Isaiah 43 1

Isaiah 43:1 kjv

But now thus saith the LORD 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.

Isaiah 43:1 nkjv

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

Isaiah 43:1 niv

But now, this is what the LORD says? he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1 esv

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1 nlt

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 1 Meaning

Isaiah 43:1 provides a profound message of comfort and assurance from Yahweh to His covenant people, Israel, during a period of fear and despair, particularly referencing their future return from Babylonian exile. It grounds this assurance in God's foundational relationship with them as Creator, Former, and Redeemer. The verse emphasizes their intimate, personal, and unbreakable belonging to Him, asserting that they should "not fear" because God has already acted on their behalf, calls them by their unique identity, and eternally claims them as His own.

Isaiah 43 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 falls within the second major section of the book (chapters 40-55), often called "The Book of Comfort" or "The Book of Consolation." This part of Isaiah is primarily addressed to the Israelites in Babylonian exile, facing deep despair, guilt, and a crisis of faith. Chapters 40-42 introduced the new message of hope and God's sovereignty over all nations, while also lamenting Israel's blindness and stubbornness. Chapter 43 shifts decisively towards comfort and promises of a future restoration. This verse, Isa 43:1, stands as the immediate response to Israel's fear and the divine declaration of their ultimate security, building on previous affirmations of God's power as Creator and their unique status. It sets the tone for subsequent chapters that detail their miraculous return and renewal, establishing God's steadfast love and unchanging identity as the basis for their hope amidst political and spiritual upheaval.

Isaiah 43 1 Word analysis

• But now (וְעַתָּה, wəʿattāh): A significant transitional phrase. It signals a shift from previous pronouncements, often contrasting judgment or past sin with a new declaration of grace and hope. Here, it pivots from the charges and despair of previous chapters to divine comfort and reassurance, marking a pivotal turn in God's message to His exiled people.
• this is what the Lord says— (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh ʾāmar Yahweh): This is a prophetic formula, emphasizing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message. It highlights that the ensuing words are not human speculation but the direct, absolute word of God, Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God.
• he who created you, Jacob, (בֹרַאֲךָ, יַעֲקֹב, borăʾḵā, Yaʿăqōv):
  • created (בָּרָא, bara): This Hebrew verb typically describes God's creation, often from nothing (creation ex nihilo), or creating something completely new and unique, without effort. It points to God's ultimate power, absolute sovereignty, and the Israelite's foundational existence derived solely from Him. This implies their national identity is a divine work, not merely a human endeavor.
  • Jacob: Refers to the patriarch, but also collectively to the nation of Israel. It emphasizes their origins and their historical continuity as God's chosen people, despite their present fallen state in exile. It also connects them back to the covenant promises made to their ancestor.
• he who formed you, Israel: (וְיֹצַרְךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל, wəyōṣarkā, Yisrāʾēl):
  • formed (יָצַר, yatsar): This Hebrew verb depicts the careful work of a potter shaping clay (e.g., Jer 18). It speaks of intentional design, meticulous craftsmanship, and an intimate, personal involvement of God in shaping their identity and destiny. It suggests God knows them from conception to completion.
  • Israel: This name, meaning "struggles with God" or "God contends," also refers to the nation. It highlights their unique spiritual identity, their covenant relationship with God, and their destiny as a people called for His purpose, now viewed through the lens of God's restoration, not their past failures.
• 'Do not fear, (אַל תִּירָא, ʾal tîrāʾ): A common and potent divine command, found frequently throughout the Bible. It addresses Israel's deep-seated anxiety, which was very real for a defeated and exiled nation. The command is not simply an admonition, but an assurance stemming from God's identity and His past and future actions. It counteracts their legitimate fears with a declaration of divine control.
• for I have redeemed you; (כִּי גְאַלְתִּיךָ, kî gəʾal-tîkā):
  • for (כִּי, kî): Introduces the reason for the command "Do not fear."
  • redeemed (גָּאַל, ga'al): A pivotal Hebrew term signifying active intervention to rescue or buy back, especially by a kinsman-redeemer. It implies paying a price, bringing out of bondage (like the Exodus from Egypt), or restoring what was lost. The past tense ("I have redeemed") declares this not as a future possibility, but as a decided, accomplished fact in God's eternal plan, effectively guaranteeing their release from Babylonian captivity and restoration.
• I have summoned you by name; (קָרָאתִי בְשִׁמְךָ, qārāʾ-tî bəšim-ḵā):
  • summoned you by name: This conveys deep personal knowledge, individual recognition, and intimate relationship. To be called by name signifies uniqueness, value, and belonging. It means God acknowledges their individual existence, cares for them personally, and has a specific purpose for each, not just the nation generically. It also points to an unchangeable identity in God's eyes, irrespective of their temporary circumstances.
• you are mine.' (לִי אַתָּה, lî ʾattāh): A conclusive and deeply reassuring statement of possession and belonging. It implies exclusive ownership based on creation, formation, and redemption. This declares an unbreakable covenant relationship, offering ultimate security and identity to the exiled Israelites. Despite their captivity and their sins, they belong irrevocably to the Lord.

Isaiah 43 1 Bonus section

The profound assurance in Isaiah 43:1 directly challenges the contemporary Babylonian polytheism and their belief in their powerful deities like Marduk. Unlike the Babylonian gods who were often portrayed as being formed or limited by other cosmic forces, Yahweh unequivocally declares Himself as the one who created and formed Israel. This is a subtle yet powerful polemic: the gods of Babylon did not create the people or world, nor can they redeem or intimately know their worshippers by name. Yahweh alone possesses this exclusive claim to ultimate power and personal connection. Furthermore, the emphasis on God's foreknowledge and deliberate formation (comparing to a potter's work) suggests a divine blueprint for Israel's future that could not be thwarted by foreign powers, establishing Yahweh as truly unique and supreme among all "gods." This also underpins the "New Exodus" theme pervasive in Isaiah 40-55, signifying a deliverance even grander than the original Exodus, reaffirming God's continued faithfulness despite Israel's failures.

Isaiah 43 1 Commentary

Isaiah 43:1 bursts forth as a vibrant beacon of hope amid the exilic despair. Following earlier verses that highlight Israel's failures, this verse redirects focus entirely onto God's character and His unwavering commitment to His people. The divine pronouncements "I created you," "I formed you," and "I redeemed you" are foundational pillars of reassurance. They assert God's absolute sovereignty and prior claim over Israel's existence, not based on their merit, but solely on His unchallengeable power and covenant love. The powerful command "Do not fear" is a direct challenge to their existential anxieties, immediately grounded in the past, completed act of redemption (ga'al). This means their liberation from exile is as certain as their historical deliverance from Egypt, secured by God's character as the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer. The final declarations, "I have summoned you by name; you are mine," elevate this promise from national identity to deeply personal intimacy. God not only knows Israel as a nation but intimately knows each individual within it. This personal calling signifies unique value and an unbreakable belonging to Him, overriding any claims of their captors or any self-doubt. It promises a secure identity and an ultimate belonging that no exile, no enemy, and no failure can annul. For individual believers, this echoes a call to personal faith and belonging, where Christ's redemptive work forms the basis for individual security and purpose.