Isaiah 43

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).[4]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):

• 1QIsa^a: complete
• 1QIsa^b: extant: verses 2–14, 20‑21, 23-27
• 4QIsa^b (4Q56): extant: verses 12‑15
• 4QIsa^g (4Q61): extant: verses 1–4, 17-24

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).[5]

But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine."[8]

• "Have redeemed you": NCV: “saved you”; CEV: “rescued you”; NLT: “ransomed you"; NET Bible: "will protect you."[9] This is the act of a "kinsman redeemer" (in Hebrew: גֹּאֵל, goʾel) who is 'a protector of the extended family's interests'.[10]

I 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;[11]

• Cross reference: Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 60:3; Isaiah 66:12

"You are My witnesses," says the Lord,

"And 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,

Nor shall there be after Me.[12]

• "Nor shall there be after Me": Hebrew: "and after me, there will not be"; NASB "there will be none after Me."[13]

Which 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.[14]

• "Quenched": from the Hebrew root: k-b-h (כבה, kabah, "to be quenched or extinguished, to go out"[15]), is also used in Isaiah 1:31 and Isaiah 66:24 for: "the fire shall not be quenched"; Isaiah 34:10: 'the fire devouring Edom "will not be quenched"'; as well as of the servant in 42:3, that "a dimly burning wick ('smoking flax') he will not quench".[16]
• "Tow" or "wick" in NKJV

Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.[17]

• "The former things": refer to 'events that had been predicted and fulfilled in the past (41:22; 42:9; 43:9; 46:9; 48:3),' in particular the event of "the Exodus", in contrast to the predicted "new Exodus" that God will perform differently so it should be 'allowed to stand in its own right' (cf. Jeremiah 23:7–8).[18]

You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,

Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;

But you have burdened Me with your sins,

You have wearied Me with your iniquities.[19]

• "Sweet cane" (Hebrew: qâneh) is also mentioned in Jeremiah 6:20 as coming from a “far country”. Skinner, in the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, suggests that this refers to calamus odoratus (Plin. 12:12, 48) with scientific name Acorus calamus,[20] a product of India, but grown also in Arabia and Syria.[21] NIV renders it "calamus"; NCV, TEV, NLT "incense"; CEV "spices."[22]
• "Nor have you satisfied Me": Hebrew: "you did not saturate me"; NASB "Neither have you filled Me."[23]

Put Me in remembrance;

let us plead together;

state your cause, that you may be justified.[24]

• "State your cause, that you may be justified": translated from Hebrew, literally: "you tell in order that you may be right".[25]

• Isaiah 43 Original Hebrew with Parallel English

• Isaiah 43 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate
• What is the Real meaning of Isaiah 43:2?