Isaiah 43:19 kjv
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 nkjv
Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 niv
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 esv
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 nlt
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
Isaiah 43 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 43:19 | Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not perceive it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. | Direct statement of new creation |
| Gen 1:2 | And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. | God's creative spirit |
| Ex 14:21 | And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD went back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry, and the waters were divided. | God making a way through water |
| Ex 17:6 | Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb: and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so as the elders of Israel had commanded him. | Provision in the desert |
| Ps 23:2 | He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. | God's provision and guidance |
| Ps 77:19-20 | Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters: and thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. | God's hidden paths |
| Ps 104:7 | Thou didst rebuke the sea when thou sawest it, by the voice of thy thunder: they ascended the mountains, they went down into the valleys unto the place which thou hadst founded for them. | God's control over nature |
| Ps 105:41 | He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. | Water from rock |
| Ps 107:35 | He turned the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings. | Transformation of the desert |
| Ps 107:36 | And there he made the hungry to dwell, that they might prepare a city for habitation. | Providing a home |
| Ps 136:13 | To him that divided the Red sea apart: for his mercy endureth for ever: | Divine deliverance |
| Isa 35:1-7 | The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. | Prophet's vision of future restoration |
| Isa 40:3 | The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. | Preparing for God's way |
| Isa 41:18 | I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. | Similar promise of provision |
| Isa 42:9 | Behold, the former things are come to pass, and I shew you new things: before they spring forth I tell you of them. | God's foreknowledge and new acts |
| Isa 48:6 | Thou hast heard, see all this; and will ye not declare it? I have shewed thee new things from that time; and things which are kept secret, and hast not heard them. | God revealing new things |
| Jer 31:9 | They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will lead them beside the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. | God leading His people |
| Joel 2:26-27 | And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. | Divine blessing and knowledge |
| Matt 3:3 | For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. | Fulfillment of Isa 40:3 |
| John 1:14 | And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. | The Incarnation as a new thing |
| John 6:40 | And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. | Spiritual provision |
| John 13:34 | A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. | The new covenant's hallmark |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. | Believer's transformation |
| Rev 21:1-5 | And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the first things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. | God's ultimate new creation |
Isaiah 43 verses
Isaiah 43 19 Meaning
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not perceive it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. This verse speaks of God's powerful and unexpected intervention, bringing forth renewal and provision where there was none. It signifies His ability to create paths and sustenance in seemingly impossible circumstances, a testament to His creative power and unwavering faithfulness.
Isaiah 43 19 Context
Isaiah 43:19 is situated within a section of Isaiah that focuses on comfort and restoration for the exiled Israelites. The immediate context highlights God's faithfulness to His people, promising to deliver them from Babylonian captivity and lead them back to their homeland. This passage speaks of a "new thing" that God is doing, an act of redemption and renewal that will surpass the Exodus from Egypt, which was seen as the ultimate act of God's power in their past. The promise is made in the context of the people's returning from exile, facing a barren land and uncertain future, underscoring the need for divine intervention to provide the way forward and sustenance.
Isaiah 43 19 Word Analysis
- Behold (Hebrew: הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection used to draw attention. It emphasizes the significance and imminence of what is about to be said. It signals a divine pronouncement and a call for active perception.
- I will do (Hebrew: עֹשֶׂה - ‘ōśēh): Indicates a future action initiated by God. It underscores His active involvement and creative power. The active participle can imply a continuous or commencing action.
- a new thing (Hebrew: חָדָשׁ – ḥādāš): This refers to something unprecedented, novel, or remarkably different from what has come before. It suggests a fundamental shift in circumstances and experience brought about by God's intervention.
- now it shall spring forth (Hebrew: כָּעֵת אֶצְמָח - kā‘ēt ’eṣmāḥ): "Now" (כָּעֵת - kā‘ēt) points to the present time of the prophecy's utterance or the imminent future of its fulfillment. "It shall spring forth" (אֶצְמָח - ’eṣmāḥ) uses a verb meaning to sprout or bud, conveying an organic, vital growth. This emphasizes the sudden, emergent, and natural-feeling (though supernatural) way God's new work will appear.
- shall ye not perceive it? (Hebrew: הֲלוֹא תֵדָעוּהָ – hălō’ tēdā‘ûhā): A rhetorical question inviting recognition. "Perceive" (תֵדָעוּהָ – tēdā‘ûhā) implies understanding, knowing, or becoming aware of it. God expects His people to recognize His work. The implication is that it will be evident if they are observant.
- I will even make a way (Hebrew: אַף־דֶּרֶךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה – ’ap-dereḵ ’e‘śēh): "Even" (אַף – ’ap) strengthens the declaration, highlighting the deliberate and profound nature of this act. "Make a way" (דֶּרֶךְ אֶעֱשֶׂה – dereḵ ’e‘śēh) signifies creating a path, a means of passage or access where none existed.
- in the wilderness (Hebrew: בַּמִּדְבָּר – bammidbār): The wilderness signifies a desolate, barren, and uncultivated place, symbolizing emptiness, danger, and lack of resources. It represents the context of human despair and inability.
- and rivers (Hebrew: וּנְהָרֹת – ūⁿəhārōṯ): Plural for "river." The presence of rivers indicates abundant water and life-giving sustenance.
- in the desert (Hebrew: בַּשָּׁמָמָה – baššāmāmāh): "Desert" here is stronger, implying desolation, emptiness, or a wasteland. It emphasizes the extreme opposite of a place that would naturally have rivers. This further highlights the miraculous nature of God's provision.
Word Groups Analysis:
- "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;": This entire phrase emphasizes God's sovereign and immediate creative power. The "new thing" is not merely an improvement but a fundamentally novel act of divine doing. The imagery of "springing forth" suggests life and vitality emerging spontaneously, like a plant from seed.
- "shall ye not perceive it?": This question is not one of doubt but of expectation. God anticipates that His actions will be visible and discernible, prompting faith and acknowledgement. It challenges the people's capacity or willingness to see His hand at work.
- "I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.": This pair of parallel clauses vividly illustrates the "new thing." Making a way where there is no path and creating rivers in a wasteland are profound acts of turning impossibility into provision. The progression from "wilderness" (implying sparse vegetation) to "desert" (utter barrenness) intensifies the scope of God's restorative power.
Isaiah 43 19 Bonus Section
The promise of making a "way in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert" echoes earlier prophecies in Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 35:6-7; Isaiah 41:18) that speak of the transformed and flourishing land following God's deliverance. This verse, however, points towards an even greater deliverance. Many scholars and theologians interpret the ultimate fulfillment of this "new thing" as the new creation ushered in through Jesus Christ. The entire narrative of salvation history, culminating in Christ's resurrection and the promise of a new heaven and new earth, can be seen as the ultimate manifestation of God doing a "new thing." John's Gospel, in particular, often highlights Jesus as the new covenant and the source of living water, thereby fulfilling the Old Testament promises of provision in barren spiritual landscapes (John 4:10-14). The resurrection of Jesus is perhaps the most striking example of God bringing forth something entirely new and miraculous from a place of apparent death and desolation.
Isaiah 43 19 Commentary
This verse is a profound declaration of God's dynamic and restorative power. It assures believers that God is not limited by circumstances and is capable of initiating entirely new courses of action, often in the most unexpected and challenging environments. The "new thing" can refer to God's work in history, like the return from Babylonian exile, or spiritually in the life of an individual, like a new beginning through faith in Christ. The promise of a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert signifies that God will provide direction, sustenance, and life-giving resources in times of barrenness, hopelessness, and apparent impossibility. It is a call to recognize God's unique interventions and trust in His provision, even when the path is unclear or resources seem nonexistent.
- Practical Usage Example: When facing a career setback that feels like a dead end (a "wilderness"), trusting this verse means believing God can open up unforeseen opportunities and provide the necessary skills or support (a "new way" or "rivers").