Isaiah 48 7

Isaiah 48:7 kjv

They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.

Isaiah 48:7 nkjv

They are created now and not from the beginning; And before this day you have not heard them, Lest you should say, 'Of course I knew them.'

Isaiah 48:7 niv

They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 'Yes, I knew of them.'

Isaiah 48:7 esv

They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.'

Isaiah 48:7 nlt

They are brand new, not things from the past.
So you cannot say, 'We knew that all the time!'

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 7 meaning

Isaiah 48:7 declares that God is bringing forth fresh, unprecedented events in the present moment, distinct from anything revealed or experienced in the past. This divine action is intentionally kept hidden until its manifestation or immediate proclamation, specifically to prevent people from claiming prior knowledge, inherent wisdom, or attributing the outcome to themselves or other powers. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty, unique power to initiate entirely new historical realities, and His purpose to receive all glory.

Isaiah 48 7 Context

Isaiah 48 is part of the "Book of Consolation" (chapters 40-55), addressed to Israel, specifically during or contemplating their impending exile in Babylon. In this chapter, God confronts the persistent idolatry and stubbornness of His people, Jacob and Israel. He reminds them of His unique power to declare "former things" (fulfilled prophecies, often relating to their past deliverance like the Exodus) and "new things" (future prophecies, notably concerning their return from Babylonian captivity under Cyrus, and ultimately, the work of the Suffering Servant and the New Covenant). Verse 7 focuses intently on these "new things," highlighting their immediate, divinely-originated nature. God's purpose in revealing them unexpectedly is to assert His exclusive divinity, distinguish Him from impotent pagan idols, and humble His people by demonstrating that their future salvation is solely a product of His sovereign will and foresight, not their wisdom or existing religious practices.

Isaiah 48 7 Word analysis

• "They are created" (נִבְרְאוּ, nib·re'u): The verb בָּרָא (bara') almost exclusively denotes God's activity, especially bringing into existence something novel, unique, or from nothing. Here, in the Niphal (passive) stem, it means "they were created" or "brought into being." The use of bara' for these future events emphasizes their extraordinary, unprecedented nature, equating their arrival to a new act of divine creation, distinguishing them from ordinary historical progression.
• "now" (עַתָּה, 'at·tah): An adverb indicating the present time, "at this moment," "currently." It emphasizes the immediacy and freshness of God's revelation of these events, contrasting sharply with past disclosures. The "now" refers to the current prophetic utterance and the impending fulfillment.
• "and not long ago" (וְלֹא מֵאָז, wə·lō mē·'āz): "And not from then/formerly." The word מֵאָז (me'az) means "from that time, from long ago, heretofore." This phrase reinforces the newness and refutes any suggestion that these events are old, predictable, or a simple continuation of past patterns.
• "and before this day" (וְלִפְנֵי־יֽוֹם, wə·lip̄·nê-yōm): "And before day." This denotes that prior to the exact moment of God's declaration, these specific plans were unknown. It highlights God's intentional concealment and the element of divine surprise.
• "you have not heard them" (לֹא שְׁמַעְתָּם, lō shə·ma'·tām): "Not you heard them." This affirms Israel's total ignorance regarding these specific future events. It asserts that no human source, nor any pagan god, could have possibly foretold or comprehended these particular plans before God's revelation.
• "lest you should say" (פֶּן־תֹּאמַר, pen tō·mar): "Lest you say." This purpose clause reveals God's direct intention behind His timing and method of revelation: to proactively prevent a specific arrogant response from His people.
• "'Behold, I knew them.'" (הִנֵּה יְדַעְתִּֽין, hin·nê yə·ḏa'·tîn): "Behold, I knew them." This represents a boastful claim of prior knowledge, self-generated wisdom, or attribution to an alternative source. God's strategic timing directly thwarts any attempt by Israel to claim credit for foresight or understanding, solidifying His unique position as the omniscient Lord.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "They are created now, and not long ago": This striking assertion emphasizes the unprecedented and sudden nature of God's coming acts. The divine verb "created" (usually for initial cosmic creation) is applied to historical events, signifying they are utterly fresh, divinely initiated, and originate purely from God's will rather than emerging from existing circumstances or ancient knowledge. This serves as a direct polemic against both human arrogance and the predictable or ineffective prophecies of pagan deities.
• "and before this day you have not heard them": This segment underscores the intentional withholding of information by God and the utter lack of human foresight. God deliberately keeps His plans secret until the opportune moment for revelation, thereby establishing the element of surprise. This aspect ensures that Israel (and others) could not have anticipated these "new things" through human wisdom, tradition, or the supposed guidance of false gods. It highlights their absolute dependence on God for any insight into the future.
• "lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.'": This crucial concluding phrase reveals the ultimate purpose of God's strategic revelation. By making sure His people have no prior knowledge of these unexpected, "created" events, God directly aims to dismantle human pride and self-sufficiency. It prevents Israel from claiming the credit, attributing the outcome to their own cleverness, religious piety, or any power other than the singular, sovereign God. This design guarantees that when the events unfold, all glory and recognition for His unique predictive power and historical intervention will rightfully go to Yahweh alone.

Isaiah 48 7 Bonus section

The "new things" described in Isaiah 48:7 often carry layers of meaning in prophetic literature. While immediately pointing to the return from Babylonian exile as a new, fresh act of salvation for Israel, many Christian theologians understand this passage to have an ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant and the work of Christ. The incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, and the establishment of the Church were profoundly "new things," hidden from "before this day" (Eph 3:9-11), yet orchestrated entirely by God to prevent human boasting (1 Cor 1:28-29). This theological extension underscores the principle that God continually "creates" new realities in salvation history, perpetually challenging human expectations and affirming His unique ability to bring forth that which is entirely fresh and surprising for His ultimate glory. The use of "created" (bara') also resonates with the theme of creatio ex nihilo (creation from nothing), elevating God's intervention to the level of ultimate origination.

Isaiah 48 7 Commentary

Isaiah 48:7 profoundly highlights God's exclusive sovereignty and the uniqueness of His predictive power and intervention in history. By declaring "new things" that "are created now, and not long ago," God positions Himself as the active, fresh initiator of history, not bound by previous patterns or human expectations. The phrase "before this day you have not heard them" signifies divine control over knowledge, ensuring these events are unknown until He chooses to reveal them. The culminating "lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them'" powerfully underscores God's intent to humble human pride and preclude any boastful claim of foresight, whether by human wisdom or the presumed efficacy of idols. The specific "new things" primarily concern Israel's miraculous deliverance from Babylon, a new "Exodus" demonstrating God's consistent ability to perform unprecedented acts. This divine strategy ultimately magnifies God alone as the Omniscient Lord who governs time and orchestrates destiny in ways beyond human prediction or influence, ensuring that all glory redounds to His name.

• Practical Usage Example: When you face a situation that seems impossible and suddenly a divine intervention or a new, unforeseen solution appears, this verse encourages attributing that outcome entirely to God. It stops us from thinking, "I saw this coming," or "I handled it," and instead promotes a posture of humble gratitude and praise for God's unexpected grace and foresight.