Isaiah 43 5

Isaiah 43:5 kjv

Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isaiah 43:5 nkjv

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;

Isaiah 43:5 niv

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

Isaiah 43:5 esv

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Isaiah 43:5 nlt

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.

Isaiah 43 verses

Isaiah 43 5 Meaning

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Isaiah 43 5 Context

This verse is found within the section of Isaiah often referred to as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah," which focuses on comfort, restoration, and hope for the exiled people of Judah in Babylon. The preceding verses (Isaiah 43:1-4) speak of God's personal involvement in the creation and redemption of Israel, emphasizing their preciousness to Him. God assures them that despite their scattering due to sin and disobedience, He will not abandon them. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period of deep distress and uncertainty for the Israelites. The prophet's words aim to alleviate their fear and strengthen their faith by reminding them of God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate power to re-gather them. This passage is a direct contrast to the shame and devastation of exile, painting a picture of future vindication and a restored nation.

Isaiah 43 5 Word Analysis

• Fear (אֶל־תִּירָ֔אוּ) (al-tir'u): A strong imperative in the Qal imperfect, second person plural, negative construction. It's not just a mild apprehension but a command to cease from terror and dread.
• not (אֶל) (al): A common negative particle used with jussives or imperatives.
• fear (תִּירָ֔אוּ) (tir'u): The root ירא (yara') means "to fear," "to be afraid," "to revere." Here, it expresses the emotional state of alarm that God commands His people to abandon. The Israelites likely feared their conquerors, their perceived abandonment by God, and the possibility of permanent displacement.
• for (כִּֽי) (ki): A versatile conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. "Because," "for," "that."
• I (אָנֹ֔כִי) (anokhi): First-person singular pronoun. Emphasizes the personal presence of God. It's a strong statement of identity and assurance from God Himself.
• am (אָנֹ֔כִי) (anokhi): While "am" isn't directly translated, the pronoun signifies being. The full phrase here, "anokhi itakhem," implies God's active, present companionship.
• with (עִם) (im): A preposition indicating close proximity and association. God's presence is not distant but near and personal.
• you (־כֶ֖ם) (-khem): Second-person plural masculine suffix. Referring to the people of Israel as a collective.
• I (אָנֹ֔כִי) (anokhi): Again, God emphasizes His personal agency in the action that follows.
• will bring (אָבִ֥יא) (avi'a): Hiphil (causative) imperfect, first-person singular from the root בא (bo') which means "to come" or "to bring." This signifies God actively causing something to come.
• your (בֵּ֥ן) (ben): Son. Used here metonymically for offspring, descendants, children. This represents all generations of His people.
• offspring (בָּנֶֽיךְ) (baneikh): Plural form of 'son,' implying descendants or progeny.
• from (מִן) (min): A preposition indicating source or origin, "from."
• east (קֶֽדֶם) (qedem): Literally "east" or "before." It denotes a direction, but also often implies from distant lands or origins where Israel was exiled.
• and (וּמִ) (umim): "and from."
• from (מִן) (min): Preposition indicating origin.
• west (יָם) (yam): Literally "sea." In the context of ancient Near Eastern geography, "the sea" often referred to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Thus, "from the sea" signifies from the western regions.
• I (וַאֲנִ֥י) (va'ani): "And I." Connects the action of bringing to the previous assurance of His presence.
• will gather (אָסֹּ֖ף) (asof): Qal imperfect, first-person singular from the root אסף (asaf) meaning "to gather," "to collect." This is a comprehensive gathering.
• you (אֹתָ֣ךְ) (otakh): Second-person singular feminine suffix, likely representing Jerusalem or the people of Israel as a feminine entity, or a more encompassing way of referring to the collective "you" with a slightly different grammatical form.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Fear not, for I am with you (אֶל־תִּירָ֔אוּ כִּֽי־אָנֹ֔כִי עִמָּכֶ֖ם): This phrase is foundational in Isaiah, offering immediate solace. The "fear not" is a command to trust, empowered by the declaration of God's presence. The "for" establishes a direct causal link: the reason they should not fear is God's immediate, personal accompaniment.
• I will bring your offspring from the east (אָבִ֥יא מִקֶּֽדֶם): God declares His active role in restoration. "Bring" (Hiphil) signifies bringing forth out of a state of being held or dispersed. "Offspring" includes future generations, emphasizing a sustained redemptive act. "East" signifies faraway lands of exile.
• and from the west I will gather you (וּמִֽיָּם אֲסַפֶּֽךָ): The parallel structure mirrors the bringing from the east. "Gather" is comprehensive, reassembling the scattered. "West" complements the "east," signifying completeness in His gathering from all directions, encompassing the known world. The pronoun shifts to "you" (singular feminine/masculine singular), possibly focusing on Jerusalem as a personification, or continuing the address to the people.

Isaiah 43 5 Bonus Section

The use of contrasting directions ("east" and "west") symbolizes totality. It signifies that no matter how far Israel has been scattered, God's power to gather extends to every corner of the earth. This imagery of comprehensive restoration is a hallmark of prophetic literature and anticipates the universal scope of God's kingdom, which will ultimately embrace people from all nations. The shift from "offspring" (plural) to "you" (singular, but likely encompassing the collective) emphasizes both the lineage and the entirety of the people being brought back into God's favor and presence. This verse is a powerful reminder of God's covenant love, which is unconditional and enduring, capable of overcoming even the most severe consequences of sin and disobedience. It prefigures the new covenant where believers are spiritually gathered to God through Christ.

Isaiah 43 5 Commentary

This verse encapsulates God's unwavering promise of restoration and ingathering for His people, assuring them that fear is unwarranted because of His constant presence. The declaration "I am with you" is the bedrock of all His promises. He contrasts the terror of exile with the certainty of His actions, drawing His dispersed children from the furthest extremities of the earth. This isn't just a promise of physical return from Babylon; it extends to the ultimate ingathering of God's people from all nations, a theme powerfully echoed in the New Testament through the gathering of believers in Christ and the eventual eschatological gathering of the redeemed from every tongue and tribe. God's faithfulness overcomes scattering, His power reassembles what is broken. The promise assures that He initiates and completes the work of bringing His chosen ones home, dispelling all fear.

Practical usage examples:

• When facing overwhelming circumstances and feelings of helplessness, remember God's presence ("I am with you") and trust that He will bring you through to a place of hope.
• When feeling scattered or isolated by life's trials, hold onto the promise of God's gathering, knowing He can and will bring restoration and unity.
• In evangelism and missions, the verse undergirds the confidence that God is already working to draw people from all nations to Himself.