Isaiah 43 4

Isaiah 43:4 kjv

Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Isaiah 43:4 nkjv

Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.

Isaiah 43:4 niv

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 43:4 esv

Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

Isaiah 43:4 nlt

Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 4 Meaning

Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I will give people in your place, and nations in exchange for your life. This verse declares God's profound love and high regard for His people. Because of this intrinsic value, God will take extraordinary measures to preserve and redeem them, even involving the rearrangement of nations. It speaks of a love that transcends ordinary affection, a love that prompts divine intervention and sacrificial provision.

Isaiah 43 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 43 begins with God assuring His people, Israel, that despite their past sins and exile, they are chosen and precious to Him. He promises to be with them through difficult times, leading them back from exile and establishing them anew. The chapter highlights God's faithfulness and His power to perform mighty acts of salvation, contrasting His ability to save with the futility of idols. This verse specifically emphasizes the depth of God's love for His people, framing His protective actions not just as a duty, but as a consequence of their immense value in His eyes. The promise of exchanging nations for their life speaks to the magnitude of God's commitment to their redemption and security. Historically, this spoke to the exiles in Babylon, assuring them of God's future restoration.

Isaiah 43 4 Word Analysis

• כי (ki): "because" - This conjunction introduces the reason for the subsequent declaration. It links the preceding divine action (implied, of bringing them out of captivity) to the reasons for their preciousness.
• אתה (ata): "you" (masculine singular) - Direct address to the people of Israel.
• יקר (yaqar): "precious," "valued," "honored," "rare." This word signifies great worth, dignity, and importance. It's not merely about being loved, but being held in high esteem.
• ובעיני (u-və-'ēnay): "and in my eyes," "and in my sight." This phrase emphasizes that the valuation is God's personal, subjective perspective. It's how He sees them.
• כבוד (kavod): "honor," "glory," "dignity." This reinforces the idea of esteemed status and intrinsic worth.
• ויהוה (və-Yahweh): "and Yahweh," "and the LORD." Introducing God's own name, emphasizing His authority and the source of this declaration of love and value.
• אני (ani): "I" - Strong emphasis on God's personal involvement and agency.
• אוהב (ohev): "love" (active participle, masculine singular). Denotes an ongoing, active state of loving.
• ולחי (və-laḥayi): "and for your life." Can also be rendered "and for your soul" or "for your being." It signifies their existence and well-being.
• אתן (eten): "I will give" - Future tense, signifying a guaranteed action by God.
• אדם (adam): "man," "people." Referring to human beings in a general sense.
• ולאמים (u-lə-'ammim): "and for peoples," "and nations." Implies substituting other groups of people for them.
• תחת (taḥat): "instead of," "under," "in place of." This indicates a reciprocal exchange.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Precious and honored and loved" (יקר ובעיני כבוד ואני אוהב - yaqar u-və-'ēnay kavod və-ani ohev): This powerful trio describes the core reasons for God's actions. It moves from an inherent quality ("precious," "honored") to an active declaration ("I love you"). The personal pronoun "I" and "my eyes" stresses God's direct and deeply felt affection.
• "I will give man for you, and peoples for your life" (אתן אדם ולאמים תחת חיך - 'eten 'adam və-lə-'ammim taḥat ḥayêḵ): This phrase highlights the magnitude of God's promise. It's not a small sacrifice, but a sweeping geopolitical redistribution undertaken on behalf of His chosen people. It signifies divine sovereignty over all nations.

Isaiah 43 4 Bonus Section

The concept of being "precious" and "honored" in God's sight is not unique to Israel in the Old Testament, but it is expressed here with remarkable intensity. It sets a precedent for how believers are viewed in the New Testament, where they are called precious, chosen, and bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:7, 19). The theological implication is that God's covenant faithfulness and His deep love for humanity find their ultimate expression in the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, who "gave Himself" (Ephesians 5:2) for His church, much like the nations are exchanged for Israel's life in this prophecy. This verse therefore acts as a prefigurement of Christ's redemptive work. The understanding that God's perspective of value supersedes any human or national hierarchy is a cornerstone of biblical theology.

Isaiah 43 4 Commentary

Isaiah 43:4 is a profound testament to God's unfailing love and the immense value He places on His people. The verse assures Israel that their identity and security are rooted in God's own perception of their worth. This isn't conditional based on their performance but intrinsic to His covenant love. The declaration "I love you" is foundational, leading to a promise of ultimate preservation. The commitment to exchange nations for their life underscores God's willingness to reorder the world if necessary to protect and redeem those He cherishes. It is a picture of a God who sees beyond immediate circumstances and acts with decisive love to secure His beloved.