Isaiah 48 17

Isaiah 48:17 kjv

Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Isaiah 48:17 nkjv

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 niv

This is what the LORD says? your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 esv

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17 nlt

This is what the LORD says ?
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 17 meaning

Isaiah 48:17 articulates God's benevolent intent for His people, Israel, emphasizing His roles as their Divine Rescuer and uniquely Holy God. It reveals that His guidance is designed for their ultimate advantage and spiritual well-being, leading them consistently on the path of righteousness and true flourishing. This verse presents God's loving and paternal character, desiring to instruct and direct His chosen people toward a life that truly benefits them in every sense, distinguishing His ways from the destructive paths they often chose.

Isaiah 48 17 Context

Isaiah chapter 48 serves as a culminating address in the series of oracles within the "Book of Consolation" (chapters 40-55), specifically dealing with God's sovereignty over history, His unique power, and His unwavering covenant faithfulness to Israel, despite their obstinate and rebellious nature. The chapter is framed as a direct speech from the Lord, initially reproving Israel for their hardened hearts and idol worship, even while claiming the name of God (vv. 1-8). God recounts His ability to foretell events, specifically the rise of Cyrus and the imminent Babylonian captivity and subsequent deliverance, proving He alone is God. The historical context is set against the backdrop of the anticipated Babylonian exile and the promise of return, offering comfort and assurance that God has not abandoned His people but is actively orchestrating their redemption.

Verse 17 then shifts from an implied rebuke to a tender declaration of God's fundamental purpose: He acts as their Redeemer and Holy One for their good. This verse functions as an expression of divine lament and a loving invitation, demonstrating God's pure motives behind His commands and actions. It contrasts with the stubbornness mentioned earlier in the chapter, presenting what could have been and what still can be if Israel heeds His voice, leading directly into the lament of verse 18 about the lost blessings of peace and righteousness due to disobedience. It challenges their self-destructive path by affirming God's desire for their genuine welfare, positioning Him not as an oppressive taskmaster, but as a wise and loving guide.

Isaiah 48 17 Word analysis

• Thus says the Lord (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar Adonai):

  • Signifies divine authority. This is a common prophetic formula, establishing the words that follow as directly from God, carrying ultimate weight and truth. It emphasizes God's self-disclosure and direct communication.

• your Redeemer (גֹּאֲלֶךָ - go'aleḵā):

  • גֹּאֵל (go'el): This Hebrew term denotes a "kinsman-redeemer" or "avenger." In ancient Israel, the go'el had specific responsibilities, including purchasing back lost family land, buying back a kinsman from slavery, or avenging the blood of a murdered relative.
  • Significance: Applied to God, it highlights His personal, covenantal, and active involvement in liberating His people from bondage, whether literal (Egypt, Babylon) or spiritual. It emphasizes His role as rescuer and advocate, stressing His powerful love and commitment.

• the Holy One of Israel (קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל - Qedoš Yisra'el):

  • קָדוֹשׁ (qadoš): Means "holy," connoting separation, distinctness, purity, and transcendence. It defines God's absolute moral and ethical perfection, distinguishing Him from all created beings and false gods.
  • ישְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el): Refers to Jacob's new name and later the nation, meaning "he struggles with God" or "God prevails."
  • Significance: This specific title is very common in Isaiah. It points to God's unique character (utterly pure and distinct) in covenant relationship with a specific people (Israel). It underscores that their redeemer is not merely powerful but perfectly righteous, providing a standard for His guidance. His holiness guarantees the integrity and truth of His instructions.

• I am the Lord your God (אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - Ani Adonai Eloheikha):

  • אֲנִי יְהוָה (Ani Adonai): "I am the Lord." A self-declaration of God's immutable identity and exclusive claim as the only true God, recalling the declaration at Sinai.
  • אֱלֹהֶיךָ (Eloheikha): "Your God." Emphasizes the personal, covenantal relationship God has established with Israel.
  • Significance: It reaffirms God's identity, authority, and exclusive right to their worship and obedience. It asserts His unique relationship as the sovereign, personal deity of Israel.

• who teaches you to profit (מְלַמֶּדְךָ לְהוֹעִיל - mĕlammedḵā ləho'il):

  • מְלַמֵּד (mĕlammed): "Teaches, instructs." God is the ultimate instructor, imparting wisdom and knowledge.
  • לְהוֹעִיל (ləho'il): "To profit, to be advantageous, to be of benefit, to thrive." The word implies more than just material gain; it points to true, ultimate well-being, genuine advantage, and lasting prosperity in a holistic sense (spiritual, physical, communal).
  • Significance: God's instruction is not burdensome but inherently good and purposeful, leading to ultimate flourishing and fulfillment, contrasting with fleeting, worldly "profit." It highlights God's wisdom and benevolent design for human life.

• who leads you (מַדְרִיכְךָ - madriḵḵā):

  • מַדְרִיךְ (madriḵ): "Leads, guides, directs." This verb emphasizes active guidance and direction, steering someone along a specific course.
  • Significance: God provides direction and a clear path, preventing His people from wandering aimlessly or falling into destructive ways.

• in the way you should go (בְּדֶרֶךְ תֵּלֵךְ - bədeḵerḵ tēlēḵ):

  • בְּדֶרֶךְ (bədeḵerḵ): "In the way, on the path." Refers to a specific course of life or action.
  • תֵּלֵךְ (tēlēḵ): "You should go, you ought to walk." Implies the ideal and rightful path chosen for the beneficiary, leading to desired outcomes.
  • Significance: God's guidance is precise and intended for a specific, righteous path, aligning with His divine will. It's not a generic suggestion but a purposeful direction for their lives to achieve what is truly good and ordained by Him.

• Word-group analysis:

  • "the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God'": This powerful introduction strings together multiple divine titles and declarations. Each reinforces God's unique identity, His authority, His special relationship with Israel, and His proven track record of acting on their behalf. "Redeemer" emphasizes His action in history (exodus, coming return from exile); "Holy One of Israel" stresses His distinct, righteous character and His covenant bond; and "I am the Lord your God" unequivocally declares His absolute sovereignty and personal claim over them. These titles collectively underscore why His subsequent teaching and leading are utterly trustworthy and supremely beneficial.

  • "who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go": This phrase clearly articulates the dual nature of God's guidance. He actively imparts knowledge and wisdom ("teaches you to profit"), equipping His people with the understanding needed for true well-being and success according to His divine design. Simultaneously, He provides direct intervention and direction ("leads you in the way you should go"), showing them the right path to walk. Together, these phrases convey a holistic picture of divine pedagogy and active leadership, both aimed at the comprehensive flourishing of His people, steering them away from destructive self-reliance or false guidance.

Isaiah 48 17 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on God's titles ("Redeemer," "Holy One," "Lord your God") is a strong polemic against the idols and false gods worshipped by nations surrounding Israel, and even by some within Israel. No idol could claim to be a "Redeemer" that actually delivered, nor could any possess true "holiness" or provide genuine, beneficial instruction for life. Only Yahweh, the God of Israel, could genuinely offer such life-giving wisdom and guidance.

The phrasing "teaches you to profit" implicitly contrasts divine instruction with human self-reliance or reliance on foreign alliances, which often led Israel to disadvantage and suffering. The true 'profit' lies in spiritual integrity, communal justice, peace, and closeness with God, far outweighing any material or political gain achieved through ungodly means. This perspective connects to the broader biblical wisdom tradition which equates walking in God's ways with true understanding and life (Prov 3:13-18). The alternative, refusing His guidance, is repeatedly shown in Scripture to lead to loss, chaos, and destruction, emphasizing the boundaries of their choices. God does not force obedience but lovingly presents the optimal path.

Isaiah 48 17 Commentary

Isaiah 48:17 distills the heart of God's relationship with Israel. God's identity as their "Redeemer" speaks to His history of intervention and salvation from bondage, both past (Egypt) and present/future (Babylon). As the "Holy One of Israel," He is uniquely separate and morally perfect, ensuring His instruction is pure and true, distinct from the corrupted wisdom of the world or false gods. When He declares, "I am the Lord your God," He reasserts His covenant Lordship and exclusive claim over His people.

From this foundation of who He is—their saving, holy, sovereign God—flows His benevolent purpose: "who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go." The "profit" God desires is not superficial gain, but a holistic flourishing and true well-being that comes from aligning with His righteous principles and wise design. His guidance is both instructional (teaching precepts and wisdom) and directional (leading them on the specific path they ought to take). This verse is a poignant reminder to an obstinate Israel of God's unwavering good intentions, lamenting in the following verse that they often failed to heed this life-giving instruction. It signifies that living according to God's ways is not a burden but the path to authentic and lasting benefit, a path they tragically often forsook.