Isaiah 43 13

Isaiah 43:13 kjv

Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Isaiah 43:13 nkjv

Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?"

Isaiah 43:13 niv

Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"

Isaiah 43:13 esv

Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"

Isaiah 43:13 nlt

"From eternity to eternity I am God.
No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.
No one can undo what I have done."

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 13 Meaning

From everlasting to everlasting, God has been the active power. Before creation, He existed, and His power continues into the future, without end. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Isaiah 43 13 Context

This verse appears in Isaiah 43, a chapter filled with declarations of God's faithfulness and power towards Israel, especially during and after their Babylonian exile. The prophet is speaking words of comfort and reassurance. Israel had been chastised for their sins, leading to their subjugation by Babylon. However, God declares His intention to redeem them, bringing them back from captivity and restoring them. This promise is rooted in God's unchanging, eternal nature. The surrounding verses (Isaiah 43:11-12) speak of Israel's knowledge of God as their only Savior, but this verse (43:13) provides the ultimate foundation for that salvation: God's absolute sovereignty and eternal existence, meaning He has always been in control and will continue to be. The contemporary audience, weary and broken from exile, needed to hear that their God was not limited by the present circumstances, nor was He subject to time or change like earthly powers.

Isaiah 43 13 Word Analysis

• From: Indicates the starting point of existence or action.

• everlasting: This translates the Hebrew word עוֹלָם ('olam).

  • ‘olam signifies a long duration, antiquity, the future, perpetuity, or eternity. Its precise meaning often depends on context. Here, it emphatically denotes the infinite, unending nature of God's existence.
  • It appears hundreds of times in the Old Testament, signifying both the distant past and the unending future.
  • This contrasts with human lifespans, which are temporal and fleeting.

• to: Denotes continuation towards a further point.

• everlasting: Again, ‘olam, reinforcing the endlessness of God's being, both in the past and into the future. There is no "end" to God's existence.

• am: This translates the Hebrew word אֲנִי ('ani), meaning "I."

  • The simple present tense here, combined with the context of ‘olam, expresses continuous existence.
  • This is a profound declaration of God's self-existence and enduring presence.

• I: Emphatic pronoun. God personalizes this declaration of His eternal nature.

• is: Part of the phrase "I am," denoting existence.

• the hand: Translates יָד (yad).

  • yad means "hand." In scripture, "hand" is often used anthropomorphically to represent power, action, strength, control, and presence.
  • To say God "is the hand" is a powerful statement meaning He is the active force, the power behind all that is and happens.

• that does: Lit. "hand that works/performs." This emphasizes God's active, operational power.

• works: Translates פָּעַל (pa'al).

  • pa'al means to do, make, act, perform, work. It speaks of purposeful activity and creation.
  • God is not passive; He is the active agent in creation and redemption.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "From everlasting to everlasting": This phrase encapsulates God's immutability and eternal nature. It means He has always existed and will always exist. His being is not confined by time, making Him utterly distinct from creation. This implies that His promises and power are just as eternal.
  • "I am": This echoes the divine name revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:14, "I AM WHO I AM"). It signifies God's self-sufficient, uncaused existence. It’s a declaration of absolute being.
  • "I am the hand that does": This powerful phrase links God's eternal being directly to His active power. He is not just existing but is actively working, demonstrating His might and control throughout all of time and creation. It means God is the ultimate source and executor of all actions and power.

Isaiah 43 13 Bonus Section

The declaration "I am the hand that does" is a profound way to express God's agency. It's not merely that He has power, but that His very nature is to be the active force. This contrasts sharply with polytheistic religions of the ancient Near East, where gods often had limited power, could be influenced by fate, or their actions were not always purposeful or benevolent. Isaiah is demonstrating that the LORD God of Israel is not like these powerless or capricious deities. He is the sole, omnipotent Creator and Sustainer, whose power is eternally active and under His perfect control. The phrase is a confident assertion that the Lord is the ultimate "mover" of all things, past, present, and future.

Isaiah 43 13 Commentary

This verse is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and eternal nature. It grounds Israel's salvation not in their own merit or changing circumstances, but in the unchangeable character of God Himself. Because God has always existed and is eternally powerful, His promises are sure, and His ability to save is absolute. This truth offers immense comfort: the God who created everything, before time began, is the same God who acts to deliver His people now and will continue to do so forever. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things, possessing inherent power and presence from eternity past into eternity future. This verse underscores God's immutability and His role as the ultimate, active agent in history and redemption.