Isaiah 43 18

Isaiah 43:18 kjv

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:18 nkjv

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:18 niv

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

Isaiah 43:18 esv

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:18 nlt

"But forget all that ?
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 18 Meaning

Isaiah 43:18 delivers a divine command for God's people to cease dwelling on past redemptive acts, no matter how foundational or glorious, and to instead anticipate the entirely new work God is about to perform. It's an urgent call to liberation from nostalgia, encouraging a forward-looking faith that embraces unprecedented manifestations of God's saving power and providence, moving beyond previous paradigms to foster a vibrant hope for the future.

Isaiah 43 18 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 is part of the section commonly referred to as "Second Isaiah" (chapters 40-55), a message of comfort and hope delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. God, through His prophet, assures His dispirited people of His unique sovereignty, His faithfulness as their Creator and Redeemer, and His unswerving purpose to deliver them. The people, in their despair and exile, often clung to the memory of God's past mighty acts, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, as their only model of salvation. This verse serves as a crucial transition. While God had just recalled past victories (vv. 16-17, "who makes a way in the sea"), He immediately shifts focus. The historical and cultural context reflects a people struggling with the question of God's power and presence in their current desperate situation. They longed for a repeat of the glorious past, possibly doubting if God could act anew or if His power was somehow diminished. Verse 18 directly precedes the declaration, "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert" (Isa 43:19), setting the stage for an unparalleled divine intervention that would outshine previous deliverances. This is a subtle polemic against limiting God based on historical precedence, asserting His infinite capacity for fresh action.

Isaiah 43 18 Word analysis

• Remember (זָכְרוּ - zakharu): This is an imperative, "to call to mind," "recall," or "to keep in remembrance." In a positive sense, it signifies active recognition of God's works. Here, with the negative, it is a deliberate command to cease dwelling on specific past events as the sole framework for understanding God's actions or for future expectations. It is not an encouragement to amnesia regarding God's faithfulness, but a release from a restrictive historical paradigm.
• ye not (לֹא - lo): A direct and powerful negation. This is a divine imperative, underscoring the urgency and importance of this shift in perspective.
• the former things (רִאשֹׁנוֹת - rishonot): Literally, "the first ones," or "prior things." This specifically refers to God's initial great salvific acts for Israel, most notably the Exodus from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the wilderness journey. These events were foundational to Israel's identity and provided the standard for God's redemptive power.
• neither (וְלֹא - ve-lo): "And not," connecting and reinforcing the previous negative command, intensifying the call for a comprehensive shift in attention.
• consider (תִתְבּוֹנְנוּ - titbonenu from the root bin - בִּין): This verb implies deep thought, discernment, understanding, examining, or carefully reflecting. It goes beyond mere recollection, suggesting a meticulous intellectual and spiritual engagement. The command is to not fixate on or analyze past events as the limit or sole reference for God's future activity.
• the things of old (יֹשָׁנוֹת - yoshanot): Literally, "old ones," or "ancient things." This parallels and strengthens "the former things," emphasizing the venerated and deeply ingrained nature of these past events in Israel's collective memory and theological understanding. It encompasses the entirety of their history with God's interventions up to that point.

• "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old": This coupled command signifies a radical reorientation of thought. It's not about denying God's past acts, but about preventing the people's limited view of God from being restricted to them. Their attachment to past patterns of divine intervention might cause them to miss or resist the new way God intends to work. This imperative calls for an expansion of their faith and an openness to unprecedented divine activity. The parallelism and repetition using two different verbs for 'remembering/considering' and two synonymous phrases for 'old events' strongly emphasize the need for a complete break from historical limitation. The command ensures they are not bound by old paradigms.

Isaiah 43 18 Bonus section

The negative imperative in this verse, Lo zakharu... ve-lo titbonenu, functions as a forceful prophetic strategy. It isn't a call to historical amnesia but to theological and psychological liberation. The Exodus narrative, being the foundational story of Israel's identity and redemption, served as their primary interpretive lens for all divine action. By telling them not to remember it in this context, God challenges their fixed understanding and opens their minds to His unbound creativity. The "new thing" Isaiah introduces transcends mere repetition; it signifies a new phase of divine intervention, anticipating not just a physical return from exile, but also pointing toward the even grander, spiritual deliverance wrought by the New Covenant and ultimately fulfilled in Christ. This verse highlights that God's ways are not confined by our limited perceptions or by the past manifestations of His power.

Isaiah 43 18 Commentary

In Isaiah 43:18, God addresses a people steeped in the history of His faithfulness, yet ironically paralyzed by it. The command "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old" is a divine declaration designed to break their cycle of longing for a repeat of the past. It does not diminish the significance of the Exodus or other ancient acts; rather, it sets the stage for a greater, newer, and ultimately more profound work of God. The "former things" had become a ceiling to their expectations and a source of despair, as their current Babylonian exile far outstripped the Egyptian bondage. God wants His people to release the hold of historical precedents so they can embrace an imminent future work that will redefine their understanding of His power and glory. This "new thing," introduced in verse 19, points towards a spiritual restoration and a grand "New Exodus" from Babylon, far surpassing the first, foreshadowing the even greater redemption through Christ.

Practical Examples:

• Personal Growth: A person always dwelling on past mistakes or successes might prevent them from taking new steps of faith or embracing a fresh calling.
• Church Ministry: A congregation perpetually trying to replicate the "glory days" of past revival might miss God's new leading for current and future generations.
• Spiritual Transformation: Believers can sometimes limit God to familiar patterns, preventing them from experiencing His "new mercies every morning" (Lam 3:22-23) or walking in a renewed spirit.