Isaiah 43 25

Isaiah 43:25 kjv

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 43:25 nkjv

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 43:25 niv

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Isaiah 43:25 esv

"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 43:25 nlt

"I ? yes, I alone ? will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 25 Meaning

Isaiah 43:25 declares God's unilateral act of grace to forgive His people's sins. It emphasizes that He Himself, by His divine power and purpose, completely erases their rebellions and offenses, and promises never to remember them again for the purpose of judgment. This profound act of mercy is rooted in God's own character and for the glorification of His name, rather than any merit or offering from humanity.

Isaiah 43 25 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 falls within the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-66) of Isaiah, addressed primarily to the exiles in Babylon. Following Israel's extensive history of rebellion and impending judgment, this section emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness, His sovereign power over nations, and His steadfast love for His covenant people. Prior to verse 25, God reminds Israel of His unique identity as their Creator and Redeemer (Isa 43:1-15), promising a new exodus and future restoration (Isa 43:16-21). However, in verses 22-24, He confronts their spiritual neglect, highlighting how they have not genuinely worshipped Him or brought the sacrifices He desired, but instead "burdened" Him with their iniquities. Against this backdrop of Israel's spiritual failure and the accusations of their past sins, verse 25 comes as a stark and surprising declaration of pure grace: God takes the initiative to forgive despite their unworthiness and for His own purposes, not for their earned merit. This promise sets the stage for future hope and restoration.

Isaiah 43 25 Word analysis

• I, even I (’Ānokhi ’ānokhi - אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי): This emphatic repetition stresses divine sovereignty. It's an exclusive claim. Only God possesses this power and authority. It highlights His unique identity as the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, the "I Am."
• am he (הוּא - hu’): Connects to the consistent divine self-declaration found throughout Isaiah, emphasizing His unique personhood and active agency.
• blots out (Môcheh - מוֹחֶה, from the root machah - מָחָה): This verb literally means to wipe, to wipe clean, to erase, to efface, or to abolish. It paints a picture of a written record being completely wiped clean, like ink from a scroll or words from a tablet, so that no trace remains. It implies a thorough and total removal, as if it never existed on the record for accusation.
• your transgressions (P’sha‘êyka - פְּשָׁעֶיךָ, from pesha‘ - פֶּשַׁע): This is a strong word for sin, signifying rebellion, revolt, or an act of deliberate disobedience against a rightful authority. It implies a breach of trust, an outright violation of a covenant, making God's act of "blotting out" even more remarkable given the gravity of the offense.
• for my own sake (L'ma'aní - לְמַעֲנִי): This is a pivotal phrase. It indicates that God's motivation for forgiveness is not found in anything Israel has done or can do, but solely in His own character, purposes, and honor. It's about upholding His reputation, His covenant faithfulness, and His glory. This grace is completely unmerited.
• and remembers (w’lo' ’ezkôr - וְלֹא אֶזְכּוֹר, from zakhar - זָכַר): To remember, in this context, implies to call to mind for the purpose of holding accountable, bringing charges, or inflicting punishment. God's declaration that He will not remember signifies a judicial decision not to revisit or bring the sins to account ever again. It's not a literal cognitive inability but a merciful determination.
• your sins (Ḥaṭṭō’teykā - חַטֹּאתֶיךָ, from khaṭa' - חָטָא): This is a more general term for sin, meaning to miss the mark, fall short, or go astray. When paired with pesha‘ ("transgressions"), it emphasizes the comprehensive scope of human wrongdoing that God is blotting out – from deliberate rebellion to general failings.
• no more (לֹא עוֹד - lo’ ‘od): A definitive and absolute statement ensuring the finality of God's action. The sins are forgotten without a possibility of recall for future judgment.

Words-Group analysis:

• "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions": This powerfully asserts God's exclusive agency and supreme authority in the act of forgiveness. It is His unique right and power.
• "blots out your transgressions...and remembers your sins no more": These two parallel statements describe the comprehensive nature of divine forgiveness. "Blotting out" speaks of removal from the record, while "remembering no more" speaks of cessation of legal recall and judgment. Together, they signify a complete and irreversible absolution.
• "for my own sake": This phrase explains the divine motivation. It moves forgiveness from a conditional response to human action to a sovereign act rooted in God's eternal being. It secures His holiness even as it extends His mercy, ensuring that His character is vindicated and glorified in the act of forgiveness itself.

Isaiah 43 25 Bonus section

The concept of God "not remembering" sins is a crucial theological point, contrasting sharply with human memory, which often lingers on past offenses. For God, this is an act of sovereign grace. It underscores the finality and completeness of His forgiveness—a judicial and covenantal declaration that He has cleared the record. This understanding provides immense comfort, particularly as it looks forward to the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31 and fulfilled in Christ, where the atoning work is so complete that sins are definitively dealt with. This "divine amnesia" ensures that once forgiven, the penalty and guilt are entirely removed, leaving no room for subsequent judgment or recall of that sin for punitive measures. It profoundly illustrates that God's grace truly transforms the relationship with His people, allowing a new beginning.

Isaiah 43 25 Commentary

Isaiah 43:25 delivers one of the most profound statements of divine grace in the Old Testament. It stands as a stark contrast to Israel's failings detailed immediately preceding it, highlighting God's boundless mercy that supersedes human merit or ritualistic efforts. The repetition of "I, even I" underscores God's unique identity as the only One capable of such a definitive act of forgiveness. The imagery of "blotting out" suggests a complete erasure of sin from any record, leaving no trace for accusation. Furthermore, God's promise not to "remember your sins no more" signifies a judicial act of forgetfulness, meaning He will no longer hold those sins against His people for condemnation. This "forgetting" is not an inability to recall past events, but a deliberate act of divine determination not to bring them to account, sealing their absolution.

Crucially, the motivation for this radical forgiveness is stated as "for my own sake." This means God's decision to forgive is not contingent on Israel's goodness, their repentance, or their sacrifices. Rather, it flows purely from His own character—His steadfast love, righteousness, and commitment to His covenant and His glorious name. It asserts that God acts for the sake of His own nature and redemptive purposes, ultimately finding its fullest expression in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, where God's justice and mercy perfectly converge. This verse therefore promises an unearned, comprehensive, and irreversible forgiveness that serves to glorify God Himself.

Practical Examples:

• Feeling weighed down by past mistakes? This verse assures that when God forgives, He genuinely erases the record and sets you free.
• Struggling to forgive yourself? Remember that if God has "blotted out" and "forgotten," you are called to embrace His forgiveness.
• Facing condemnation? Rest in the truth that God will not bring your confessed and repented sins to remembrance against you.