Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse challenges any other deity to match God's ability to declare and order future events, emphasizing that this is possible because He "appointed the ancient people." This highlights that God's unique foreknowledge and power are tied to His covenant relationship with His chosen people, Israel, from the very beginning of their existence as a nation.
Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger discourse where God challenges the idols and their worshippers. He asserts His unique power and foreknowledge, contrasting it with the impotence of false gods. God is speaking to Israel, reminding them of His covenant and His faithfulness, even as they face hardship and the temptation to turn to idols. The verses immediately following emphasize God's exclusive power and the futility of idolatry.
God issues a radical challenge to all other gods and their followers: who can match His ability to declare future events with certainty?
Isaiah 44:7 is a powerful declaration of God's unique sovereignty, particularly His foreknowledge. He asks, 'Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.'
This isn't just about guessing the future. It's about God's absolute ability to:
This ability is directly linked to His relationship with His chosen people, Israel. They are His witnesses, privy to His foreknowledge since the beginning of their nation.
The surrounding verses highlight the futility of idols and false gods. They are powerless, silent, and unable to offer any true prophecy. God stands alone in His foretelling ability, proving His divine nature.
Why does God link His prophetic power to 'the ancient people' He appointed? It speaks volumes about His covenant faithfulness.
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The phrase 'since I appointed the ancient people' is crucial. It refers to God's chosen people, Israel, highlighting His long-standing covenant with them.
The 'ancient people' are not merely historical figures; they are the recipients of God's unfolding plan. Their existence and continuity are a testament to His unchanging nature and His commitment to His word.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Isaiah prophesied Jerusalem's deliverance during the Assyrian siege, a period marked by faith in the city's inviolability.
c. 621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
King Josiah's religious reforms followed the discovery of the Law, leading to a period of national revival and a sense of national righteousness.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Victory at Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar's decisive victory marked the rise of Babylon and the beginning of Judah's subjugation, leading to increasing prophetic warnings of exile.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar exiled a significant portion of the population, including the royal family and skilled workers, marking the first stage of the Babylonian exile.
587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple plundered, and a second, larger group of Judeans were exiled to Babylon, completing the devastation of the land.
c. 549 BC
Cyrus the Great's Rise to Power
Cyrus overthrew the Medes, uniting various peoples and setting the stage for his conquest of Babylon.
c. 540-539 BC— this verse
Cyrus's Campaign Against Babylon
Cyrus prepared for and initiated his campaign against Babylon, a period during which this prophecy likely emerged, foretelling both the fall of the city and Israel's deliverance.
This passage echoes Isaiah's challenge, emphasizing that God speaks plainly and truthfully, unlike the hidden or deceitful pronouncements of idols.
Jeremiah 10:10Similar to Isaiah's assertion, Jeremiah confronts the futility of idols by highlighting their inability to act or speak, contrasting them with the living God who judges with righteousness.
Daniel 2:28Daniel testifies that God alone reveals mysteries and declares future events, directly mirroring Isaiah's claim that only the Lord can foretell and order what is to come.
Romans 8:29-30This New Testament passage speaks of God's foreknowledge and predestination, showing that God's sovereign plan, established from eternity, is being worked out, much like the 'ancient people' appointed by God in Isaiah.
Acts 15:18James quotes Amos, stating that God 'makes known his deeds from of old,' which aligns with Isaiah's challenge to show evidence of knowing and declaring future events.
pooleIsaiah 44:7: "And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them."
Who, which of all the heathen gods, as I, shall call, and shall declare? shall by his powerful call or word cause it to be, and by his infinite foreknowledge declare that it shall be. Or, shall publish and declare ; two words expressing the same thing, as is usual. It; that which shall come to p…
ellicottIsaiah 44:7: "And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them."
(7) Since I appointed the ancient people . . . —Literally, the people of the age, or of eternity. The phrase is used of the dead in Ezekiel 26:20 . Here it has been referred either to the antediluvian fathers of mankind ( Job 22:15 ) or to the patriarchs of Israel, or, more fitly, to Israel, as…
The verse challenges any other deity to match God's ability to declare and order future events, emphasizing that this is possible because He "appointed the ancient people." This highlights that God's unique foreknowledge and power are tied to His covenant relationship with His chosen people, Israel, from the very beginning of their existence as a nation.
This passage is part of a larger discourse where God challenges the idols and their worshippers. He asserts His unique power and foreknowledge, contrasting it with the impotence of false gods. God is speaking to Israel, reminding them of His covenant and His faithfulness, even as they face hardship and the temptation to turn to idols. The verses immediately following emphasize God's exclusive power and the futility of idolatry.
This passage is part of a larger discourse where God challenges the idols and their worshippers. He asserts His unique power and foreknowledge, contrasting it with the impotence of false gods. God is speaking to Israel, reminding them of His covenant and His faithfulness, even as they face hardship and the temptation to turn to idols. The verses immediately following emphasize God's exclusive power and the futility of idolatry.
"Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen." — The verse challenges any other deity to match God's ability to declare and order future events, emphasizing that this is possible because He "appointed the ancient people." This highlights that God's…
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Last reviewed October 2026