Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse boldly proclaims God's eternal, unchangeable nature ("before the day was I am he"). It then directly connects this divine power to His ability to act, emphasizing that no force can thwart His will or undo His work.
Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger prophetic message of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites. Following powerful declarations of God's identity and power, this verse stands as an emphatic statement of His eternal sovereignty and unchallengeable might. It asserts that God's actions are self-determined and unstoppable, a foundational truth that underpins the promises of deliverance and renewal that continue throughout the chapter.
Discover how God's existence before time itself underscores His absolute sovereignty.
Isaiah 43:13 opens with a profound declaration: "Yea, before the day was I am he." This isn't just stating God's existence; it's placing Him outside the constraints of time. He wasn't created with the universe; He existed before it. This eternal nature means He is not subject to change or decay. His power, therefore, is not a temporary force but an enduring, unchangeable attribute.
Think about it: if God is from everlasting to everlasting, then nothing that happens within time can surprise or overcome Him. His plans are not subject to revision due to unforeseen circumstances, because He already knows all circumstances. This is the bedrock of His reliability.
Explore the assertion that when God acts, nothing can stop Him.
The latter part of Isaiah 43:13 delivers a powerful punch: "I will work, and who shall turn it back?" This is a bold statement of God's omnipotence and His unstoppable will. When God decides to act, whether it's to save, to judge, or to bring about His purposes, no force in the universe—human or otherwise—can thwart Him.
This isn't about brute force, but about the absolute authority and efficacy of God's divine plan. "To turn it back" implies a reversal or an undoing of His work. The verse declares that such a thing is impossible. God's actions are purposeful and complete; they are not subject to the interference of any created being. This absolute control extends to His redemptive work and His judgment.
Ask a follow-up
This verse is spoken during a time of profound national crisis and impending doom for Judah, but also amidst the rise of Cyrus the Great, who would eventually lead the Jewish people out of Babylonian exile. God's assertion of His eternal power and unchangeable nature directly addresses the despair and uncertainty of His people, assuring them that His sovereign purposes will unfold regardless of human opposition.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem Relieved
Under King Hezekiah, Jerusalem is miraculously saved from the Assyrian army, reinforcing the belief in the inviolability of Zion.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
King Josiah initiates a religious reformation after the Book of the Law is found in the Temple, leading to a period of renewed covenant faithfulness.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo and Josiah's Death
King Josiah is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho, marking a turning point that leads to religious and political decline.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Victory at Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Egyptians, establishing Babylonian dominance over the region and setting the stage for future incursions into Judah.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of the Judean elite, including King Jehoiachin, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem is besieged, destroyed, and its remaining inhabitants are deported to Babylon, signifying the complete end of the Judean monarchy.
c. 550-539 BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great's Rise and Campaign Against Babylon
Cyrus begins his conquests, culminating in the fall of Babylon, a pivotal event during which these prophecies are understood to have been delivered.
This verse echoes Isaiah's declaration of God's singular power as the Creator, emphasizing that nothing is beyond His capability or sovereign will.
Job 9:12Similar to Isaiah's assertion, Job questions who can intervene or overturn God's actions, highlighting the absolute power of the Almighty.
Daniel 4:35This passage demonstrates God's supreme authority over all earthly powers, stating that He acts as He pleases and none can stay His hand or question His deeds.
Romans 9:20Paul reflects on God's sovereign right to act according to His will, comparing humanity to clay in the hands of the potter, underscoring the inability to question or alter God's divine purposes.
barnesIsaiah 43:13: "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?"
Yea, before the day was - Before the first day, or before the beginning of time; from eternity. The Septuagint renders it correctly, Ἀπ ̓ ἀρχης Ap' archēs, and the Vulgate (Ab initio), 'From the beginning.' I am he - I am the same Isaiah 43:10. I will work - I will accomplish my designs. And who shall let it? - Margin, as Hebrew, 'Turn it back.' The meaning…
pulpitIsaiah 43:13: "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?"
Verse 13. - Yea, before the day was I am he. So the LXX., Jerome, and Stier; but most moderns translate, "Yea, from this time forth I am he" (setup. Ezekiel 48:35). Kay, however, thinks that the translation of the Authorized Version may stand. Who shall let it? literally, as in Isaiah 14:27, who shall turn it back? i.e. "reverse it, undo it." Surely no one.
This verse boldly proclaims God's eternal, unchangeable nature ("before the day was I am he"). It then directly connects this divine power to His ability to act, emphasizing that no force can thwart His will or undo His work.
This passage is part of a larger prophetic message of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites. Following powerful declarations of God's identity and power, this verse stands as an emphatic statement of His eternal sovereignty and unchallengeable might. It asserts that God's actions are self-determined and unstoppable, a foundational truth that underpins the promises of deliverance and renewal that continue throughout the chapter.
This passage is part of a larger prophetic message of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites. Following powerful declarations of God's identity and power, this verse stands as an emphatic statement of His eternal sovereignty and unchallengeable might. It asserts that God's actions are self-determined and unstoppable, a foundational truth that underpins the promises of deliverance and renewal that continue throughout the chapter.
"Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”" — This verse boldly proclaims God's eternal, unchangeable nature ("before the day was I am he"). It then directly connects this divine power to His ability to act, emphasizing that no force can thwart…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026