BOOK 23 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Isaiah 43

Isaiah book home•Chapter 43 of 66•28 verses

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Isaiah 43 Overview

The LORD tells redeemed Israel not to fear because He created, formed, and claims them; He promises gathering from the ends of the earth, declares Himself the only Savior, and announces a new exodus-like act despite Israel’s failure to honor Him.

IsaiahBook

43Chapter

28Verses

Major ProphetsDivision

Before you read Isaiah 43

Coming from

Isaiah introduces the LORD’s chosen Servant, gentle yet unwavering, who brings judgment to the Gentiles and becomes a covenant and light; the chapter then contrasts that mission with blind and deaf Israel under discipline.

In this chapter

Leads into

The LORD promises water and Spirit for Jacob’s offspring, mocks idol-makers who use the same wood for cooking and worship, calls Israel to remember and return, forgives sin, and names Cyrus as the shepherd who will rebuild Jerusalem.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter addresses a people facing exile and dispersal. God’s redemptive identity, not Israel’s merit, grounds the promise of return.

The interpretive center of Isaiah 43 is the chapter’s own movement: redemption rests on god’s ownership and presence. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Redemption rests on God’s ownership and presence

Israel is told 'thou art mine' and assured that waters and fire will not finally destroy God’s purpose.

The LORD alone is Savior

No rival god or power can deliver from His hand.

God can do a new thing that echoes former salvation without merely repeating it

A way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert recall exodus imagery while pointing forward.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 14–17

Sea crossing and wilderness water provide the background for Isaiah’s new-exodus imagery.

John 8:24,58

Jesus’ absolute 'I am' sayings invite comparison with Isaiah’s repeated divine self-declarations, though each text must be read in context.

Isaiah 44

The themes of chosen Israel, Spirit-given renewal, forgiveness, and unique deity continue immediately.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not read passing through waters and fire as a promise that believers never suffer.

The assurance concerns God’s preserving presence and covenant purpose, not exemption from every trial.

Do not ground Israel’s restoration in Israel’s performance.

The chapter explicitly recounts failure while presenting God as the One who blots out transgression for His own sake.

Read Isaiah 43 watching for…

created, formed, redeemed, and called language

gathering from every direction

the repeated claim that there is no other Savior

the new thing in the wilderness

God blotting out sins for His own sake

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Israel is told not to fear because the LORD created, redeemed, and will gather them 8-13Israel is God’s witness that there is no saviour besides the LORD 14-21The Redeemer promises a new way through the wilderness 22-28Israel has wearied God with sin, yet he blots out transgressions for his own sake

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

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.

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

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Isaiah 43:12

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