Isaiah 43:2 kjv
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 43:2 nkjv
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isaiah 43:2 niv
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2 esv
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2 nlt
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 43:1 | "But now thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." | Assurance of belonging |
| Psalm 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." | God's presence in adversity |
| Joshua 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”" | Command to be courageous |
| Daniel 3:25 | "He answered, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unhurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'” | Protection in fire |
| Psalm 66:10-12 | "For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver is refined. You brought us into the net; you laid an oppressive burden on our loins. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water, yet you brought us out to a place of abundance." | Trials as refinement |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”" | God's faithfulness |
| Romans 8:35-39 | "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Victorious through Christ |
| 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may also be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." | God's comfort in affliction |
| Isaiah 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”" | God's promise of help |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." | God's plans for hope |
| Psalm 34:18 | "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." | God's nearness to the broken |
| John 14:18 | "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”" | Christ's promise of presence |
| Hebrews 13:5 | "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" | Never forsaken |
| Philippians 4:13 | "I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”" | Strength through Christ |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you must be tried by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found leading to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." | Trials testing faith |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”" | Trust and guidance |
| Deuteronomy 31:6 | "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." | God goes with us |
| Isaiah 35:3-4 | "Strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, saying to those of faint heart, “Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”" | God's saving power |
| Nahum 1:7 | "The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”" | God as refuge |
| Romans 8:28 | "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”" | God works for good |
Isaiah 43 verses
Isaiah 43 2 Meaning
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. This verse is a powerful assurance from God to His people, the descendants of Jacob. It speaks of divine presence and protection during times of intense trial and hardship, likened to being immersed in water or walking through fire. These are not merely external dangers but represent profound adversity, testing, and potential destruction. God's promise is not to prevent the trials, but to be present within them, ensuring His people overcome and are not consumed.
Isaiah 43 2 Context
This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 40-55) that speaks of comfort and hope to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. The prophet Isaiah proclaims God's ultimate deliverance and restoration for His people. Chapter 43 specifically addresses the redemption and sovereignty of Israel, highlighting God's intimate knowledge of and relationship with them. The immediate context is God reminding them of His past faithfulness, His powerful creation, and His ongoing commitment to them, even in their suffering and exile. The "waters" and "rivers" can be seen as symbolic of the overwhelming challenges and foreign nations or empires they faced, like the Babylonian empire itself. The "fire" represents severe suffering, purification, or judgment.
Isaiah 43 2 Word Analysis
- כִּֽי־ (ki): A common Hebrew conjunction, often translated as "when," "for," "that," "because," or "surely." Here, it introduces a conditional statement or emphasizes a strong declaration of truth.
- תַּֽעֲבָר־ (ta'avar): From the root עָבַר ('avar), meaning "to pass over," "to cross," "to go through." It implies a journey or movement through a dangerous expanse.
- בַּמַּֽיִם (bamayim): "In the waters" or "through the waters." מַיִם (mayim) is the Hebrew word for water. The preposition בְּ (be) can indicate "in" or "through." The waters can represent overwhelming circumstances, chaos, or the sea (historically a symbol of hostile powers).
- בְּקָלֹה (b'qalah): Likely a misspelling, the intended Hebrew word here should correspond to the second clause, relating to rivers. The meaning aligns with passing through them.
- נְהָרֹ֗ת (nehahorot): "Rivers." The plural form suggests the multitude or series of obstacles, possibly referring to the mighty rivers of Babylon or other national boundaries and oppressive forces.
- בְּךָ (bekha): "With you," "in you." Indicates presence within the situation or among the people.
- לֹא־ (lo): "Not." A strong negation.
- יִשְׁטְפוּךָ (yishtephukha): From the root שָׁטַף (shataf), meaning "to overflow," "to inundate," "to sweep away." The waters shall not overflow or overwhelm "you."
- וּבָאֵ֗שׁ (uvah'esh): "And in the fire." וּ (u-) means "and." אֵשׁ (esh) means "fire."
- לֹא (lo): "Not."
- תִּצָּתֵּי (titstzeti): From the root צָתָּה (tsatah), meaning "to be scorched," "to be burned." Or from צָלַח (tsalakh) meaning "to be consumed." The verse assures not being burned or consumed by the flame.
- וְלֶהָבָה (w'lehava): "And the flame." לֶהָבָה (lehava) is the more intense part of the fire, the burning blaze.
- לֹא־ (lo): "Not."
- תְּסָרִבֶּנָּה (tsarebennah): From the root סָרַב (sarav), meaning "to scorch," "to burn." Implies active searing or burning.
Phrase/Passage Analysis:
The parallelism in the verse, "through the waters... not overflow you" and "through the fire... not be burned," highlights a consistent theme of protection. The escalation from "waters" to "rivers" to "fire" represents increasing severity of trials. The repetition of "you" emphasizes God's direct address and personal care for His people. The inability of these forces to harm them underscores God's supreme power over all natural and human opposition.
Isaiah 43 2 Bonus Section
The imagery of waters and fire has deep symbolic resonance throughout Scripture, often representing judgment, purification, or overwhelming chaotic forces that only God can control. In ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, water and fire were sometimes seen as primordial, untamed elements. By promising to navigate His people through them, Isaiah underscores God's mastery over all that appears uncontrollable. Furthermore, the Hebrew word for "redeemed" in the preceding verse (Isaiah 43:1) is important contextually, signifying God's binding relationship and His right to protect and save His chosen people. This personal claim ("you are mine") undergirds the promise of presence. The eventual fulfillment of this promise is seen by many Christians in Jesus Christ, who Himself passed through suffering and death (the ultimate "waters" and "fire") and emerged victorious, thereby empowering believers to overcome their own trials.
Isaiah 43 2 Commentary
God is not promising absence of trouble, but His unwavering presence in every trouble. He does not remove His people from the difficulties of life, but walks with them through them. The promise is a guarantee of deliverance and preservation, not necessarily an avoidance of discomfort or pain. This assurance is rooted in His covenant faithfulness and His power as Creator and Redeemer. It's a reminder that human adversities, however fierce, are ultimately subordinate to God's sovereign protection. His presence itself is the buffer and the strength.
- When life's pressures feel overwhelming, remember God is with you in the deep.
- In the fiery trials of life—whether affliction, persecution, or inner turmoil—His presence prevents total destruction.
- This promise calls for trust and courage, not passivity, as we walk through challenges, knowing we are not alone.