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 17 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isaiah 43:17He raised the sea and made rivers flow, That dried up the rivers whose strength failed.Isaiah 50:2
Exodus 14:22-29Israelites passed through the Red Sea on dry ground.Exodus 14:22-29
Exodus 15:4-5Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea.Exodus 15:4-5
Psalm 78:42-53God remembers his people's redemption, destroying Egypt.Psalm 78:42-53
Psalm 106:10-12God saved them from the hand of him who hated them.Psalm 106:10-12
Psalm 136:10-15For His mercy endures forever; And overthrew Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.Psalm 136:10-15
Jeremiah 51:36"Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Surely I will plead your case and take vengeance for you;"Jeremiah 51:36
Nahum 1:3-8The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked.Nahum 1:3-8
Revelation 19:17-21The kings of the earth gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse.Revelation 19:17-21
Revelation 20:9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints.Revelation 20:9
Revelation 21:4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.Revelation 21:4
1 Corinthians 10:1-13All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink.1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Romans 8:37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.Romans 8:37
Isaiah 41:10-16Fear not, for I am with you.Isaiah 41:10-16
Isaiah 45:24-25Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength.Isaiah 45:24-25
Isaiah 48:17I, the LORD, am your God, who leads you by a way you should go.Isaiah 48:17
Joshua 3:15-17The priests bearing the ark of the covenant stood on dry ground.Joshua 3:15-17
2 Samuel 5:20So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there.2 Samuel 5:20
Nehemiah 9:9-11You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt.Nehemiah 9:9-11
Song of Solomon 4:5Your two breasts are like two young deer.Song of Solomon 4:5

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 17 Meaning

This verse declares that God will utterly destroy the mighty Egyptian army, along with their chariots and horses, which were considered the pride of Egypt and a symbol of their military strength. These once-powerful forces will be submerged and extinguished as if thrown into a furnace.

Isaiah 43 17 Context

This verse is part of Isaiah's powerful prophecy of God's deliverance of Israel from their Babylonian exile. The immediate context is Isaiah 43, which begins with God assuring Israel of His love and presence despite their sin. He recounts their past redemptions, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, highlighting His sovereignty over history. This verse then transitions to a future act of deliverance, paralleling the past victory over Egypt with the anticipated overthrow of Babylon, or a similar oppressive force. The overall theme is God's unmatched power and His unwavering commitment to His people.

Isaiah 43 17 Word Analysis

  • the chariots (Hebrew: הָרֶכֶב, ha-rekeb): Refers to war chariots, a primary instrument of military might in ancient Near Eastern warfare. Egypt's chariot force was particularly renowned.
  • and the horses (Hebrew: וְהַסּוּסִים, wə-ha-sûsîm): Encompasses the horses that drew the chariots and possibly cavalry mounts, signifying the full extent of the Egyptian military.
  • he that came down (Hebrew: יָרַד, yarad): Suggests an inundation or a sinking, implying complete submersion and defeat.
  • with them (Hebrew: אוֹתָם, ’ōtām): Refers back to the chariots and horses, emphasizing their complete destruction together.
  • he (Hebrew: הוּא, hû’): Refers to God, emphasizing His direct agency in this destruction.
  • they strengthened themselves (Hebrew: גָּבְרוּ, gāḇrû): This implies they had amassed great strength or pride, making their downfall more significant. This relates to their human efforts and pride in their military might.
  • together (Hebrew: יַחְדָּו, yaḥdâw): Stresses the complete annihilation of the entire Egyptian host, leaving none to survive.
  • they shall not rise (Hebrew: לֹא יָקוּמוּ, lō’ yāqûmû): A definitive statement of finality; they are utterly destroyed and cannot be resurrected or reformed.
  • they are extinguished (Hebrew: דֹּעֲכוּ, do‘ăḵû): This describes a lamp or fire being put out, indicating a complete cessation of existence or power, like a snuffing out.
  • as a wick (Hebrew: כַּפְּתִיל, kappəṯîl): The wick of a lamp or candle, the part that burns. Extinguished as a wick implies complete termination, the end of the fuel.

Isaiah 43 17 Bonus Section

The imagery of being extinguished like a wick is a potent metaphor for complete destruction, contrasting sharply with the concept of resurrection and eternal life found elsewhere in Scripture. It emphasizes the finality of judgment for those who oppose God, distinct from the hope of the faithful. This specific detail also brings to mind the physical properties of fire and light, where the wick is the source of sustenance that is consumed. When it's gone, the light is no more. This verse reinforces the concept that human defenses, however impressive, are ultimately transient and will be consumed by God's power.

Isaiah 43 17 Commentary

This verse powerfully illustrates divine retribution and the ultimate futility of trusting in human might against the power of God. The Egyptian army, symbolizing formidable worldly power and oppressive force, is depicted as being utterly submerged and extinguished, incapable of rising again. This speaks to the total and irreversible nature of God’s judgment against His enemies. For Israel, it’s a reminder of God's faithfulness, His power demonstrated in past deliverances (like the Exodus), and His promise of future salvation. The imagery emphasizes the totality of God's victory and His capacity to bring low even the mightiest opposition when He acts for His people. It highlights that God alone possesses true power and control over historical events and the forces within them.