The big picture
Isaiah 43 opens in verse 1 with “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Thus saith the LORD , your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent…”, and closes in verse 28 with “Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 28Isaiah 43:1-7
1–7: Now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed…
Isaiah 43:1–7 opens with “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear…” and reaches “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 43 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy, with particular weight carried by created, Fear, formed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have…” Naming Fear and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 43:1-7
King James Version1But 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.
2When 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.
3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4Since 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.
5Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6I 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;
7Even 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.
Isaiah 43:8-14
8–14: Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have…
Isaiah 43:8–14 opens with “Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.” and reaches “Thus saith the LORD , your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 43 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy, with particular weight carried by LORD, witnesses, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.” Naming Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Isaiah 43:8-14
King James Version8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9Let 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.
10Ye 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.
11I, even I, am the LORD ; and beside me there is no saviour.
12I 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.
13Yea, 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?
14Thus 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.
Isaiah 43:15-21
15–21: I am the LORD , your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
Isaiah 43:15–21 opens with “I am the LORD , your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.” and reaches “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 43 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy, with particular weight carried by desert, LORD, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I am the LORD , your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Isaiah 43:15-21
King James Version15I am the LORD , your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
16Thus saith the LORD , which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17Which 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.
18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19Behold, 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.
20The 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.
21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Isaiah 43:22-28
22–28: Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O…
Isaiah 43:22–28 opens with “But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.” and reaches “Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 43 develops its own movement around LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy, with particular weight carried by Israel, Jacob, sacrifices.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.” Naming Israel and Jacob keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 43:22-28
King James Version22But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.
23Thou 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.
24Thou 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.
25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
26Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
27Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 43:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 43:13 forms a natural hinge: “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?”
The final note
Isaiah 43:28 leaves the reader with “Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Israel, people, formed, Holy, Jacob help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Judah's pledge differ from Reuben's earlier offer?
Judah accepts continuing personal responsibility rather than offering the lives of his sons.
What repeats an old family pressure?
Benjamin receives special treatment, recalling favoritism toward Joseph. Watch the brothers' response in chapter 44.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.