Isaiah 43 21

Isaiah 43:21 kjv

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Isaiah 43:21 nkjv

This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

Isaiah 43:21 niv

the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Isaiah 43:21 esv

the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

Isaiah 43:21 nlt

I have made Israel for myself,
and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 21 Meaning

Isaiah 43:21 declares God's deliberate creation and formation of His people, Israel, with a singular and ultimate purpose: that they might proclaim and declare His praise. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and ownership, highlighting that His chosen ones are made not for their own glory or self-aggrandizement, but to magnify His character, works, and name to the world. It frames their existence as a living testimony to His greatness, faithfulness, and redemptive power, providing their core identity and mission.

Isaiah 43 21 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 is a powerful message of comfort and restoration delivered by God to His exiled people, Israel, through the prophet Isaiah. The chapter opens with declarations of God's unceasing love and promise of deliverance (vv. 1-7), assuring them that despite their past failures and current suffering in Babylonian captivity, they are precious in His sight. He reiterates His role as their Creator and Redeemer, calling them by name and promising to bring them out of all lands. God challenges the nations, declaring His uniqueness as the only true God, contrasting Himself with idols (vv. 8-13). He promises a "new thing," a new exodus from Babylon, which will be even more magnificent than the one from Egypt (vv. 14-20), showcasing His power and faithfulness.

Verse 21 follows these incredible promises of future redemption and a new creation in the wilderness, explaining why God performs such great deeds. It reveals the ultimate divine intention behind their very existence and subsequent rescue: their lives, particularly their redemptive journey, are meant to be a public declaration of God's matchless praise. This statement stands in contrast to their history of rebellion and idolatry (e.g., Is 43:22-24) but reaffirms God's enduring covenantal purpose for them despite their unworthiness. It points forward to a revitalized people who, having experienced His mighty works, will fulfill their God-given role.

Isaiah 43 21 Word analysis

• This people (הָעָם הַזֶּה - ha'am hazzeh):

  • Word: Am (people), hazzeh (this).
  • Significance: Specifically refers to Israel, God's chosen covenant people. It distinguishes them from other nations and emphasizes their unique relationship and identity bestowed by God, not by any intrinsic quality of their own. It is a collective noun, underscoring their corporate identity before God.

• I formed (יָצַרְתִּי - yatsarti):

  • Word: Root yatsar (יָצַר), "to form, fashion, create" (like a potter molding clay).
  • Significance: Denotes deliberate, intentional, and skilled creation. God is depicted as the divine artisan, shaping Israel with specific design and purpose, not by chance. It implies His power and sovereignty over their origin and destiny. This is a repeat of a key motif from verse 1 ("I have formed you").

• for Myself (לִי - li):

  • Word: "To Me" or "for My own benefit/purpose."
  • Significance: Emphasizes divine ownership, self-referential purpose, and ultimate priority. Israel's existence and function are primarily for God's glory, not for their own. It sets the focus squarely on God as the recipient and end goal of their being. It also indicates an exclusive relationship, a chosen people uniquely dedicated to Him.

• they shall declare (יְסַפְּרוּ - yesap'ru):

  • Word: Root saphar (סָפַר), "to count, recount, tell, narrate, declare, proclaim."
  • Significance: Implies an active, public, and detailed proclamation. It's not a mere internal feeling but an outward expression, an audible testimony. This verb often relates to recounting great deeds, showing that Israel's praise will be a narration of God's acts and attributes. The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing or future action.

• My praise (תְהִלָּתִי - tehillati):

  • Word: Root halal (הָלַל), "to praise, boast, glorify."
  • Significance: Refers to words and acts that magnify, honor, and give glory to God. It encompasses thanksgiving, worship, and celebrating God's excellent qualities and mighty works. It is the proper response from a created being to its Creator, especially from a redeemed people to their Redeemer.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "This people I formed": Highlights the divine origin and special relationship God has with Israel. Their identity is entirely contingent upon God's initiative as Creator and covenant-maker. It underscores a particular people created for a particular task.
• "for Myself, they shall declare My praise": This phrase precisely defines the teleological (purpose-driven) aspect of Israel's existence. Their creation and formation are not arbitrary; they have an ultimate goal centered on God. "For Myself" clarifies the ultimate beneficiary of their purpose, while "declare My praise" specifies the action they are called to perform. Their very lives are to be a conduit for divine glory and public worship. This forms a divine circle: God creates/forms, and His creation reflects His glory back to Him through praise.

Isaiah 43 21 Bonus section

• This verse represents a reaffirmation of God's original intention for Israel, even after generations of rebellion. It underscores that God's purpose cannot be thwarted by human failure; instead, He works through redemption to bring His purposes to pass.
• The act of "forming" (yatsar) often carries connotations of distinct identity and function. Just as a potter forms a vessel for a specific use, God formed Israel to uniquely function as His heralds of praise. This specific formation sets them apart as His possession.
• In the broader context of Isaiah 40-55, where God constantly contrasts Himself with false gods, Israel's declaration of His praise serves as a polemic against the mute, powerless idols of Babylon. Their vibrant worship testifies to the living and active God.
• This principle is not exclusive to ancient Israel but is universalized in the New Testament to all who are "in Christ," forming the spiritual Israel (Gal 3:29, 6:16). The Church, too, is a people "for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him" (1 Pet 2:9).
• The fulfillment of this praise is tied to the complete restoration and redemption promised by God. Their ultimate declaration of His praise will be the joyous celebration of their homecoming and God's triumph over their enemies.

Isaiah 43 21 Commentary

Isaiah 43:21 is a succinct yet profound declaration of God's unchanging purpose for His chosen people, Israel, amidst their suffering and unfaithfulness. It asserts that their existence is not an accident of history but a divine creation with a deliberate and singular aim: to articulate God's praise. This praise is not merely ceremonial worship but a living testimony borne out of their experience of God's redemptive power and faithfulness, especially as they would witness His "new thing" (v. 19) in bringing them out of exile. It speaks to a foundational principle of the covenant: God creates a people for Himself, setting them apart to be a unique channel through which His glory is made known to the world.

Even in exile, and despite their past idolatry, God's ultimate intention for Israel remained rooted in their original calling. The verse offers hope by reiterating their inherent, divinely assigned identity and purpose. It looks forward to a future when a restored Israel, having been wonderfully redeemed by God, would faithfully fulfill this mandate. Practically, this verse challenges believers across all dispensations to consider the primary purpose of their own salvation and existence: to live lives that authentically and consistently declare God's worth and magnificent deeds to a watching world. Every act of grace, every deliverance, and every divine provision is intended to elicit and enable this declaration of praise. For example, a Christian's act of service driven by love declares God's character, or their testimony of overcoming trials highlights His faithfulness, thus fulfilling this enduring mandate.