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

This verse states that what Israel experienced in the past, their past actions and the subsequent events, were not a secret to God from the beginning. He had a predetermined plan, and these events unfolded according to His foreknowledge and design, not because they were foretold by idols or fortune tellers. It signifies God's sovereignty and His exclusive claim to true prophecy.

Isaiah 48 7 Context

This verse is found within Isaiah chapter 48, which continues God's message of rebuke and hope to the people of Israel. The preceding verses have been recounting Israel's history of rebellion and stubbornness, highlighting their faithlessness and their turning to idols for guidance. God emphasizes His role as the one true God, the Creator and Redeemer, who has meticulously planned history. This chapter is a prelude to a significant message of restoration and future glory, contrasting the limitations of the idols and the failures of Israel with the unfailing faithfulness and foreknowledge of Yahweh. Isaiah 48 serves as a pivotal point in Isaiah's prophecy, aiming to draw Israel back to a genuine relationship with God by demonstrating His absolute power and omniscience, particularly in contrast to the impotence of their pagan neighbors and their idolatrous practices.

Isaiah 48 7 Word Analysis

• "Now" (עַתָּה - attah): Indicates a present reality or a conclusion drawn from past events. It signifies that "at this present time" the understanding is presented.
• "they are created" (נִבְרְאוּ - niv'rū): The plural form of the verb "to create" (bara). This refers to the "former things" or events previously mentioned. It emphasizes that these events are not a random occurrence but have been brought into existence by God's power, mirroring His creative act. This echoes the concept that God is the ultimate cause and originator of all that happens.
• "and not from the beginning" (וְלֹא מֵרֹאשׁ - wəlō' mērosh): This phrase signifies that the events (the "they") were not "from the beginning" of time, or more precisely, they were not "before the beginning" in terms of God's originating plan. They came into being through His decree, but their creation or commencement wasn't pre-existent in the sense of something God merely observed from an infinite past without actively willing it. Rather, it implies that God initiated these things at specific times within His overarching plan, rather than them being an independent, prior reality that God acknowledged. It contrasts with things that are eternally true or inherent, suggesting these events were brought into existence by God's purposeful action within the unfolding of history.
• "nor of an earlier date than when you heard of them" (וְלֹא מִיָּמִים הֵם בְּשָׁמְעֲךָ בָּם - wəlō' miyamîm hēm bəšəm'akha bam): This is a crucial phrase for clarity. The literal meaning is closer to "nor from days when you heard them." The interpretation is that the knowledge or the coming into being of these events was not predating Israel's hearing of the prophetic announcements. It asserts that God declared these things before they happened (as seen in Isaiah 42:9), and it was through this hearing of God's word that Israel was to know they were from Him. This further discredits any claim by idols or false prophets to have revealed these things previously, thus undermining their credibility. The implication is that Israel's understanding or awareness of these events coincided with God's declaration, not that the events existed in some other way prior to God's revelation.
• "lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’" (לְמַעַן אָמְרָךְ הִנֵּה יְדַעְתִּים - lǝma'an omrekā hinnē yəda'tîm): This clarifies the purpose of God's specific revelation. God is preventing any possibility of Israel crediting their own foresight, or the claims of others, for the knowledge of these future events. It guards against intellectual pride or attributing God's prophetic work to human understanding or deceitful oracles. God wants them to acknowledge that their knowledge is a gift of His communication.
• "But it was not so; there was no report, nor did you hear them with your ears." (כִּי לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ אָז אֹז לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ וְגַם לֹא יָדְעָה אָז אָזְנֶךָ - ki lō' šāma'ta az oz lō' šāma'ta wəgam lō' yāḏa' oz 'oznəḵā): The repetition emphasizes the absolute negation of any prior human knowledge or external report. "No report" (oz lō' šāma'ta - lit. "not a sound then, not a sound") suggests no rumour, no utterance from any source. "Nor did you hear them with your ears" (gam lō' yāḏa' oz 'oznəḵā - lit. "also not knew then your ear") reiterates the complete lack of auditory reception before God's specific pronouncement. This entire clause serves to firmly establish that the knowledge of these future events was solely derived from God's direct communication and prophetic declaration, distinguishing it from common knowledge or pagan divination.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "Now they are created, and not from the beginning; nor of an earlier date than when you heard of them.": This group asserts that specific future events, though foreknown and planned by God, were not existing eternally from the absolute beginning of time in a way that bypassed God's active decree. Their "creation" into observable reality and into Israel's knowledge occurred through God's revelation, which preceded their actual historical manifestation and their being heard. It underscores God's active involvement in history, bringing His plans into being and making them known through prophecy.
• "lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ But it was not so; there was no report, nor did you hear them with your ears.": This second part directly combats any notion of human anticipation or external sources of knowledge regarding these future events. It emphatically states that the sole, exclusive source of reliable knowledge was God's prophetic word, received by faith. The repeated emphasis on "not hearing" serves to strip away any potential claim of independent verification or prior human intelligence, solidifying God's singular role as the revealer of future truths.

Isaiah 48 7 Bonus Section

The concept presented in Isaiah 48:7 resonates deeply with theological discussions on divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The "created" aspect emphasizes that even events with significant consequences for Israel were brought into existence by God, reinforcing His ultimate control. The denial of any prior "report" or "hearing" by Israel underscores the distinctiveness of true prophecy versus the claims of astrology, divination, or mere human speculation. God's foresight isn't about passively observing a predetermined timeline but actively decreeing and revealing it. This foresight, therefore, serves a didactic purpose: to reveal Himself, to inspire faith, and to ensure all glory is given to Him. This verse also lays a foundation for understanding how Christ, the Word, was also with God "in the beginning" (John 1:1), and how His future coming and work were likewise planned and revealed from eternity.

Isaiah 48 7 Commentary

Isaiah 48:7 highlights God's absolute sovereignty over history and prophecy. He created and controls all events. Unlike pagan gods and oracles that relied on vague predictions or fabricated accounts, Yahweh declares events beforehand, ensuring that His people can attribute their knowledge and salvation to Him alone. This verse aims to build faith by demonstrating God's omnipotence and foreknowledge. It challenges Israel to cease relying on other nations or deceptive spiritual practices and to place their complete trust in the God who truly knows the end from the beginning. This prophetic assurance is designed to correct their misunderstanding of their situation and redirect their loyalty.