Isaiah 44:8 kjv
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 44:8 nkjv
Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' "
Isaiah 44:8 niv
Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
Isaiah 44:8 esv
Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
Isaiah 44:8 nlt
Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses ? is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock ? not one!"
Isaiah 44 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:35 | "To you it was shown... YHWH is God; besides Him there is no other." | God's exclusive deity |
| Deut 4:39 | "...YHWH, He is God in heaven... and on earth... no other." | God's absolute uniqueness |
| Deut 32:39 | "See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me..." | Sole deity of God |
| 1 Sam 2:2 | "There is no one holy like the YHWH, for there is no one besides You..." | God's incomparable holiness |
| Isa 43:10 | "You are My witnesses... before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me." | Israel as witnesses to sole God |
| Isa 43:12 | "...I have declared and saved... and you are My witnesses..." | Witnessing God's salvation and declaration |
| Isa 45:5 | "I am YHWH, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God..." | Uniqueness and singularity of God |
| Isa 45:6 | "...that there is none besides Me. I am YHWH, and there is no other." | Reiterating God's unparalleled identity |
| Isa 45:18 | "...I am YHWH, and there is no other." | Affirmation of monotheism |
| Jer 10:10 | "But the YHWH is the true God; He is the living God..." | Contrasting YHWH with idols |
| Mark 12:29 | "The YHWH our God is one YHWH..." | Central teaching of monotheism (Shema) |
| 1 Cor 8:4,6 | "...there is no God but one... one God, the Father..." | New Testament confirmation of one God |
| Isa 41:22 | "Let them declare to us what will happen; Let them declare the former things..." | Challenge to idols to foretell |
| Isa 41:23 | "Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods." | Proof of deity is foreknowledge |
| Isa 46:9-10 | "...I am God, and there is no other... Declaring the end from the beginning..." | God's omniscient foreknowledge |
| John 13:19 | "From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He." | Christ's divine foreknowledge (fulfilling Isa theme) |
| Acts 1:8 | "...you will be My witnesses... to the remotest part of the earth." | Expanding the witness role to Christ's followers |
| Deut 32:4 | "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just..." | God's flawless nature as a Rock |
| Ps 18:2 | "YHWH is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer..." | God as a source of strength and rescue |
| Ps 31:3 | "For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me..." | God as guiding and protective Rock |
| Ps 94:22 | "But the YHWH has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge." | God as refuge and stability |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | "...for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ." | Christ as the spiritual Rock |
| Isa 41:10 | "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God." | God's presence as antidote to fear |
| Isa 43:1 | "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name..." | Fear banished by redemption and intimate knowledge |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 8 Meaning
This verse offers profound comfort and reassurance, directly addressing the fear and anxiety of God's people. It asserts Yahweh's exclusive deity, supreme foreknowledge, and steadfast reliability against any rival. God reminds them that He alone has declared and foretold future events, proving His sovereign control over history. In light of this, Israel is called to be His witnesses, testifying to the undeniable truth that there is no other God, no other unshakeable source of strength or refuge, besides Him.
Isaiah 44 8 Context
Isaiah 44:8 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section largely addressed to Israel concerning their anticipated or current Babylonian exile. This specific passage (44:6-23) powerfully contrasts Yahweh, the only true God, with the impotence and folly of idol worship. Immediately prior, God declared Himself as "the first and the last" (44:6), affirming His unique position in eternity. The verse anticipates the exiles' potential fears, doubts, and temptations to turn to foreign deities, reassuring them by emphasizing God's sovereign foreknowledge and unmatched power. It serves as a direct polemic against the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the ancient Near East, especially the elaborate pantheon and idol cults of Babylon, setting the stage for a detailed mockery of idol makers that follows in 44:9-20.
Isaiah 44 8 Word analysis
- "Do not tremble or be afraid": Hebrew: ʾal tārʿū wᵉʾal tirhạbū. These are imperative commands reflecting God's compassionate concern. tārʿū (tremble) denotes an inner agitation, a visceral shaking, while tirhạbū (be afraid/terrified) suggests a panic or disarray in outward behavior or mental state. God commands His people to reject profound fear, stemming from a forgetfulness of His identity and promises.
- "have I not long ago declared it to you and foretold it?": This rhetorical question challenges any doubt about God's eternal wisdom and control. "Long ago" (mērōš) signifies His enduring perspective and active involvement in history from its beginning. God's "declaring" (shamáʿtem, meaning 'heard' or 'proclaimed') and "foretelling" (higadtem, meaning 'told' or 'declared') highlight His divine omniscience and His power to bring about His purposes, thereby discrediting any claims of other deities to future knowledge.
- "You are My witnesses": Hebrew: ʿattem ʿēday. This pronounces Israel's designated role. They are not passive recipients but active living testimonies and evidences of God's uniqueness and faithfulness. Their national history, including the fulfillment of divine prophecies, provides undeniable proof to the world of God's unrivaled power and true existence, demanding that they confidently articulate this truth.
- "Is there any God besides Me?": Hebrew: hayēš ʾelūha mimmeday? A forceful rhetorical question emphasizing Yahweh's sole claim to deity. "God" (ʾelōha) refers to a divine, powerful being. The question directly refutes any form of polytheism, demanding an emphatic 'No' and underscoring His exclusivity in the universe.
- "Or is there any other Rock?": Hebrew: wᵉʾeyn tsūr. This rhetorical question utilizes a profound metaphor. "Rock" (tzūr) epitomizes God's steadfastness, strength, and unwavering reliability. Like a literal rock, He is solid, unmoving, and provides a secure refuge and foundation, utterly contrasting the fragility and futility of idols or human attempts at security. No other entity possesses such an inherent quality of unchanging power and safety.
- "I know not one": This authoritative declaration comes from God Himself, definitively answering the preceding rhetorical questions. It is a resolute and absolute assertion of His unique, singular divine reality, eliminating any possibility of a rival god or any alternative source of true strength and knowledge.
Isaiah 44 8 Bonus section
- The phrase "long ago" (mērōš) not only points to the past but also highlights God's continuous presence and activity from eternity. He wasn't just there "at the beginning," but from the beginning He has been declaring and doing, thus asserting His comprehensive control over all time.
- The repetitive use of rhetorical questions in Isaiah 40-48 is a powerful stylistic device, especially in polemics against idols. Instead of providing the answers directly, it invites the audience to recognize the obvious truth of God's uniqueness themselves, thereby internalizing the message more deeply and revealing the logical absurdity of idol worship.
- The Hebrew term for "Rock," tzur (צוּר), carries rich theological weight beyond mere physical solidity. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, deities were sometimes associated with natural phenomena. By claiming to be "the Rock," Yahweh signifies not just physical strength but foundational stability, eternal faithfulness, and covenant-keeping power, distinguishing Himself from fickle, created forces. This concept permeates much of Old Testament theology.
Isaiah 44 8 Commentary
Isaiah 44:8 serves as a pivotal assurance in a context of anxiety and spiritual compromise. God preemptively addresses Israel's deepest fears by anchoring their hope in His distinct attributes: His eternal foreknowledge and His unparalleled, singular existence. By reminding them that He has always declared future events, He validates His sovereign control over their present and future circumstances, effectively nullifying the supposed power of idols. He then charges His people with the profound responsibility of being His "witnesses," not just to observe, but to testify through their experience and proclamation to His unique truth. The verse climaxes with two rhetorical questions that assert Yahweh's exclusive deity and His steadfast nature as "Rock"—a metaphor for His immutability, strength, and refuge—answered definitively by His own resounding declaration, "I know not one," thereby eradicating any rival claim and confirming His alone is the source of all true comfort and security.