Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is about to do something unprecedented! He's not just promising a future event; the "new thing" is already beginning to emerge, like a sprout pushing through the soil. He's asking, "Can't you see it?"—a subtle invitation to recognize His active, unfolding power even when the path ahead seems impossibly barren.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage arrives in the midst of God's powerful reassurance to Israel, who are in exile and feeling forgotten. The prophet Isaiah has already reminded them of God's creative power and faithfulness, contrasting it with the impotence of idols. Now, God is speaking directly about an imminent, transformative act of deliverance that will be so significant it will surpass even past miracles like the Exodus.
God announces He's doing something unprecedented. But the challenge is: can we actually see it?
The prophet Isaiah declares, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19). This isn't a future event to wait for; it's something currently unfolding. The imagery suggests a seed sprouting, a gradual emergence of something miraculous. The prophet urges the people to recognize this divine action, even amidst their current circumstances. The 'new thing' is God's powerful work of liberation and restoration, even when the landscape seems utterly barren and impossible, like a desert where no life should thrive.
When life feels like a barren wilderness, God promises to forge a path.
The promise continues, 'I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.' This is God's commitment to provide what is desperately needed when all seems lost.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
chadash · Hebrew Adjective
To bring into existence something entirely fresh or a new manifestation of God's redemptive power, distinct from but built upon the foundation of His past acts.
midbar · Hebrew Noun
An uncultivated, desolate, or uninhabited place often used in Scripture as a place of testing, refuge, and the site of God’s miraculous provision for His people.
This prophecy, likely delivered during the Babylonian exile, speaks of a radical new act of God—a return from exile that will be even more miraculous than the Exodus from Egypt. The 'new thing' is the creation of a direct path through the desert, making the impossible possible for God's people.
701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem relieved
King Hezekiah's reforms and Jerusalem's reliance on God lead to miraculous deliverance from Sennacherib's Assyrian army.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
During Josiah's reign, the Book of the Law is found, leading to a religious reformation and renewed covenant faithfulness.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo and Josiah's death
Josiah is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho of Egypt, shattering the nation's confidence and leading to religious and political decline.
598-597 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and many of the nation's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel.
587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple after a prolonged siege, exiling the remaining population and ending the Davidic monarchy.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus the Great rises to power
Cyrus begins his conquests, uniting the Medes and Persians and setting the stage to challenge the Babylonian Empire.
c. 540 BC
Cyrus conquers Lydia and Asia Minor
Cyrus consolidates his western territories, expanding Persian influence and bringing him closer to Babylonia.
This passage also speaks of God doing new things, emphasizing His foreknowledge and faithfulness to His promises as He brings about future events.
Jeremiah 31:22This verse speaks of God creating something new, 'the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman shall encompass a man,' which can be seen as a parallel to God's transformative 'new thing' in Isaiah.
John 3:8Jesus uses the imagery of the wind, which is unseen but felt, to explain the new birth of the Spirit, echoing Isaiah's 'now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?'
Revelation 21:5This passage describes God making all things new in the new heavens and new earth, a ultimate fulfillment of the 'new thing' God initiates, bringing life to barrenness.
cambridgeIsaiah 43:19: "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
19 . The making of the way through the desert and water for the pilgrims to drink (See on ch. Isaiah 40:3 f., Isaiah 41:18 ff.) is considered to be a miracle transcending the passage of the Red Sea, and all the miracles which attended the first exodus. This is the new thing on which the prophet’s mind fastens as the symbol of Israel’…
pulpitIsaiah 43:19: "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Verse 19. - Behold, I will do a new thing (comp. Isaiah 42:9, with the comment). It is, of course, quite possible that the novelty is not merely in the circumstances of the deliverance, but extends to all its results, among which is the Messianic kingdom - verily, a "new thing" (see Jeremiah 31:22). Now it shall spring forth; rather,…
God is about to do something unprecedented! He's not just promising a future event; the "new thing" is already beginning to emerge, like a sprout pushing through the soil. He's asking, "Can't you see it?"—a subtle invitation to recognize His active, unfolding power even when the path ahead seems impossibly barren.
This passage arrives in the midst of God's powerful reassurance to Israel, who are in exile and feeling forgotten. The prophet Isaiah has already reminded them of God's creative power and faithfulness, contrasting it with the impotence of idols. Now, God is speaking directly about an imminent, transformative act of deliverance that will be so significant it will surpass even past miracles like the Exodus.
This passage arrives in the midst of God's powerful reassurance to Israel, who are in exile and feeling forgotten. The prophet Isaiah has already reminded them of God's creative power and faithfulness, contrasting it with the impotence of idols. Now, God is speaking directly about an imminent, transformative act of deliverance that will be so significant it will surpass even past miracles like the Exodus.
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." — God is about to do something unprecedented! He's not just promising a future event; the "new thing" is already beginning to emerge, like a sprout pushing through the soil. He's asking, "Can't you see…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026