Isaiah 43:7
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God declares that He created and formed His people for His glory, emphasizing that their existence and very being are intended to showcase His attributes. This isn't just about their national identity, but about their intrinsic purpose as an expression of God's creative and redemptive power.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy assuring Israel of God's protective power and redemptive plan, even amidst their exile. It follows God's declaration of His unique salvific nature and His commands to Israel not to fear, but to trust Him as their Creator and Redeemer who has a plan for them. The prophecy continues to emphasize God's faithfulness to His people, framing their existence and identity as divinely purposed for His own glory.
What does it mean to be 'called by my name'? It's more than just an identifier; it speaks to belonging and purpose.
To be "called by my name" means to belong to God, to be claimed as His own. Just as a family name signifies lineage and identity, being called by God's name signifies a deep, intimate relationship where we are His children. This isn't about a distant or abstract connection, but a personal claim God makes on us.
This belonging is rooted in creation. God didn't just create humanity in general; He specifically created us, individuals, for His glory. This means our very existence, our makeup, and our purpose are intended to reflect and honor Him.
We were made for a purpose, a grand design woven into our very being. What is that purpose?
The core reason for our creation, according to Isaiah, is "for my glory." This isn't about God needing something from us, but about His desire to reveal His own glorious attributes – His power, love, holiness, and faithfulness – through us.
Think of it like a magnificent stained-glass window. The glass itself is beautiful, but its true purpose is to capture the light and display its radiant colors. Similarly, we, as God's creation, are meant to reflect His light and glory to the world. Our existence is meant to be a testament to His wonderful nature.
God's creation of us wasn't a passive event. He was actively involved in shaping who we are.
The verse uses three powerful verbs: "created," "formed," and "made." This isn't just a single act of bringing into existence. It suggests a process, a deliberate and intricate shaping.
Understand the original words
kabod · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew word for glory, 'kabod', signifies weight, heaviness, or splendor. It refers to the visible or experiential manifestation of God’s character, presence, and majesty.
This verse speaks of God's enduring purpose for His people, even in the midst of the devastation of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. It reassures them that their identity and future are secured by God's creative and redemptive actions, setting the stage for their eventual restoration and service.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Hezekiah's Jerusalem withstands the Assyrian siege, a significant event that bolstered faith in Jerusalem's inviolability.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
The Book of the Law is found during Josiah's reign, leading to religious reforms that aimed to purify Judah's worship.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeats the Egyptians, establishing Babylonian dominance in the region and setting the stage for Judah's subjugation.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of the Jewish elite, including Ezekiel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
587/586 BC
This passage emphasizes Jesus' choice of his disciples, stating, 'You did not choose me, but I chose you.' This echoes Isaiah's message that God created and formed Israel for His purposes, highlighting God's initiative in their selection.
Romans 8:28The verse 'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose' resonates with Isaiah's declaration that God created and formed His people for His glory, implying a divine purpose behind all circumstances in their lives.
1 Corinthians 10:31Paul's exhortation, 'So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,' directly connects with Isaiah's statement that God created and formed His people 'for my glory,' underscoring the ultimate purpose of all believers to honor God.
Ephesians 2:10This verse states, 'For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.' This parallels Isaiah's assertion that God formed and made His people, highlighting that believers are God's creation, designed for His purposes.
Jeremiah 18:6The imagery of the potter and clay in Jeremiah's prophecy, 'Can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel,' strongly parallels Isaiah's description of God forming and making His people, emphasizing God's sovereign hand in shaping them.
barnesIsaiah 43:7: "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
Every one that is called by my name - To be called by the name of anyone, is synonymous with being regarded as his son, since a son bears the name of his father (see Isaiah 44:5 ; Isaiah 48:1 ). The expression, therefore, means here, all who were regarded as the children of God; and the promise is, that all such should be re-gathered to their own land. For I hav…
cambridgeIsaiah 43:7: "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
7 . that is called by my name ] i.e. who belongs to the community in which Jehovah is worshipped. for I have created him ] Render with R.V. and whom I have created . for my glory ] Although it is only the restored nation that can fully manifest Jehovah’s glory to the world, each of its scattered units shares the dignity which belongs to Israel as a whole.
God declares that He created and formed His people for His glory, emphasizing that their existence and very being are intended to showcase His attributes. This isn't just about their national identity, but about their intrinsic purpose as an expression of God's creative and redemptive power.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy assuring Israel of God's protective power and redemptive plan, even amidst their exile. It follows God's declaration of His unique salvific nature and His commands to Israel not to fear, but to trust Him as their Creator and Redeemer who has a plan for them. The prophecy continues to emphasize God's faithfulness to His people, framing their existence and identity as divinely purposed for His own glory.
This verse is part of a larger prophecy assuring Israel of God's protective power and redemptive plan, even amidst their exile. It follows God's declaration of His unique salvific nature and His commands to Israel not to fear, but to trust Him as their Creator and Redeemer who has a plan for them. The prophecy continues to emphasize God's faithfulness to His people, framing their existence and identity as divinely purposed for His own glory.
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Together, these words paint a picture of God's intimate involvement in our very being, from the initial spark of existence to the specific ways He has shaped us for His good purposes.
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and the remaining population, including King Zedekiah, is exiled, marking the completion of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great begins his conquests, eventually leading to the Persian overthrow of the Babylonian Empire and the return of the Jews.
"everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”" — God declares that He created and formed His people for His glory, emphasizing that their existence and very being are intended to showcase His attributes. This isn't just about their national identit…
