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Identify the explicit claims before importing later doctrine or assumptions.
ISAIAH • CHAPTER 43
Isaiah 43
Judgment, holiness, Jerusalem, Assyria, exile, restoration, the servant songs, hope, nations, and new creation.
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Isaiah 43
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1
But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob,
and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name.
You are mine.
and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name.
You are mine.
2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
and flame will not scorch you.
and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
and flame will not scorch you.
3
For I am Yahweh your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
the Holy One of Israel,
your Savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4
Since you have been precious and honored in my sight,
and I have loved you,
therefore I will give people in your place,
and nations instead of your life.
and I have loved you,
therefore I will give people in your place,
and nations instead of your life.
5
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and gather you from the west.
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6
I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’
and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7
everyone who is called by my name,
and whom I have created for my glory,
whom I have formed,
yes, whom I have made.’ ”
and whom I have created for my glory,
whom I have formed,
yes, whom I have made.’ ”
8
Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
and the deaf who have ears.
and the deaf who have ears.
9
Let all the nations be gathered together,
and let the peoples be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us former things?
Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified,
or let them hear, and say, “That is true.”
and let the peoples be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and show us former things?
Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified,
or let them hear, and say, “That is true.”
10
“You are my witnesses,” says Yahweh,
“With my servant whom I have chosen;
that you may know and believe me,
and understand that I am he.
Before me there was no God formed,
neither will there be after me.
“With my servant whom I have chosen;
that you may know and believe me,
and understand that I am he.
Before me there was no God formed,
neither will there be after me.
11
I myself am Yahweh.
Besides me, there is no savior.
Besides me, there is no savior.
12
I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown,
and there was no strange god among you.
Therefore you are my witnesses”,
says Yahweh, “and I am God.
and there was no strange god among you.
Therefore you are my witnesses”,
says Yahweh, “and I am God.
13
Yes, since the day was, I am he.
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work, and who can hinder it?”
There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work, and who can hinder it?”
14
Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
15
I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”
16
Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea,
and a path in the mighty waters,
and a path in the mighty waters,
17
who brings out the chariot and horse,
the army and the mighty man
(they lie down together, they shall not rise;
they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
the army and the mighty man
(they lie down together, they shall not rise;
they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
18
“Don’t remember the former things,
and don’t consider the things of old.
and don’t consider the things of old.
19
Behold, I will do a new thing.
It springs out now.
Don’t you know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
It springs out now.
Don’t you know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert.
20
The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honor me,
because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21
the people which I formed for myself,
that they might declare my praise.
that they might declare my praise.
22
Yet you have not called on me, Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, Israel.
but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23
You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings,
neither have you honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with frankincense.
neither have you honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
nor wearied you with frankincense.
24
You have bought me no sweet cane with money,
nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices,
but you have burdened me with your sins.
You have wearied me with your iniquities.
nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices,
but you have burdened me with your sins.
You have wearied me with your iniquities.
25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;
and I will not remember your sins.
and I will not remember your sins.
26
Put me in remembrance.
Let us plead together.
Declare your case,
that you may be justified.
Let us plead together.
Declare your case,
that you may be justified.
27
Your first father sinned,
and your teachers have transgressed against me.
and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary;
and I will make Jacob a curse,
and Israel an insult.”
and I will make Jacob a curse,
and Israel an insult.”
PROPHETIC
Where this chapter fits
Isaiah uses prophetic or apocalyptic language shaped by political crisis, judgment, hope, symbolic imagery, and expectations about God's action in history.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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