What does Isaias Chapter 43 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The passage retains its particular declarations, images and conditions. Edition interpretations remain identified separately from the chapter’s speech. Historical additions and universal practical guarantees are not treated as source facts.

Chapter breakdown

Isaias 43 addresses Jacob and Israel as created, formed, redeemed and called by name. Fear is answered with promised presence in waters and fire. The Holy One says Egypt has been given for atonement, Ethiopia and Saba for Israel, and men and people for its life. Honored and loved Israel receives a promise of gathering from east, west, north and south, including sons and daughters created for glory. These assurances are attributed to the divine speaker, not offered as a practical guarantee against burning or drowning.

Blind people with eyes and deaf people with ears are brought forth. Assembled nations are challenged to declare former things and bring witnesses. The Lord calls his chosen servant witnesses to his unique existence and salvation, with none able to reverse his work. For Israel's sake he says he sent to Babylon and brought down its bars and the Chaldeans glorying in ships. Conquerors, prison architecture and lamenting ship passengers are not specified.

A sea way and extinguished chariot, horse, army and strong ones precede the command not to remember former things. New things include wilderness way and desert rivers, praised by beasts, dragons and ostriches because the chosen people receive water. Jacob has not called or labored about the Lord; ram, victims, sweet cane and fat were not offered. The Lord says he has not imposed oblations or wearied them with incense, but their sins burden him. He blots iniquities for his own sake and invites a plea. The first father's sin and teachers' transgression accompany profaned princes, slaughter and reproach. The edition's church interpretation remains separately identified.

The story inside

Opening: The passage retains its particular declarations, images and conditions. Development: Edition interpretations remain identified separately from the chapter’s speech. Conclusion: Historical additions and universal practical guarantees are not treated as source facts.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The passage retains its particular declarations, images and conditions.
2
Edition interpretations remain identified separately from the chapter’s speech.
3
Historical additions and universal practical guarantees are not treated as source facts.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 82102–82111
43:1. And now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by thy name: thou art mine. 43:2. When thou shalt pass through the waters, I will be with thee, and the rivers shall not cover thee: when thou shalt walk in the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, and the flames shall not burn in thee: 43:3. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I have given Egypt for thy atonement, Ethiopia and Saba for thee.
Lines 82134–82139
43:10. You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know, and believe me, and understand that I myself am. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there shall be none. 43:11. I am, I am the Lord: and there is no saviour besides me.
Lines 82181–82186
43:24. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy victims. But thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities. 43:25. I am, I am he that blot out thy iniquities for my own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.