Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created(A) you, Jacob,
    he who formed(B) you, Israel:(C)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed(D) you;
    I have summoned you by name;(E) you are mine.(F)
When you pass through the waters,(G)
    I will be with you;(H)
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(I)
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.(J)
For I am the Lord your God,(K)
    the Holy One(L) of Israel, your Savior;(M)
I give Egypt(N) for your ransom,
    Cush[a](O) and Seba(P) in your stead.(Q)
Since you are precious and honored(R) in my sight,
    and because I love(S) you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid,(T) for I am with you;(U)
    I will bring your children(V) from the east
    and gather(W) you from the west.(X)
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south,(Y) ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters(Z) from the ends of the earth(AA)
everyone who is called by my name,(AB)
    whom I created(AC) for my glory,(AD)
    whom I formed and made.(AE)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region

The Future Redemption of Israel

43 But now this is what the Lord says,
    the one who created you, Jacob,
        the one who formed you, Israel:
“Do not be afraid, because I’ve redeemed you.
    I’ve called you by name;
        you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I’ll be with you;
    and through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
when you walk through fire you won’t be scorched,
    and the flame won’t set you ablaze.

“I[a] am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer.[b]
And[c] I’ve given Egypt as your ransom,[d]
    Cush and the people of Seba[e] in exchange for you.
Since you’re precious in my sight
    and honored,
and because I love you,
    I’m giving up people in your place,
    and nations in exchange for your life.”

The Regathering of Israel

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you;
    I’ll bring your children from the east,
        and gather you from the west.
I’ll say to the north,
    ‘Give them up’!
and to the south,
    ‘Don’t keep them back!’
Bring[f] my sons from far away
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
        whom[g] I formed and made.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsag MT LXX read For I
  2. Isaiah 43:3 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read Savior
  3. Isaiah 43:3 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks And
  4. Isaiah 43:3 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read as your ransom Egypt
  5. Isaiah 43:3 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsag MT read and Seba
  6. Isaiah 43:6 1QIsaa employs masculine pl.; MT employs feminine pl.
  7. Isaiah 43:7 So 1QIsaa MT; 1QIsab reads and whom