Isaiah 43:1-2
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. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse powerfully declares that God has not only "created" and "formed" Israel, but that He has "redeemed" and "called" them by name, establishing a deeply personal and intimate claim: "you are mine." This isn't just about national election; it's about God's tender, individualized affection, transforming His people into something uniquely His own through His powerful acts of salvation.
Following a chapter where God's judgment on Israel for their sins is described, this verse marks a dramatic shift. God directly addresses Jacob and Israel, emphasizing His role as their Creator and Former, to assure them that despite their current suffering (implied from the previous chapter's context), they have nothing to fear because He has redeemed and claimed them as His own. This promise of divine protection and personal claim directly precedes declarations of His power to bring them through even the most dangerous situations, like "waters" and "fire."
After a heavy dose of God's discipline, the tone shifts dramatically. What does this 'But now' signal for us today?
A Fresh Start
The chapter opens with "But now thus says the LORD." This isn't just a casual transition; it's a powerful pivot. The verses just before this one (Isaiah 42:18-25) describe Israel's stubbornness and God's judgment. They were blind and deaf to His word, and judgment was upon them.
But here, God interrupts that narrative of punishment with a promise of mercy and deliverance. This "But now" shows us that God's faithfulness and love are stronger than His judgment. Even when we face the consequences of our actions, God is always ready to offer a new beginning, an assurance of His presence and care. It's a reminder that discipline is not the end of the story; redemption is.
God reminds Israel of His power not just to create, but to redeem. What's the connection, and why does it matter?
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Unshakeable Identity
Isaiah powerfully declares that the LORD who created Jacob and formed Israel is the same one who redeems them. This isn't just a title; it's the foundation of His relationship with His people.
This dual role – Creator and Redeemer – emphasizes that God's commitment to His people is absolute. He is the one who brought them into being, and He is the one who will bring them through their trials and into future security. This should instill deep confidence, knowing our identity is rooted in God's powerful, covenant-keeping actions.
God doesn't just claim Israel; He calls them by name. What does this intimate act reveal about His love?
Personal and Peculiar Possession
Think about how significant it is when someone calls you by your name. It signifies recognition, familiarity, and a personal connection. God does this with Israel: "I have called you by name."
This phrase signifies:
For us, this means our God knows us intimately, values us uniquely, and holds us securely as His own. There’s immense comfort in belonging to a God who knows and loves us so personally.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature and His faithfulness to His promises.
bara · Hebrew Verb
To bring into existence out of nothing; used especially of God’s unique power to create the heavens, the earth, and His people.
Ya'aqov · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the patriarch Jacob and the nation descended from him, signifying God's covenantal relationship with His chosen people.
yatsar · Hebrew Verb
To fashion, mold, or shape; often used metaphorically for God’s deliberate act of forming a people or an individual for His purpose.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
The name given to Jacob by God, representing the corporate identity of the covenant people of God.
ga'al · Hebrew Verb
To buy back or liberate someone from slavery or captivity by the payment of a price, representing God’s deliverance of His people.
The promise of redemption and belonging in Isaiah 43:1 comes during the deep trauma of the Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem and the Temple lay in ruins. God's words here are a powerful counter-narrative to despair, reminding His people of their divine origin and His unwavering commitment to them, even amidst utter devastation.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, and its people are exiled. This marks a devastating loss and scattering for many Israelites.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquers Jerusalem and deports a portion of the population, including elites and skilled workers, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the center of Israelite worship. A further wave of exiles is taken to Babylon.
c. 550-539 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great unites various Median and Persian tribes, establishing a vast empire that will soon challenge Babylonian dominance.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, bringing an end to the Babylonian Empire and opening the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Jews.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of the return from exile.
This passage establishes God as the ultimate Creator, mirroring Isaiah's emphasis on God's creative power as the foundation of His relationship with Israel.
Exodus 6:6It directly speaks of God's redemption of Israel from Egypt, providing a historical example of the 'redeemed' aspect mentioned in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 31:3This verse expresses God's everlasting love and drawing of His people, echoing the intimacy of 'I have called you by name' and 'you are mine'.
John 10:3Jesus uses the imagery of a shepherd calling his sheep by name, highlighting the personal and intimate relationship God has with those He calls His own, as stated in Isaiah.
Romans 8:28This passage assures believers that God works all things for good for those He has called and predestined, reinforcing the idea that being 'mine' implies divine purpose and care.
barnesIsaiah 43:1: "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 name; thou art mine."
But now - This expression shows that this chapter is connected with the preceding. The sense is, "Though God has punished the nation, and showed them his displeasure Isaiah 42:24-25 , yet now he will have mercy, and will deliver them.' That created thee - The word 'thee' is used here evidently in a collective…
bensonIsaiah 43:1: "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 name; thou art mine."
Isaiah 43:1-2 . But now, thus saith the Lord — But, notwithstanding thy gross insensibility under former judgments, for which I might justly send far heavier calamities upon thee, yet I will deal mercifully with thee. That created thee, O Jacob, &c. — Who made thee his people, and that in a manner as miraculo…
The verse powerfully declares that God has not only "created" and "formed" Israel, but that He has "redeemed" and "called" them by name, establishing a deeply personal and intimate claim: "you are mine." This isn't just about national election; it's about God's tender, individualized affection, transforming His people into something uniquely His own through His powerful acts of salvation.
Following a chapter where God's judgment on Israel for their sins is described, this verse marks a dramatic shift. God directly addresses Jacob and Israel, emphasizing His role as their Creator and Former, to assure them that despite their current suffering (implied from the previous chapter's context), they have nothing to fear because He has redeemed and claimed them as His own. This promise of divine protection and personal claim directly precedes declarations of His power to bring them through even the most dangerous situations, like "waters" and "fire."
Following a chapter where God's judgment on Israel for their sins is described, this verse marks a dramatic shift. God directly addresses Jacob and Israel, emphasizing His role as their Creator and Former, to assure them that despite their current suffering (implied from the previous chapter's context), they have nothing to fear because He has redeemed and claimed them as His own. This promise of divine protection and personal claim directly precedes declarations of His power to bring them through even the most dangerous situations, like "waters" and "fire."
"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. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…" — The verse powerfully declares that God has not only "created" and "formed" Israel, but that He has "redeemed" and "called" them by name, establishing a deeply personal and intimate claim: "you are mi…
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