Isaiah 43:1
וְעַתָּ֞ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ בֹּרַאֲךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אַל־תִּירָא֙ כִּ֣י גְאַלְתִּ֔יךָ קָרָ֥אתִי בְשִׁמְךָ֖ לִי־אָֽתָּה׃
And now, thus says YHWH, your Creator oh Jacob and your former oh Israel; do not fear for I have redeemed you; I called you by your name; to Me you are.
Paraphrase: Now perhaps you tremble to hear the announcement of My judgments. (Isaiah 42:23-25) In the histories of our nation, you can read with fear about the severity of My wrath against covenant breakers. Now listen carefully, My people; it is so important that you understand this correctly. I do not want you to live in fear, and this is why. I am the One who created you; I am the One who called you out of Egypt and formed you into a nation; I am the One who paid the price to have you set free from bondage (Isaiah 42:3); I am the One who named you and made you My child. Now as a result of all this, you belong to Me. You are my treasured possession (Exodus 19:5; Isaiah 62:4); and if you belong to Me, you can be sure that I will not abandon you. My judgments are not meant to destroy you but to sanctify you.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:2
כִּֽי־תַעֲבֹ֤ר בַּמַּ֙יִם֙ אִתְּךָ־אָ֔נִי וּבַנְּהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָ כִּֽי־תֵלֵ֤ךְ בְּמוֹ־אֵשׁ֙ לֹ֣א תִכָּוֶ֔ה וְלֶהָבָ֖ה לֹ֥א תִבְעַר־בָּֽךְ׃
When you pass into the waters, I am with you; and into the rivers, they will not engulf you; when you go into fire, it will not burn and to the point, she will not consume you.
Paraphrase: Yes, you will pass through bitter waters. Times of great distress will come on you; but in the midst of these trials, look up and see where I am. Don’t be blind and deaf to what I am doing. (Isaiah 42:18-19) Right there in the midst of that terrible flood, I am holding you by your right hand. (Psalm 73:23) The bitter waters will come down on you, but look and take note; they will not drown or destroy you. How could they do that to you when I am standing right there by your side? Yes, the terrible flames of my judgments (Isaiah 42:25) will leap up and take hold of you, but they will not reduce you to ashes.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:3
כִּ֗י אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִׁיעֶ֑ךָ נָתַ֤תִּי כָפְרְךָ֙ מִצְרַ֔יִם כּ֥וּשׁ וּסְבָ֖א תַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃
For I am YHWH, your God, the Holy One of Israel, the One causing you to be delivered. I gave your ransom Egypt; Cush and Seba your substitute.
Paraphrase: Here’s why my judgments will not destroy you. I am YHWH (Exodus 3:15), the Great King who is far above heaven and earth (Isaiah 40:21-25), and I am in covenant with Israel, My people. As a result of this, I am your Savior and these judgments are for your salvation, not your destruction. That’s why I am standing right next to you in the flood of waters. I am standing with you in the fiery trial. Don’t you remember the stories your fathers told you of My mighty acts of deliverance? Do you remember how I crushed the might of Pharaoh and all his armies so that My people could come out of bondage and dwell in the land which I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Have you not read what I did to the other nations which rose up to destroy My people? I poured out on them My anger and brought My people out in safety.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:4
מֵאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָקַ֧רְתָּ בְעֵינַ֛י נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ וַאֲנִ֣י אֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ וְאֶתֵּ֤ן אָדָם֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים תַּ֥חַת נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
Because you were prized in My eyes; you were heavy, and I loved you and gave man in your place and peoples in place of your life.
Paraphrase: Why did I do all this for you? Why did I give the nations up to destruction so that I could make you My people? It was for this reason. It was because I chose you to be My people, and I placed my special love and favor on you. (Ezekiel 16:8-13) You were so very valuable to me; I could not let you go. (Ezekiel 16:60-62) That’s why I gave up the other nations so that I could have you as my treasured possession.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:5
אַל־תִּירָ֖א כִּ֣י אִתְּךָ־אָ֑נִי מִמִּזְרָח֙ אָבִ֣יא זַרְעֶ֔ךָ וּמִֽמַּעֲרָ֖ב אֲקבְּצֶֽךָּ׃
Do not fear for I am with you. From the east, I will cause your seed to come; and from the west, I will gather you.
Paraphrase: Do not be in fear and terror of the great trials which are coming upon you. See how close I am to you. Take comfort from My presence which never leaves you. Even when you are exiled to the farthest corners of the earth, I am still holding you by your right hand. Yes, in those far off lands, I give you this promise. You and your children and your children’s children, I will bring back to the promised land. I will gather them all up and give them a place and a name in the fatherland. (Ezekiel 11:17; Hebrews 11:14)
Comments:
Isaiah 43:6
אֹמַ֤ר לַצָּפוֹן֙ תֵּ֔נִי וּלְתֵימָ֖ן אַל־תִּכְלָ֑אִי הָבִ֤יאִי בָנַי֙ מֵרָח֔וֹק וּבְנוֹתַ֖י מִקְצֵ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃
Saying, to the north, “Give!” and to the south, “Don’t hold back! Cause My sons to come from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth.”
Paraphrase: I will shout to the north country, “Hand them over!” Then I will turn to the south country and give the same order, “Don’t even think about delaying! Send My people back and don’t overlook any of them. Send them all back including the elderly, the children and the infants.” In this way, all my people will return; all My sons and daughters, the young and the old, the strong and the weak; they will come from the east and the west, from the north and from the south. Not one will be missing.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:7
כֹּ֚ל הַנִּקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֔י וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י בְּרָאתִ֑יו יְצַרְתִּ֖יו אַף־עֲשִׂיתִֽיו׃
All who are being called by My Name and for My Glory, I created him; I formed him; truly I made him.
Paraphrase: Everyone who is called by My Name and who belongs to Me; all those I created to bring glory to My Name; all of these will return to Me and to the land I promised on oath to Abraham. I created the nation of Israel; I made him into what he is today; I am the One who gave Israel her glory; and therefore, you can be certain that not one of My sons or daughters will be missing on that day.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:8
הוֹצִ֥יא עַם־עִוֵּ֖ר וְעֵינַ֣יִם יֵ֑שׁ וְחֵרְשִׁ֖ים וְאָזְנַ֥יִם לָֽמוֹ׃
Cause to go forth the people of blindness, but eyes they have; and the deaf but ears are to him.
Paraphrase: Yes, I will bring back My people even though they are blind and don’t follow My commands. They have two good eyes but are still as blind as can be. They are also deaf, in spite of the fact that they have two good ears. My people are so slow to understand.
Comments:
Isaiah 43:9
כָּֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֞ם נִקְבְּצ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֗ו וְיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִ֤י בָהֶם֙ יַגִּ֣יד זֹ֔את וְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת יַשְׁמִיעֻ֑נוּ יִתְּנ֤וּ עֵֽדֵיהֶם֙ וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְיֹאמְר֥וּ אֱמֶֽת׃
Isaiah 43:10
אַתֶּ֤ם עֵדַי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְעַבְדִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחָ֑רְתִּי Lְמַ֣עַן תֵּ֠דְעוּ וְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּ לִ֤י וְתָבִtxtוּ֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא לְפָנַי֙ לֹא־נ֣וֹצַר אֵ֔ל וְאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה׃ס
Isaiah 43:11
אָנֹכִ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין מִבַּלְעָדַ֖י מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
Isaiah 43:12
אָנֹכִ֞י הִגַּ֤דְתִּי וְהוֹשַׁ֙עְתִּי֙ וְהִשְׁמַ֔עְתִּי וְאֵ֥ין בָּכֶ֖ם זָ֑ר וְאַתֶּ֥ם עֵדַ֛י נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽאֲנִי־אֵֽל׃
Isaiah 43:13
גַּם־מִיּוֹם֙ אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא וְאֵ֥ין מִיָּדִ֖י מַצִּ֑יל אֶפְעַ֖ל וּמִ֥י יְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃ס
Isaiah 43:14
כֹּֽה־אָמַ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה גֹּאַלְכֶ֖ם קְד֣וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְמַעַנְכֶ֞ם שִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי בָבֶ֗לָה וְהוֹרַדְתִּ֤י בָֽרִיחִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם וְכַשְׂדִּ֖ים בָּאֳנִיּ֥וֹת רִנָּתָֽם׃
Isaiah 43:15
אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה קְדֽוֹשְׁכֶ֑ם בּוֹרֵ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מַלְכְּכֶֽם׃ס
Isaiah 43:16
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן בַּיָּ֖ם דָּ֑רֶךְ וּבְמַ֥יִם עַזִּ֖ים נְתִיבָֽה׃
Isaiah 43:17
הַמּוֹצִ֥יא רֶֽכֶב־וָס֖וּס חַ֣יִל וְעִזּ֑וּז יַחְדָּ֤ו יִשְכְּבוּ֙ בַּל־יָק֔וּמוּ דָּעֲכ֖וּ כַּפִּשְׁתָּ֥ה כָבֽוּ׃
Isaiah 43:18
אַֽל־תִּזְכְּר֖וּ רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת אַל־תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃
Isaiah 43:19
הִנְנִ֨י עֹשֶׂ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ עַתָּ֣ה תִצְמָ֔ח הֲל֖וֹא תֵֽדָע֑וּהָ אַ֣ף אָשִׂ֤ים בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ דֶּ֔רֶךְ בִּֽישִׁמ֖וֹן נְהָרֽוֹת׃
Isaiah 43:20
תְּכַבְּדֵ֙נִי֙ חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה תַּנִּ֖ים וּבְנ֣וֹת יַֽעֲנָ֑ה כִּֽי־נָתַ֨תִּי בַמִּדְבָּר_ מַ֗יִם נְהָרוֹת֙ בִּֽישִׁימֹ֔ן לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת עַמִּ֥י בְחִירִֽי׃
Isaiah 43:21
עַם־זוּ֙ יָצַ֣רְתִּי לִ֔י תְּהִלָּתִ֖י יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃ס
Isaiah 43:22
וְלֹא־אֹתִ֥י קָרָ֖אתָ יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כִּֽי־יָגַ֥עְתָּ בִּ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Isaiah 43:23
לֹֽא־הֵבֵ֤יאתָ לִּי֙ שֵׂ֣ה עֹלֹתֶ֔יךָ וּזְבָחֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א כִבַּדְתָּ֑נִי לֹ֤א הֶעֱבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙ בְּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הוֹגַעְתִּ֖יךָ בִּלְבוֹנָֽה׃
Isaiah 43:24
לֹא־קָנִ֨יתָ לִּ֤י בַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ קָנֶ֔ה וְחֵ֥לֶב זְבָחֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א הִרְוִיתָ֑נִי אַ֗ךְ הֶעֱבַדְתַּ֙נִי֙ בְּחַטֹּאותֶ֔יךָ הוֹגַעְתַּ֖נִי בַּעֲוֺנֹתֶֽיךָ׃ס
Isaiah 43:25
אָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא מֹחֶ֥ה פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ לְמַעֲנִ֑י וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶזְכֹּֽר׃
Isaiah 43:26
הַזְכִּירֵ֕נִי נִשָּׁפְטָ֖ה יָ֑חַד סַפֵּ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה לְמַ֥עַן תִּצְדָּֽק׃
Isaiah 43:27
אָבִ֥יךָ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן חָטָ֑א וּמְלִיצֶ֖יךָ פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃
Isaiah 43:28
וַאֲחַלֵּ֖ל שָׂ֣רֵי קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לַחֵ֙רֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְגִדּוּפִֽים׃ס