Isaiah 43:1-44:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 43:1-7

This chapter has a plain connexion with the close of the foregoing chapter, but a very surprising one. It was there said that Jacob and Israel would not walk in God's ways, and that when he corrected them for their disobedience they were stubborn and laid it not to heart; and now one would think it should have followed that God would utterly abandon and destroy them; but no, the next words are, But now, fear not, O Jacob! O Israel! I have redeemed thee, and thou art mine. Though many among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 43:1

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob ,.... This prophecy is not concerning Cyrus, and the redemption of the Jews by him, as some have thought; nor of Sennacherib and his army, and of their deliverance from him, as Kimchi and his father interpret it; but of the Christian church, and the state of it, when Jerusalem should be destroyed, as predicted in the preceding chapter; which goes by the name of Jacob and Israel, for the first churches chiefly consisted of Jews, and both... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 43:1

I have called thee by thy name - " בשמך קראתי karathi beshimcha . So all the versions. But it seems from the seventh verse, and from the thing itself, that we should read בשמי קראתיך karathicha bishmi , 'I have called thee by my name;' for this form of speech often occurs - the other never. For Isaiah 45:24 , concerning Cyrus, is another matter; but when God calls Jacob Israel, he calls him by the name of God. See Exodus 31:2 ." - Secker. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:1

But now . The words mark the strong contrast between the closing passage of the preceding chapter and the opening paragraph of the present one. Israel had undergone a severe punishment for his sins; he is still suffering, but now there is going to be an entire change. He is to be protected and delivered. Created thee … formed. thee redeemed thee … called thee by thy name. An ascending series of benefits. First, creation, like that of formless matter out of nought; then, formation, or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:1

The supreme claim and the sure stay. So far from having nothing to do with us as individual spirits, we may say that God has everything to do with us. On the one hand, he makes a very great claim upon us; and on the other hand, he holds out very great hopes to us. I. THE SUPREME CLAIM . To every human soul, as to Israel of old, God says, "Thou art mine." He requires of us that we shall consider ourselves as belonging to him; so that he may employ us in his service, may direct our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:1

Personal relations with God. "Thou art mine." In the East, to call a person by name is a mark of an individualizing tenderness. But so it is in all lands. Those who are in close personal relations with us we call by their Christian names; we even give them a new pet name; and they love that name, because it is a sign to them of the close connection in which they stand to us. God tried to keep this sense of personal relation ever before the people of Israel, and so to keep them assured of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:1-7

A RENEWED PROMISE TO ISRAEL OF PROTECTION AND DELIVERANCE . Severe rebuke ( Isaiah 42:18-25 ) is followed, as so often in Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:25-27 ; Isaiah 4:2-6 ; Isaiah 9:1-16 , etc.), by comfort and consolation. Israel is assured that God has not cast him off, and promised the comfort of the Divine presence during the existing tribulation (verse 2), and. a speedy restoration to Palestine (verses 3-7). The scattered Israelites will be brought together from all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 43:1-7

The love of Jehovah to Israel. "But now." The word itself hints yearning affection. There has been a conflict between Divine love and Divine wrath, and the former has gained the victory. In fact, the wrath of Jehovah was but grieved affection. Its force is now for the time spent. He will now deliver and protect, reassemble and restore his people (Cheyne). I. IT IS THE LOVE OF A PARENT . "Thy Creator, O Jacob; he that formed thee, O Israel." Of all the works of God,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 43:1

But now - This expression shows that this chapter is connected with the preceding. The sense is, “Though God has punished the nation, and showed them his displeasure Isaiah 42:24-25, yet now he will have mercy, and will deliver them.’That created thee - The word ‘thee’ is used here evidently in a collective sense as denoting the Jewish people. It is used because the names ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ in the singular number are applied to the people. The word ‘created’ is used here to denote the idea... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 43:1-2

Isaiah 43:1-2. But now, thus saith the Lord But, notwithstanding thy gross insensibility under former judgments, for which I might justly send far heavier calamities upon thee, yet I will deal mercifully with thee. That created thee, O Jacob, &c. Who made thee his people, and that in a manner as miraculous as if he had created thee a second time out of nothing; and therefore he will be gracious to his own workmanship. Fear not; for I have redeemed thee From the Egyptians and divers... read more

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