Isaiah 43 17

Isaiah 43:17 kjv

Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Isaiah 43:17 nkjv

Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):

Isaiah 43:17 niv

who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

Isaiah 43:17 esv

who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

Isaiah 43:17 nlt

I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 17 Meaning

Isaiah 43:17 proclaims God's sovereign power over formidable human forces, specifically recalling the Red Sea deliverance. It vividly depicts the complete and irreversible destruction of enemy military might (chariots, horses, army, and strength) as effortlessly as extinguishing a flickering wick. The verse underscores that God, who initiated their advance, also brings about their total collapse, leaving no possibility of recovery.

Isaiah 43 17 Context

Isaiah 43 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55) of Isaiah, addressed to the Israelites exiled in Babylon. This section repeatedly reassures the suffering people of God's unwavering faithfulness and their coming deliverance. The prophet reminds them of God's unique identity as the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, in stark contrast to the impotent idols of Babylon.

Verse 17 follows verse 16, which directly references the Exodus: "Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters." Verse 17 elaborates on the consequence of God making that way—the utter destruction of their pursuers. It functions as a powerful re-affirmation of God's past actions, using the ultimate historical precedent of divine deliverance, the Red Sea event, to assure Israel that the same mighty God will deliver them from Babylonian captivity, a "new exodus" that will even overshadow the first. Historically and culturally, the audience understood the absolute power represented by the Egyptian army, making God's swift, effortless victory all the more profound. This serves as a polemic against any notion that human might or other gods could challenge YHWH.

Isaiah 43 17 Word analysis

• He who brings out: (הוֹצִיא, hōtsiy') - Hiphil perfect verb from יָצָא (yatsa'). Signifies active causation; God directly initiates and causes the military forces to move. It’s not just their natural advance, but God’s intentional orchestrating of their emergence, paradoxically leading them to their doom.
• chariot and horse: (רֶכֶב וָסוּס, rek̄ebh wāsûs) - Represents the elite and most potent elements of ancient military technology. Horses pulled war chariots, providing speed, force, and psychological impact. These symbolize the zenith of human power and preparedness for battle.
• army and power together: (חַיִל וְכֹחַ יַחְדָּו, chayil wěkhôach yak̲hḍāv)
  • army: (חַיִל, chayil) - Often refers to a strong military force or valor.
  • power: (וְכֹחַ, wěkhôach) - Broad term for physical or inherent strength, might, ability. The conjunction with chayil creates a comprehensive descriptor for their collective, organized military strength.
  • together: (יַחְדָּו, yak̲hḍāv) - Emphasizes their unified, full deployment and concentration of strength. They were fully engaged, undivided, and maximally prepared.
• they lay down: (שָׁכְבוּ, shāk̄əvû) - From שָׁכַב (shāk̲hav), to lie down, sleep. In this context, it is a euphemism for death or permanent incapacitation, lying prone in defeat, not for rest. It implies a sudden, irreversible collapse.
• they cannot rise: (בַּל יָקוּמוּ, bal yāqûmû)
  • cannot: (בַּל, bal) - A strong negation, signifying "never" or "by no means."
  • rise: (יָקוּמוּ, yāqûmû) - From קוּם (qûm), to rise, stand up, endure. This firmly asserts their defeat is final and beyond recovery. Their power is not merely paused; it is definitively ended.
• they are extinguished: (דָּעֲכוּ, dā’ăk̲hû) - From דָּעַךְ (dā’ak̲h), to be quenched, go out, be extinct, like a flame. Signifies swift and complete annihilation, leaving no trace or remaining essence.
• quenched like a wick: (כַּפִּשְׁתָּה קָבוּ, kap̣ištâh qābû)
  • like a wick: (כַּפִּשְׁתָּה, kap̣ištâh) - כַּ (ka) means "like" or "as"; פִּשְׁתָּה (pishtah) is "flax" which was commonly used for wicks in oil lamps. This imagery conveys extreme fragility and ease of extinction.
  • quenched: (קָבוּ, qābû) - From קָבָה (qāḇah), to be extinguished or consumed. The repetition of the concept of extinction (dā’ak̲h and qāḇah), coupled with the vivid simile, heightens the sense of utter and insignificant destruction.

Word-group analysis

• He who brings out chariot and horse, army and power together: This initial phrase establishes God's ultimate control. He isn't merely observing the enemy; He is actively bringing them forth. This implies that their very movement, intended for Israel's destruction, is under divine orchestration, ultimately to serve God's purpose of demonstrating His power through their defeat. It highlights His providential sovereignty over even opposing forces.
• they lay down, they cannot rise: This couplet stresses the absolute and irreversible nature of their defeat. "Laying down" depicts instant collapse, while "cannot rise" confirms there is no hope of resurgence, recovery, or future threat. Their active threat has been utterly nullified and finalized.
• they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: This climactic double imagery conveys a destruction that is both instantaneous and utterly dismissible. Their might, no matter how imposing, proved as insubstantial and easily eradicated as a small lamp wick whose flame is put out. It trivializes their supposed power, reducing it to something fragile and ephemeral in God's presence.

Isaiah 43 17 Bonus section

• Polemic against Worldly Powers: The detailed description of chariots, horses, army, and power directly counters the contemporary glorification of military might (e.g., Assyria, Babylon, and historically, Egypt). It serves as a sharp polemic demonstrating that YHWH, the God of Israel, is superior to all earthly empires and their deities, proving their impotence.
• Figurative Language: The verse masterfully employs striking similes and metaphors (lying down, cannot rise, extinguished wick) to vividly portray immediate and permanent annihilation, enhancing the impact and memorability of the message. The fragility of a "quenched wick" contrasts sharply with the assumed strength of an entire army, creating powerful imagery of swift demise.
• Typological Significance: The Exodus and Red Sea crossing, mentioned in the preceding verse and elaborated here, serve as the quintessential example of God's redemptive power. It establishes a theological precedent (a type) for all future deliverances, including the anticipated return from Babylon and ultimately, the comprehensive salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ. It assures the reader that God's methods of deliverance are always decisive and overwhelming.

Isaiah 43 17 Commentary

Isaiah 43:17 delivers a profound message about the unparalleled power and sovereignty of God, echoing the triumph at the Red Sea to comfort and reassure an exiled Israel. The verse starkly contrasts formidable human might, epitomized by Egyptian chariots and horses, with God's effortless capability to reduce it to nothing. God doesn't just defeat; He orchestrates the entire scene, bringing out the enemy only to deliver them to a fate of irreversible ruin. The double metaphors of "laying down, unable to rise" and "extinguished, quenched like a wick" paint a picture of finality, utter helplessness, and insignificance of human strength against divine will. It's a reminder that no military might, human power, or political force can stand against the Lord. This truth was meant to inspire trust in God for deliverance from Babylonian captivity and continues to affirm His absolute control over history and nations.