forgotten.The former things - The deliverance from Egypt, and the overthrow of his enemies there.The things of old - The things that were formerly done. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:19

I will do a new thing - Something that has not hitherto occurred, some unheard of and wonderful event, that shall far surpass all that he had formerly done (see the note at Isaiah 42:9).Now it shall spring forth - (See the note at Isaiah 42:9). It shall spring up as the grass does from the earth; or it shall bud forth like the opening leaves and flowers - a beautiful figure, denoting the manner in which the events of Divine Providence come to pass.I will even make a way in the wilderness - In... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:20

The beast of the field shall honor me - The sense of this passage is plain, and the image is highly poetical and beautiful. God would pour such copious floods of waters through the waste sandy deserts to supply his people, that even the wild beasts would be sensible of his abundant goodness, and would break forth into thanksgiving and praise for the unusual supply.The dragons - (See the note at Isaiah 13:22). The Septuagint renders the word used here (תנין tannı̂yn), by σειρῆνες seirēnes -... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:21

This people have I formed for myself - To preserve the remembrance of my name; to transmit the knowledge of the true God to future times, and to celebrate my praise (see the notes at Isaiah 43:1).They shall show forth my praise - They shall celebrate my goodness; or, by their restoration to their own land, they shall show manifestly that they are my people. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:22

But thou hast not called upon me - The design of this and the following verses, is to show them that they were indebted to the divine mercy alone for their deliverance from bondage. It was not because they had been either meritorious or faithful; it was not because they had deserved these favors at his hand, for they had been a people that had been distinguished for neglecting their God. On that account, these calamities had come upon them, and their deliverance, therefore, was to be an act of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:23

Thou hast not brought me - As a people you have witcheld from me the sacrifices which were commanded. They had not maintained and observed his worship as he had required.The small cattle - Margin, ‘Lambs,’ or ‘kids.’ The Hebrew word (שׂה s'eh) denotes properly one of a flock - a sheep or a goat. It should have been so rendered here. These animals were used for burnt-offerings, and the Jews were required to offer them daily to God.Of thy burnt-offerings - (Compare Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:3).... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:24

Thou hast bought me - You have not purchased this - implying that it was not produced in Palestine, but was an article of commerce. It was to be obtained only from abroad. This is expressly affirmed in Jeremiah 6:20 : ‘To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from afar country?’ That it was an article of commerce is also apparent from Ezekiel 27:19 : ‘Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs (that is, Tyre): bright iron, cassia, and calamus (קנה... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:25

I, even I, am he - This verse contains a gracious assurance that their sins would be blotted out, and the reason why it would be done. The pronoun ‘I’ is repeated to make it emphatic, as in Isaiah 43:11. Perhaps also God designs to show them the evil of the sins which are mentioned in the previous verses, by the assurance that they were committed against him who alone could forgive, and who had promised them pardon. The passage also reminds them, that it was God alone who could pardon the sins... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:26

Put me in remembrance - That is, urge all the arguments in your own defense which you can urge. State everything in self-vindication which can be stated. The language here is taken from the practice of courts when a cause is on trial; and God urges them on their side, to urge all in self-vindication which they can urge. On his part, he alleged that the princes and rulers of the nation had sinned Isaiah 43:27; that the whole nation had transgressed Isaiah 43:23-24, and that for this they were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:27

Thy first father hath sinned - This is the argument on the side of God, to show that they were neither unjustly punished, nor punished with undue severity. The argument is, that their rulers and teachers had been guilty of crime, and that therefore it was right to bring all this vengeance upon the nation. Various interpretations have been given of the phrase ‘thy first father.’ A slight notice of them will lead to the correct exposition.1. Many have supposed that Adam is referred to here. Thus... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:25

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:27

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