Isaiah 48:12 kjv
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
Isaiah 48:12 nkjv
"Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last.
Isaiah 48:12 niv
"Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last.
Isaiah 48:12 esv
"Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.
Isaiah 48:12 nlt
"Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
Israel my chosen one!
I alone am God,
the First and the Last.
Isaiah 48 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 48:12 | "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." | Himself |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me." | God's uniqueness |
| Deuteronomy 32:39 | "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand." | God's exclusive power |
| Revelation 1:8 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." | Eternal nature |
| Revelation 1:17 | "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last;" | Jesus as first and last |
| Revelation 22:13 | "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." | Jesus' deity |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." | Pre-existence of Christ |
| John 8:58 | "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." | Jesus' eternal existence |
| Philippians 2:6 | "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" | Christ's equality with God |
| Colossians 1:17 | "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." | Christ's preeminence |
| Hebrews 13:8 | "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever." | Christ's unchanging nature |
| Psalm 90:2 | "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." | God's eternal past |
| Psalm 102:25-27 | "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." | God's unchanging nature |
| Isaiah 41:4 | "Who hath wrought and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he." | God's sole agency |
| Isaiah 44:6 | "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." | God's exclusivity |
| Isaiah 45:5 | "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:" | God's singular existence |
| Isaiah 45:18 | "For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the LORD, and there is none else." | God's creative power |
| Acts 17:24-25 | "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is he worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth life to all, and breath, and all things;" | God as creator and sustainer |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 12 Meaning
The verse declares God's immutable nature and His intention to save and uphold His people, Israel. He is the first and the last, meaning He existed before all things and will exist after all things. This attribute emphasizes His eternal sovereignty and power, guaranteeing that His redemptive plans will certainly come to fruition.
Isaiah 48 12 Context
Chapter 48 of Isaiah is a discourse from God to the people of Israel, specifically addressing their repeated failures and persistent sinfulness. God reminds them of His covenant faithfulness and His unique power as the only true God, distinguishing Himself from the idols worshipped by surrounding nations. This particular verse serves as a strong assertion of God's identity and His unfailing commitment to His chosen people, despite their transgressions. The emphasis is on God's eternality and His ultimate authority, implying that His promises will be fulfilled because He alone orchestrates history from beginning to end.
Isaiah 48 12 Word Analysis
Hearken (sh'ma): Listen attentively, obey. Implies more than just hearing; it signifies an active response of obedience.
unto me: Directed towards God.
O Jacob: A direct address to the patriarch and his descendants, representing Israel.
and Israel: Another name for the covenant people.
my called (q'ru'ay): Those whom God has summoned, claimed, and set apart. This signifies God's initiative in choosing and establishing a relationship.
I am he (ʼani huʼ): A powerful affirmation of God's unique, unchangeable, and sole existence. "He is" is a declaration of absolute being.
I am the first (ʼani rishon): Denotes His pre-existence. Before anything was created, God was.
I also am the last (gam ʼani ʼacharon): Denotes His eternal future. After all that will come to pass, God will still be. Together, these phrases encapsulate His eternal, sovereign nature.
Jacob and Israel: highlights the continuity of God's covenant from the patriarch to the nation.
I am he; I am the first, I also am the last: This tripartite declaration emphasizes God's self-sufficiency, eternality, and supreme uniqueness against any competing deities or claims.
Isaiah 48 12 Bonus Section
The phrases "the first" and "the last" are significant theological concepts, often used to describe the absolute sovereignty and uniqueness of God. In later biblical texts, particularly in Revelation, these titles are also applied to Jesus Christ, highlighting His divine nature and His role as the beginning and end of God's redemptive plan for humanity. This verse, therefore, not only speaks to the historical God of Israel but also foreshadows the eternality and unique role of the Messiah. The certainty of God's promises is directly linked to His unchanging nature, ensuring that His covenant people will be preserved because He Himself is eternal and unchangeable.
Isaiah 48 12 Commentary
This verse is a profound self-declaration by God, asserting His unique and eternal nature. He is calling Jacob and Israel to remember who He is, the one who initiated their calling and has been with them from the beginning of their history and will be with them until its end. His identity as "the first" and "the last" is not just a statement of timelessness but a guarantee. Because He existed before all creation and will exist after all will cease, His purposes are secure and His promises to save and sustain His people are unbreakable. This attribute is crucial in a context where Israel often struggled with idolatry, looking to temporal and powerless deities. God’s declaration serves as an anchor, reminding them of the unchanging character and absolute power of their Creator and Redeemer, the God who initiates and completes all things.