Isaiah 43 19

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 verses

Isaiah 43 19 Meaning

This verse is a declaration by God, through the prophet Isaiah, promising a fresh and unprecedented act of salvation and restoration for His people. It reassures the Jewish exiles in Babylon that, despite their dire circumstances and their memory of past miraculous deliverances (like the Exodus), God is about to initiate something entirely new and greater. He pledges to create a miraculous path and abundant life in the most desolate and impossible conditions, symbolizing not only their physical return from captivity but also a profound spiritual renewal and transformation.

Isaiah 43 19 Context

Isaiah 43 falls within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), addressed primarily to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Following powerful declarations of God's sovereignty and Israel's chosen status, the preceding verses (43:16-18) explicitly reference the mighty act of the Exodus – God making a way through the Red Sea and through the mighty waters. This historical event, the foundation of Israel's identity, is highlighted only to then be dramatically downplayed in verse 18: "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old." This sets the stage for verse 19, where God announces something so magnificent that it will eclipse even the foundational miracle of the Exodus. The "new thing" is God's plan for their return from Babylonian captivity, a journey through the desolate regions that will paradoxically be marked by divine provision and ease, echoing and surpassing the first Exodus experience, ultimately pointing to a greater spiritual redemption.

Isaiah 43 19 Word analysis

• Behold! (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An imperative exclamation demanding immediate and intense attention. It signals a dramatic and significant announcement from God, highlighting the urgency and importance of what follows.
• I am doing (עֹשֶׂה - ʿōsê): Present participle, emphasizing that this is an active, ongoing, and imminent work of God. He is not just planning but already executing His intention.
• a new thing (חֲדָשָׁה - ḥadāšâ): Not just "another" thing or "recently created," but something unprecedented, fresh, innovative, and qualitatively superior to past acts. It implies a departure from conventional patterns and a divine innovation that will redefine their experience of His power and grace.
• now it springs forth (עַתָּה תִצְמָח - ʿattāh titsmāḥ): "Now" indicates immediate present action, underscoring the imminence. "Springs forth" is an agricultural term suggesting rapid growth, germination, and emergence into visibility. It's not a slow process; it's bursting into being.
• do you not perceive it? (הֲלֹא תֵדְעוּהָ - hălōʾ tēḏᵉʿûhā): A rhetorical question challenging the spiritual obtuseness or limited vision of the people. "Perceive" (ידע - yādaʿ) means to know, understand, and discern, implying a deeper comprehension beyond mere observation. God prompts them to awaken their spiritual senses to recognize His active work even in its nascent stages.
• I will make (אָשִׂים - ʾāśîm): Future tense, expressing God's resolute and certain commitment to act. This is His sovereign decree.
• a way (דֶּרֶךְ - dereḵ): A path, road, or passage. In this context, it signifies a means of escape, return, or progression, particularly through difficult circumstances.
• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר - bammidbār): A barren, desolate, and uninhabitable place. Symbolizes impossible conditions, danger, lack of resources, and despair for the exiles.
• and rivers (וּנְהָרוֹת - ûnhārōt): Large flowing bodies of water, vital for life. Symbolizes abundant provision, refreshment, cleansing, and blessings, especially in stark contrast to the surrounding aridity.
• in the desert (בַּיְשִׁימֹון - bayĕšîmôn): Another term for an extremely parched and desolate land, intensifying the image of absolute barrenness and highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's provision.

• "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?": This phrase emphasizes the immediate, active, and surprising nature of God's work. It challenges the human tendency to limit God based on past experiences or current despair, urging spiritual discernment to recognize the commencement of His fresh initiatives.
• "I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert": This promises an act of creative power that transcends natural limitations. It signifies that God will provide a means of deliverance and abundant sustenance in the most inhospitable and seemingly impossible environments, physically and spiritually.

Isaiah 43 19 Bonus section

This verse functions as a powerful reorientation for those who are dwelling on past glories or crippled by present adversity. The imperative "remember not the former things" is not a command to forget God's faithfulness, but to not limit Him to those patterns or to wallow in a nostalgia that blinds one to His current and future work. The "new thing" promised is rooted in God's unchanging nature and covenant faithfulness but executed in a manner unprecedented. This has profound implications for understanding the progression of salvation history, where the Old Covenant sacrifices are replaced by Christ's singular sacrifice, and a new way of approaching God through the Holy Spirit is inaugurated. The wilderness/desert imagery also reflects humanity's fallen state and the world's spiritual barrenness, into which God continually makes a way and brings rivers of life.

Isaiah 43 19 Commentary

Isaiah 43:19 encapsulates God's character as a dynamic, sovereign agent who consistently brings forth salvation in novel and unexpected ways. It shifts the focus from God's glorious past deeds to His even more magnificent future intentions, specifically comforting the exiles that their deliverance would not just repeat the Exodus but surpass it. The "new thing" implies a restoration that is deeper and more profound, offering not merely a geographical return but also a spiritual renewal that prepares them for a greater covenant. The challenge to "perceive it" reminds us that God's work often begins subtly, requiring faith and spiritual awareness to recognize His hand when human reason sees only barrenness. The promise of "a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" stands as an enduring emblem of God's ability to transform impossible situations into avenues of grace, providing sustenance and direction where there was previously only desolation. It speaks to both historical restoration and a personal, spiritual transformation.