Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 43

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

the LORD That created thee. This is another Jehovah title (compare App-4 .) = Jehovah Boraaka = Jehovah thy Creator.

Jacob . . . Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28 ; Genesis 43:6 ; Genesis 45:26 , Genesis 45:28 . See Isaiah 42:24 , above.

He That formed thee = thy Former.

Fear not. Compare Isaiah 43:5 .

redeemed. Hebrew. ga'al. See note on Exodus 6:6 .

Verse 2

When thou passest = shouldst thou pass: the habitual sense of ki with the Future. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 31:6 , Deuteronomy 31:8 ).

the waters . . . the rivers. . . the fire . . . the flame = waters . . . rivers . . . fire . . . flame. A general promise of future deliverance put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for troubles of any and all kinds. This promise refers to Israel's future, and not to the Saxon race, or the Church.

kindle upon thee = pass over thee.

Verse 3

I am the LORD thy God = I Jehovah am thy God (Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 ). Note the three titles. He was Israel's God by covenant (note the others in the next clause):

the Holy One of Israel , in contrast with all false gods. See note on Isaiah 1:4 , and Psalms 71:22 .

thy Saviour. This is the third title.

Egypt. Ethiopia and Seba = Egypt. Nubia (Cush), and Ethiopia. These were given to Persia as ransommoney (as it were) for the release of Israel by Persia through the successors of Cyrus. In the time of Isaiah these three were united under one dynasty.

ransom = atonement price. Hebrew. kopher. See note on Exodus 29:33 .

Verse 4

Since thou wast = Ever since thou becamest.

men = a man. Can this refer to Christ? Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

people = peoples.

Verses 5-6

east. . . west . . . north . . . south. This contemplates a wider and greater deliverance than that from Babylon, even from "the ends of the earth".

Verse 8

the blind People = a blind People: i.e. Israel (See Isaiah 6:10 ; Isaiah 42:19 , Isaiah 42:20 . Jeremiah 5:21 .Ezekiel 12:2 .Matthew 13:14 .Acts 28:26 , Acts 28:27 ).

Verse 9

them. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "you".

Verse 10

saith the LORD = is Jehovah's oracle.

My Servant: i.e. Israel. See note on Isaiah 37:35 .

chosen. See note on Isaiah 1:29 .

I am He: or, "I [am] He [Who is]".

Verse 12

no strange god. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:12 , Deuteronomy 32:16 ). See App-92 .

Verse 13

let it = avert it. See Amos 1:3 , Amos 1:6 , Amos 1:9 , Amos 1:11 , Amos 1:13 ; Amo 12:1 , Amo 12:4 , Amo 12:6 .

Verse 14

Redeemer = Kinsman- Redeemer. Hebrew. Go'el . See note on Exodus 6:6 .

Babylon. This is the first occurrence of the name in Isaiah.

their nobles = all of them in flight.

Whose cry is in the ships = the ships which resound with loud outcries (compare Lamentations 2:19 . Numbers 24:24 ).

Verse 16

maketh a way in the sea. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:16 , Exodus 14:21 , Exodus 14:22 .Psalms 77:19; Psalms 77:19 ).

Verse 17

together: or, at once.

tow = wick. Hebrew flax. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the wick made of it.

Verse 19

a new thing. The future deliverance of Israel will be with greater marvels than at the Exodus.

Verse 20

I give waters, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 17:6 ).

Verse 21

This People, &c. For Israel (as Birks puts it) "is the keystone of the whole arch of promise".

Verse 22

called upon Me. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 , for all that has to do with worship, as developed in verses: Isaiah 43:23 , Isaiah 43:24 .

been weary of Me. Note the emphasis is on "Me" in these verses (compare Micah 6:3 .Malachi 1:13; Malachi 1:13 ).

Verse 23

Thou hast not brought Me, &c. These verses are quite opposed to the alleged indifference of the prophets to the Divine ritual.

Verse 24

but. Note the solemn antithesis.

made Me to serve. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect, of the verb), for the judicial consequences of their sins.

Verse 25

transgressions = rebellions. Hebrew. pasha' .

for Mine own sake. He does not go out of Himself for the reason which flows from grace.

will not remember. He remembers our infirmities (which man forgets. Psalms 103:14 ), but will forget our sins (which man remembers).

remember. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.

Verse 26

declare = recount [thy works, or sins].

Verse 27

Thy first father: i.e. Jacob, as stated in the next verse (compare Deuteronomy 26:5 .Ezekiel 16:3 , Ezekiel 16:45 ).

Verse 28

princes = priests, whose great duty it was to "teach" the people the Law and Word of God (see notes on Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ).

Jacob . . . Israel. Including the whole Nation: the subject of this prophecy concerning Jehovah's "servant".