Isaiah 65 17

Isaiah 65:17 kjv

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isaiah 65:17 nkjv

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Isaiah 65:17 niv

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Isaiah 65:17 esv

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

Isaiah 65:17 nlt

"Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth,
and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

Isaiah 65 verses

Isaiah 65 17 meaning

Isaiah 65:17 announces a profound divine act of ultimate renewal and transformation. God declares His intention to create completely "new heavens and a new earth," signaling an absolute end to the current order marked by sin, suffering, and imperfection. This new creation will be so radically glorious that the previous experiences, whether of pain, sorrow, or past events, will lose their significance entirely, effectively "not be remembered or come into mind." It portrays a future state of perfect peace and unadulterated joy, established by God's sovereign power.

Isaiah 65 17 Context

Isaiah 65 belongs to the "Third Isaiah" section (chapters 56-66), written after the Babylonian exile. It addresses the diverse spiritual conditions of the returned exiles, contrasting the faithful who seek God (the "servants of the Lord") with the rebellious and idolatrous elements among the people. The preceding verses (65:1-16) describe God's patient yet ultimately firm judgment upon those who reject Him and engage in syncretic, pagan practices. God declares His wrath on these "children of darkness" and promises salvation and blessing to His true servants. Verse 17 thus marks a pivotal shift, moving from a scene of judgment and past unfaithfulness to a magnificent vision of future hope and radical transformation. It underscores God's commitment to His covenant people, assuring them of a future free from the effects of their past sins and suffering, establishing a perfect environment for righteousness.

Isaiah 65 17 Word analysis

• For behold (כִּי הִנְנִי, ki hin'ni): The Hebrew conjunction ki ("for, because") introduces the reason for the hope offered, linking back to the judgment on the rebellious. Hin'ni ("behold me," or simply "behold") serves as an emphatic particle, drawing immediate attention to a momentous and solemn divine declaration. It signals the advent of something extraordinary and undeniable, underscoring divine authorship.
• I create (בּוֹרֵא, bore'): This is a strong verb unique to God in the Hebrew Bible when referring to the origination of new entities (bara'). It emphasizes divine, ex nihilo (from nothing) creation, implying absolute power and authority, not mere rearrangement or renovation. It signifies God's singular ability to bring into being that which did not previously exist or could not be achieved by human means.
• new heavens and a new earth (שָׁמַיִם חֲדָשִׁים וָאָרֶץ חֲדָשָׁה, shamayim chadashim v'aretz chadashah): This is a merism, encompassing the entirety of the cosmos—from the celestial realms to the earthly dwelling place. The adjective "new" (chadashim) suggests freshness, novelty, and superior quality, not just a repair. This indicates a complete qualitative and potentially substantial overhaul of creation, removing the effects of the Fall and re-establishing an original perfection, or an entirely new cosmic order. It signifies a future reality of unparalleled righteousness and glory.
• and the former things (וְהָרִאשֹׁנוֹת, v'hari'shonot): Refers to the "first" or "previous" things. This broad term encapsulates the entirety of the old order, including its past sorrows, sufferings, sins, historical failures, the ravages of death, and the very structure of the present fallen cosmos. It highlights a radical discontinuity between the two ages.
• shall not be remembered (לֹא תִזָּכַרְנָה, lo tizakhar'na): This negation implies more than a loss of memory; it means the former troubles will lose their power and relevance. The new reality will be so overwhelmingly glorious and satisfying that there will be no desire or need to dwell on past pain or imperfections. It denotes a cessation of suffering and sorrow, rendering the memory of them irrelevant.
• or come into mind (וְלֹא תַעֲלֶה עַל לֵב, v'lo ta'aleh al lev): This phrase emphasizes the complete eradication of the old's influence. It means that the "former things" will not occupy mental space or conscious thought. The "heart" (lev) in Hebrew culture denotes the seat of intellect, emotion, and will. Thus, the old pains will not only be un-remembered but will also have no capacity to evoke sadness, anxiety, or longing in the innermost being.

Words-group Analysis:

• "For behold, I create": Highlights the direct, personal, and authoritative divine initiative behind this unprecedented act of cosmic renewal. God is not simply a spectator but the sovereign agent.
• "new heavens and a new earth": This central promise establishes a cosmic, all-encompassing renewal. It's a statement of ultimate hope for the universe itself, indicating a re-creation where the brokenness of the Fall is undone on every level.
• "and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind": This dual negative emphasizes the completeness of the break with the past. It's a guarantee against lingering regret, pain, or nostalgia for the old, imperfect world. The joy of the new creation will fully eclipse any past distress.

Isaiah 65 17 Bonus section

This verse's profound promise of a completely "new heavens and new earth" establishes a significant polemic against any belief system that denies a radical divine intervention to overcome present evil and suffering. It directly confronts a fatalistic view of history, affirming that God holds the ultimate control over creation's destiny. The phrase implies more than a return to the Garden of Eden; it signifies an advance beyond that, to a perfected, incorruptible state. The fulfillment of this promise encompasses both the spiritual renewal within individual believers (the "new creation" in Christ) and the cosmic renewal of the entire physical universe at Christ's return, demonstrating the holistic scope of God's redemptive work. This verse offers immense comfort and direction for the future, teaching believers to anticipate a reality defined by divine purity and joy, free from any taint of former sorrows.

Isaiah 65 17 Commentary

Isaiah 65:17 serves as a foundational prophecy for the eschatological hope within the Abrahamic faith. It's a bold declaration of God's power not merely to restore, but to entirely re-create, a concept later echoed by Peter and John. This new creation signifies a state of being perfected by divine action, free from the systemic decay introduced by sin. The profound truth here is not merely an environmental change, but an ontological shift in existence itself, where suffering and sorrow are completely absent from consciousness. This verse points to a future where God's ultimate plan for righteousness and peace is fully realized, a fulfillment deeply rooted in the Christian understanding of redemption in Christ and the New Heaven and New Earth where God dwells among His people.