Isaiah 43 10

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 verses

Isaiah 43 10 Meaning

This verse encapsulates a foundational declaration from the LORD, affirming the unique identity and role of Israel. God identifies Israel as His "witnesses" and "servant," chosen for the profound purpose of knowing, believing, and understanding His singular nature as the one and only God. It declares that He existed before any other supposed deity was ever formed and that no other god will ever arise after Him, emphasizing His eternal and exclusive divine sovereignty over all creation and all of history.

Isaiah 43 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 falls within the section of the book (chapters 40-55) known as Deutero-Isaiah or the Book of Consolation, addressed primarily to the people of Israel during their Babylonian exile. The overarching theme is one of comfort, redemption, and reassurance from God. He reminds His downtrodden and despairing people of His unchangeable nature, His steadfast love, and His incomparable power as the one true God. Chapters 43 and 44 particularly emphasize God's absolute sovereignty and His plan to deliver Israel, contrasting Him sharply with the impotent idols worshiped by the Babylonians and other nations. The historical context is critical: Israel's faith was being tested by their captivity in a foreign land filled with other gods. God is calling them back to their identity and purpose, urging them to bear witness to Him, not to be swayed by the prevailing polytheism and the cult of idols that defined the cultures around them. This verse specifically serves as both an exhortation and an explanation for why Israel exists as a distinct people.

Isaiah 43 10 Word analysis

• "You" (אַתֶּם - 'attem): Plural, directly addressing the nation of Israel. It is a personal and direct address from God to His people.
• "are my witnesses" (עֵדַי - 'edai): The word 'edai (my witnesses) is a legal term, referring to those who have observed facts or events and are called upon to testify about them. Israel's history with God, His mighty acts of creation and redemption (like the Exodus and the promised return from exile), qualified them to speak truth about Him. Their existence and experience are proof of His reality.
• "declares the LORD" (נְאֻם יְהוָה - n'um YHWH): This phrase asserts divine authority. N'um signifies a divine utterance, a prophetic declaration, emphasizing that these words are directly from God Himself, the covenant-keeping God, YHWH.
• "and my servant" (עַבְדִּי - 'avdi): This identifies Israel as a whole, specifically chosen for God's service. The term "servant" can carry connotations of special honor and responsibility, acting on behalf of a master, distinct from a mere slave. It suggests a commissioned role.
• "whom I have chosen" (בָּחַרְתִּי - bacharti): Bakhar means "to choose" or "to elect." This highlights God's sovereign initiative in selecting Israel, not based on their merit but on His divine purpose. This choice implies a special covenant relationship and a mission.
• "so that you may know" (לְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּ - lema'an teidu'u): The purpose clause. Yada' (know) in Hebrew often means experiential knowledge, a deep, intimate, and personal understanding gained through relationship and direct experience, not just intellectual assent.
• "and believe me" (וְתַאֲמִינוּ לִי - veta'aminu li): 'Aman (believe) implies trust, faithfulness, and firm conviction. It’s not just mental agreement but a reliance on God's character and word. The li (me) emphasizes the object of their belief.
• "and understand" (וְתַשְׂכִּילוּ - vetaśkilu): Sakal (understand) signifies discernment, insight, and intelligent comprehension. It moves beyond mere belief to a rational grasp of God's truth, enabling wisdom and right action.
• "that I am he" (כִּי־אֲנִי הוּא - ki-'ani hu'): A powerful self-declaration of God's absolute, incomparable, and unchanging existence. This echoes "I AM WHO I AM" (Exo 3:14) and implies self-existence and sole divinity, directly countering the plurality of pagan gods.
• "Before me no god was formed" (לֹא־נֹצַר אֵל קְדָמָ֑י - lo'-notsar 'el q'damay): Notsar (formed/created) highlights that other "gods" are man-made constructs or finite beings, lacking eternal existence or creative power. Q'damay (before me) emphasizes God's pre-existence. This is a direct polemic against idols and all rival deities, declaring their non-existence or subordinate nature.
• "nor will there be one after me" (וְאַחֲרַ֖י לֹא יִהְיֶֽה - ve'aharay lo yihyeh): Yihyeh (will be) extends God's uniqueness into the future. He is eternally the sole divine being. This negates any future challengers to His absolute supremacy.

Words-group analysis:

• "You are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen": This grouping clearly defines Israel's twin identity and mission. They are recipients of divine favor (chosen, servant) and have a solemn duty (witnesses). The servant role empowers their witness, while their witness validates the choosing.
• "so that you may know and believe me and understand": This triumvirate of verbs details the progressive deepening of Israel's relationship with God. It moves from experiential "knowing" to trust-filled "believing" to discerning "understanding." This is not just intellectual but an intimate and comprehensive apprehension of God's character.
• "that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.": This climatic declaration reveals the ultimate content of Israel's knowledge, belief, and understanding, and thus the core of their testimony. God's sole, eternal, and uncreated deity is the absolute truth to be affirmed against all other claims. It frames the eternal supremacy and uniqueness of YHWH.

Isaiah 43 10 Bonus section

The phrase "I am he" ('ani hu') is highly significant. It is an emphatic, non-copulative Hebrew phrase asserting the very identity and self-existence of God. This concept finds profound echo in the New Testament when Jesus uses "I am" (ego eimi) statements (e.g., John 8:58, 14:6), claiming a divine identity directly linked to YHWH, affirming His shared unique, self-existent nature with the Father. The selection of Israel as a servant for this purpose underscores that their election was not for privilege alone but for a vital role in God's universal redemptive plan. Despite their failures and unfaithfulness, God reaffirms their chosen status, demonstrating His steadfast covenant love and sovereign commitment to His purposes through His chosen people.

Isaiah 43 10 Commentary

Isaiah 43:10 is a pivotal verse establishing the theological core of Israel's existence and message, directly relevant to the post-exilic context and resonating through to the New Testament. God affirms His people, Israel, as both His "witnesses" and His "servant," emphasizing His unique, unmerited election of them. Their historical journey, marked by divine intervention and covenant, serves as living proof of His existence and power. This witness is not merely passive; it’s an active mandate to internalize God's nature through experiential knowledge (yada'), trust ('aman), and insightful comprehension (sakal).

The climax of the verse—"that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me"—is God's irrefutable statement of absolute monotheism and eternal supremacy. The declaration "I am he" is a potent echo of His self-revelation (Exo 3:14), emphasizing His self-existence and distinctiveness. This directly refutes the polytheism and idol worship prevalent in the surrounding nations (like Babylon), asserting that all other "gods" are fabricated, created entities, devoid of eternal life, power, or independent existence. This truth about God’s solitary deity is both the foundation of their faith and the essential message they are to proclaim to the world.

Practically, this verse underscores the Christian calling as well. Believers are called to be witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8), serving Him out of a personal knowledge, unwavering faith, and deep understanding of God's singular redemptive plan centered in Jesus. Our transformed lives and confession become the testimony to a world often filled with "other gods"—be they materialism, self-worship, or false ideologies.