New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Isaiah 43
1
Family of Jacob, the Lord created you. People of Israel, he formed you. He says, "Do not be afraid. I will set you free. I will send for you by name. You belong to me.
Reference
Creation
Isaiah 43:7
Psalm 100:3
Ephesians 2:10
Isaiah 44:2
Parallel theme
Isaiah 43:21
Redemption
Titus 2:14
Revelation 5:9
Isaiah 41:14
References Lord
Zechariah 13:9
Isaiah 42:6
2
You will pass through deep waters. But I will be with you. You will pass through the rivers. But their waters will not sweep over you. You will walk through fire. But you will not be burned. The flames will not harm you.
Reference
3
I am the Lord your God. I am the Holy One of Israel. I am the one who saves you. I will give up Egypt to set you free. I will give up Cush and Seba for you.
Reference
Holy
Isaiah 30:11
Parallel theme
Proverbs 11:8
Redemption
Proverbs 21:18
References God
Exodus 20:2
Salvation
Isaiah 45:15
Isaiah 60:16
Isaiah 49:26
Isaiah 45:21
Jude 1:25
Hosea 13:4
4
You are priceless to me. I love you and honor you. So I will trade other people for you. I will give up other nations to save your lives.
Reference
Love
Revelation 3:9
John 17:23
John 16:27
Hosea 11:1
Jeremiah 31:3
Parallel theme
1 Peter 2:9
Psalm 135:4
1 Peter 1:7
Deuteronomy 26:18
Sin
Genesis 12:2
5
Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will bring your people back from the east. I will gather you from the west.
Reference
6
I will say to the north, 'Let them go!' And I will say to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from far away. Bring my daughters from the farthest places on earth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 3:14
7
Bring back everyone who belongs to me. I created them to bring glory to me. I formed them and made them."
Reference
Creation
Ephesians 2:10
Isaiah 43:1
Psalm 100:3
Glory
Ephesians 1:12
Romans 9:23
John 15:8
Isaiah 48:11
Parallel theme
Isaiah 43:21
1 Peter 2:9
Isaiah 56:5
8
Lead my people into court. They have eyes but can't see. Bring those who have ears but can't hear.
Reference
9
All of the nations are gathering together. All of them are coming. Which one of their gods said ahead of time that the people of Israel would return? Which of them told us anything at all about the past? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right. Then others will hear them. And they will say, "What they said is true."
Reference
10
"People of Israel, you are my witnesses," announces the Lord. "I have chosen you to be my servants. I wanted you to know me and believe in me. I wanted you to understand that I am the one and only God. Before me, there was no other god at all. And there will not be any god after me.
Reference
Faith
John 20:31
Parallel theme
Isaiah 42:1
Philippians 2:7
Isaiah 41:8
References Lord
Isaiah 41:4
Isaiah 45:6
Isaiah 41:20
Witness
Isaiah 43:12
Acts 1:8
Revelation 1:2
11
I am the one and only Lord. I am the only one who can save you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 44:8
References Lord
Isaiah 44:6
Deuteronomy 6:4
Salvation
Hosea 13:4
Isaiah 43:3
Isaiah 12:2
Acts 4:12
Jude 1:25
2 Peter 3:18
Luke 2:11
12
I have made known what would happen. I told you about it. And I saved you. I did it. It was not some other god you worship. You are my witnesses that I am God," announces the Lord.
Reference
13
"And that is not all! I have always been God, and I always will be. No one can save people from my powerful hand. When I do something, who can undo it?"
Reference
14
The Lord sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel. He says, "People of Israel, I will send an army to Babylon to save you. I will cause all of the Babylonians to run away. They will try to escape in the ships they were so proud of.
Reference
15
I am your Lord and King. I am your Holy One. I created you."
Reference
References Lord
Isaiah 43:1
16
Long ago the Lord opened a way for his people to go through the Red Sea. He made a path through the mighty waters.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 51:10
Psalm 77:19
Isaiah 43:2
Revelation 16:12
Psalm 78:13
Psalm 106:9
Nehemiah 9:11
Exodus 14:16
References Lord
Jeremiah 31:35
Isaiah 51:15
17
He caused Egypt to send out its chariots and horses. He sent its entire army to its death. Its soldiers lay down there. They never got up again. They were destroyed. They were blown out like a dimly burning flame. But the Lord says,
Reference
19
I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen even now. Don't you see it coming? I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert. I will make streams of water in the dry and empty land.
Reference
20
Even wild dogs and owls honor me. That is because I provide water in the desert for my people to drink. I cause streams to flow in the dry and empty land for my chosen ones.
Reference
21
I do it for the people I made for myself. I want them to sing praise to me.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:31
Isaiah 60:21
Colossians 1:16
Isaiah 50:7
Ephesians 3:21
Psalm 4:3
Resurrection
1 Peter 2:9
Hebrews 13:15
Psalm 102:18
Isaiah 61:3
22
"Family of Jacob, you have not prayed to me as you should. People of Israel, you have not even begun to get tired while doing it.
Reference
23
You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with your sacrifices. I have not loaded you down by requiring grain offerings. I have not made you tired by requiring you to burn incense.
Reference
Sacrifice
Amos 5:25
24
But you have not bought any sweet-smelling cane for me. You have not given me the fattest parts of your animal sacrifices. Instead, you have loaded me down with your sins. You have made me tired with the wrong things you have done.
Reference
25
"I am the one who wipes out your lawless acts. I do it because of who I am. I will not remember your sins anymore.
Reference
26
But let us go to court together. Remind me of what you have done. State your case. Prove to me that you are not guilty.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 1:18
Psalm 141:2
Isaiah 41:1
Job 16:21
Genesis 32:12
Romans 11:35
Righteousness
Isaiah 43:9
Romans 8:33
Romans 10:3
Isaiah 50:8
28
So I will put the high officials of your temple to shame. I will let Jacob's family be totally destroyed. And I will let people make fun of Israel.
Reference
Curse
Jeremiah 24:9
Isaiah 65:15
Zechariah 8:13
Parallel theme
Isaiah 47:6
Psalm 79:4
1 Thessalonians 2:16
Lamentations 2:2
Summary of Isaiah 43
Isaiah 43 is a powerful chapter of comfort, redemption, forgiveness, and restoration in which God reassures Israel that exile has not destroyed their relationship with Him.
God reminds His people that He created, redeemed, called, and knows them by name, and therefore they should not live in fear even when they pass through overwhelming difficulties.
The images of water, rivers, and fire communicate that God's presence remains with His people even through the most dangerous circumstances.
God then promises to gather Israel from every direction, bringing scattered sons and daughters back from distant lands.
This message would have been especially meaningful during the 6th century BC, when many Judeans were living in exile following the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
The chapter also presents Israel as God's witness.
The surrounding nations may trust in their idols, but those idols cannot explain history, predict the future, or save their worshipers.
God alone is the Creator and Savior, and Israel's experience is intended to demonstrate this truth to the nations.
A major turning point comes when God announces that He will defeat Babylon and do something new.
The historical fulfillment of Babylon's fall came in 539 BC, when Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and the political circumstances changed dramatically for the Jewish exiles.
God tells His people not to remain trapped in the past because He is preparing a new way through the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Yet the chapter also honestly addresses Israel's failures.
The people have not faithfully called upon God, their worship has become inadequate, and their sins have burdened their relationship with Him.
Nevertheless, God declares that He Himself will blot out their transgressions and remember their sins no more.
The chapter therefore holds judgment and grace together: Israel's suffering is connected to its rebellion, but its future depends upon God's mercy and faithfulness.
The central message is that God does not abandon His people even when they experience the consequences of their failures; He knows them personally, protects them through overwhelming circumstances, gathers the scattered, defeats the powers that hold them captive, forgives their sins, and creates a new future, demonstrating that His power to redeem is greater than Israel's past failures or the apparent strength of the surrounding nations.
God reminds His people that He created, redeemed, called, and knows them by name, and therefore they should not live in fear even when they pass through overwhelming difficulties.
The images of water, rivers, and fire communicate that God's presence remains with His people even through the most dangerous circumstances.
God then promises to gather Israel from every direction, bringing scattered sons and daughters back from distant lands.
This message would have been especially meaningful during the 6th century BC, when many Judeans were living in exile following the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.
The chapter also presents Israel as God's witness.
The surrounding nations may trust in their idols, but those idols cannot explain history, predict the future, or save their worshipers.
God alone is the Creator and Savior, and Israel's experience is intended to demonstrate this truth to the nations.
A major turning point comes when God announces that He will defeat Babylon and do something new.
The historical fulfillment of Babylon's fall came in 539 BC, when Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and the political circumstances changed dramatically for the Jewish exiles.
God tells His people not to remain trapped in the past because He is preparing a new way through the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Yet the chapter also honestly addresses Israel's failures.
The people have not faithfully called upon God, their worship has become inadequate, and their sins have burdened their relationship with Him.
Nevertheless, God declares that He Himself will blot out their transgressions and remember their sins no more.
The chapter therefore holds judgment and grace together: Israel's suffering is connected to its rebellion, but its future depends upon God's mercy and faithfulness.
The central message is that God does not abandon His people even when they experience the consequences of their failures; He knows them personally, protects them through overwhelming circumstances, gathers the scattered, defeats the powers that hold them captive, forgives their sins, and creates a new future, demonstrating that His power to redeem is greater than Israel's past failures or the apparent strength of the surrounding nations.