Isaiah 43:10 kjv
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
Isaiah 43:10 nkjv
"You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
Isaiah 43:10 niv
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
Isaiah 43:10 esv
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
Isaiah 43:10 nlt
"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD.
"You are my servant.
You have been chosen to know me, believe in me,
and understand that I alone am God.
There is no other God ?
there never has been, and there never will be.
Isaiah 43 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 43:11 | "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." | Reinforces uniqueness |
| Isaiah 44:6 | "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god." | Identifies Himself as God |
| Isaiah 44:8 | "Is there any god beside me?Yea, there is no god; I know not any." | Denies other deities |
| Deuteronomy 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" | Unity of God |
| Mark 12:29 | "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:" | New Testament affirmation |
| 1 Corinthians 8:4 | "As concerning therefore things offered unto idols, this we know, that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." | Idol nullity |
| 1 Timothy 2:5 | "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" | Mediation and God's oneness |
| John 17:3 | "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." | Knowing the only true God |
| Acts 4:12 | "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." | Exclusive salvation in Jesus |
| Hosea 13:4 | "Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me." | Echoes the salvation theme |
| Psalm 18:2 | "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." | God as deliverer/savior |
| Psalm 27:1 | "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" | Salvation from the LORD |
| Jeremiah 2:11 | "But my people hath changed their glory for that which doth not profit." | Contrast with false gods |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." | Warning against human trust |
| Acts 17:24-25 | "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is he worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" | Creator and Sustainer |
| 1 Samuel 2:2 | "There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God." | God's unique holiness |
| 2 Kings 19:15 | "And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth." | Alone in sovereignty |
| Nehemiah 9:6 | "Thou, even thou art the LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." | Creator, preserver, unique |
| Psalm 46:10 | "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." | God's exaltation |
| Philippians 2:10-11 | "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." | Universal recognition of Christ |
Isaiah 43 verses
Isaiah 43 10 Meaning
This verse emphasizes God's unique divine nature and His role as the sole Savior. It asserts that before Him, no other god existed, nor would any follow Him. He is the singular source of salvation.
Isaiah 43 10 Context
Isaiah 43:10-13 is part of a larger section (chapters 40-66) where Isaiah offers messages of comfort and hope to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. This particular passage serves as a powerful affirmation of Yahweh's (the LORD's) unique sovereignty and redemptive power in contrast to the impotence of Babylonian idols and their gods. God is speaking to His chosen people, reminding them of who He truly is, especially during a time when they were surrounded by a polytheistic culture and likely questioning their own God's strength and ability to deliver them. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites were exposed to the full spectrum of Mesopotamian religious practices.
Isaiah 43 10 Word Analysis
- Ye (Hebrew: אתם, ’attem): This is a plural pronoun for "you." God is addressing the nation of Israel collectively.
- are (Hebrew: הֱיוּ, hîw): The imperative form of the verb "to be," commanding them to continue being.
- my (Hebrew: לי, lî): Possessive pronoun, indicating belonging.
- witnesses (Hebrew: עֵדִים, ‘edîm): Plural noun for "witnesses." Those who testify to the truth based on what they have seen or known. This points to Israel's calling to be a testimony to the nations about Yahweh.
- , (comma): Separates the two independent clauses, linking the people's role as witnesses to God's declaration.
- and (Hebrew: וְ, wə): Conjunction connecting the first statement to the second.
- my (Hebrew: עַבְדִּי, ‘avdî): Possessive pronoun, referring to servants. God views Israel as His servant.
- servant (Hebrew: עֶבֶד, ‘eved): Noun meaning "servant" or "slave." It denotes one who serves and obeys a master.
- whom (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר, ’ăšer): Relative pronoun introducing the subordinate clause, referring to the servant.
- I (Hebrew: אָנֹכִי, ’ānōḵî): First-person singular pronoun, emphatic. God asserting His own identity.
- have: Implied in the past tense verb.
- chosen (Hebrew: בָּחַרְתִּי, bāḥarṯî): First-person singular perfect form of the verb "to choose." God has elected Israel.
- . (period): Ends the sentence.
Words-group analysis:
- "Ye are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen": This phrase establishes a dual identity for Israel in relation to God: they are to be His witnesses to the world, bearing testimony to His truth, and they are also His chosen servant, set apart to do His will and represent Him. This selection is not based on their merit but on God's sovereign choice.
- "that ye may know, and believe me": This subordinate clause explains the purpose of their calling as witnesses and servants. It signifies that this calling is meant to deepen their own understanding and faith in God, and through them, others will come to know and believe in Him. The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע, yada’) implies a deep, experiential knowledge, not mere intellectual assent. "Believe" (אָמַן, ’aman) signifies reliance, trust, and faithfulness.
- "and understand that I am he": This phrase further emphasizes the epistemological purpose of their role. The understanding is to grasp God's intrinsic nature – that He is the self-existent, eternal One.
- "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.": This is a strong monotheistic declaration, asserting God's eternal existence and uniqueness. No other deity existed before Him, nor will any come into existence after Him. "Formed" (יֻצַּר, yuṣṣar) can refer to being created or shaped, highlighting that no god has been brought into being by any power apart from Yahweh.
Isaiah 43 10 Bonus Section
The concept of Israel as God's "witnesses" and "servant" highlights their unique covenant relationship and mission. Their experience with God’s faithfulness, especially during their deliverance from Egypt (mentioned in v. 1, which immediately precedes this verse), is the basis of their testimony. The "knowledge" and "belief" emphasized are not passive but active and personal, mirroring the intimate relationship God desires with His people. The absolute statements about God's eternal and unique existence underscore His sovereignty not just over creation, but over history itself, including the future redemption that this passage points toward. Scholars often connect this to the concept of Shema ("Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one"), foundational to Jewish faith.
Isaiah 43 10 Commentary
God establishes His singular claim to deity and to being the sole source of salvation. Israel's role as His witnesses and chosen servant is intrinsically linked to their knowledge and belief in His exclusive nature. This identity requires them to understand and embrace that Yahweh is eternal, unchanging, and unparalleled. He predates all other purported deities and will outlast them, for they are no gods at all. This declaration is a polemic against the surrounding polytheistic cultures, whose gods were manufactured idols, finite, and incapable of true redemption. Israel, as God’s servant and witness, is called to live out and proclaim this reality, thereby deepening their own faith and serving as a light to the nations, revealing the one true God. Their function is not merely ceremonial but involves deep cognitive and volitional engagement—to know, believe, understand, and witness.