Isaiah 48:6-7
“You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse challenges the listener to not just hear God's promises but to see their fulfillment. It emphasizes that the "new things" God reveals aren't just future events, but previously "hidden things," underscoring that true understanding comes from God alone, not human wisdom.
The Lord addresses Israel, calling them to witness the fulfillment of His past prophecies and to acknowledge His divine power. He then announces that He will reveal entirely new and previously hidden matters, signaling a shift from past events to future ones, specifically concerning their impending deliverance from Babylonian exile by Cyrus. This revelation is intended to prove His unique ability to predict and accomplish events beyond human foresight, contrasting Him with lifeless idols.
Have you ever felt like you're living through history in the making? This verse calls people to be witnesses, not just of events, but of God's faithfulness.
The Lord presents a powerful argument in Isaiah 48:6. He first reminds His people of what they have heard – the prophecies spoken long before.
From Hearing to Seeing
He then urges them to see all this – to look at the current reality and recognize how it perfectly aligns with His Word. This isn't just about passive observation; it's an active call to bear witness. God wants them to see the fulfillment and then to declare it.
The Purpose of Declaration
Why declare it? The ultimate goal is to testify that 'He alone is God.' By seeing and proclaiming the accurate fulfillment of prophecy, they provide irrefutable evidence of God's unique power and sovereignty. It’s a testament to His ability to orchestrate history long before it unfolds.
We often think we can predict what's coming. But God's plans are often beyond our imagination, revealing 'hidden things' we couldn't possibly know.
Isaiah 48:6 announces a significant shift: 'From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.' This isn't just about past prophecies coming true; it's about God revealing entirely new dimensions of His plan.
Newness Beyond Prediction
The 'new things' mentioned here are distinct from previous predictions. They are things that were 'hidden' – beyond human calculation, political foresight, or natural understanding. This points to God's sovereign initiative in revealing His will and His future actions.
Divine Revelation as Proof
God reveals these hidden things not to confuse, but to confirm. The inability of people to know or predict these events beforehand serves as powerful evidence of God's unique knowledge and power. It cuts off any excuse for attributing such events to idols or human wisdom. These 'new things' are specifically tied to future events like the deliverance from Babylonian captivity, and ultimately point to the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, including the coming of the Messiah.
Understand the original words
haggadti · Hebrew Verb
To make known, proclaim, or tell a message, often referring to God's revelation of His plan or truth to His people. In a biblical context, it implies an authoritative declaration.
netsuroth · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Things that are kept secret, hidden from sight, or not yet revealed. Biblically, it often refers to God's sovereign purposes and future plans that He chooses to disclose to His servants.
This passage speaks powerfully to the exiles in Babylon, who had witnessed the destruction of their city and temple. God is announcing a 'new thing' – their liberation through Cyrus – a radical departure from the seemingly irreversible disaster they experienced. The prophecy highlights that this future salvation, like past miracles, is entirely God's doing, not something human wisdom could have predicted.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem, though the city is miraculously spared. This event demonstrates God's power to protect Judah but also highlights their continued reliance on misplaced trust.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judah's elite are exiled to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of significant hardship and spiritual testing for the Jewish people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, exiling the rest of the population. This catastrophic event leaves the Judeans without a homeland, a temple, or direct access to God's presence as they knew it.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Prophecy of Cyrus's Rise
This passage echoes Isaiah 48:6 by calling Israel God's witnesses, emphasizing their role in testifying to God's divine power and knowledge, just as verse 6 urges them to declare what they have heard and seen.
Isaiah 42:9This verse directly parallels the idea in Isaiah 48:6 of God announcing 'new things' and 'hidden things' that were previously unknown, highlighting God's unique ability to predict and reveal future events.
Jeremiah 29:11While Isaiah 48:6 focuses on God revealing new and hidden things to His people, Jeremiah 29:11 reveals God's specific plan for His people, showing that these 'new things' are often rooted in His established promises for their future well-being.
Romans 16:25-26This passage speaks of a mystery hidden for ages but now revealed, aligning with Isaiah 48:6's theme of God revealing 'hidden things' that were previously unknown, particularly concerning the unfolding of His redemptive plan.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10Echoing Isaiah 48:6's mention of 'hidden things,' this New Testament passage asserts that what God has prepared for those who love Him are things 'which no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,' revealing that God uniquely discloses His deeper purposes.
barnesIsaiah 48:6: "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."
Thou hast heard - You are witnesses that the prediction was uttered long before it was fulfilled. See all this - Behold how it is all fulfilled. Bear witness that the event is as it was predicted. And will ye not declare it? - Will you not bear witness to the entire fulfillment of the prophecy? God appeals to them as qualified…
bensonIsaiah 48:6: "Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them."
Isaiah 48:6-8 . Thou hast heard, see all this — As thou hast heard all these things, from time to time, seriously consider them. And will not ye declare it — I call you to witness: must you not be forced to acknowledge the truth of what I say? I have showed thee new things from this time — And I have now given thee new predicti…
The verse challenges the listener to not just hear God's promises but to see their fulfillment. It emphasizes that the "new things" God reveals aren't just future events, but previously "hidden things," underscoring that true understanding comes from God alone, not human wisdom.
The Lord addresses Israel, calling them to witness the fulfillment of His past prophecies and to acknowledge His divine power. He then announces that He will reveal entirely new and previously hidden matters, signaling a shift from past events to future ones, specifically concerning their impending deliverance from Babylonian exile by Cyrus. This revelation is intended to prove His unique ability to predict and accomplish events beyond human foresight, contrasting Him with lifeless idols.
The Lord addresses Israel, calling them to witness the fulfillment of His past prophecies and to acknowledge His divine power. He then announces that He will reveal entirely new and previously hidden matters, signaling a shift from past events to future ones, specifically concerning their impending deliverance from Babylonian exile by Cyrus. This revelation is intended to prove His unique ability to predict and accomplish events beyond human foresight, contrasting Him with lifeless idols.
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Isaiah prophesies the rise of Cyrus the Great, a Persian king who will conquer Babylon and allow the Jews to return home. This is a 'new thing' that the people in exile would not have anticipated.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon by Cyrus
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, conquers Babylon, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. This victory paves the way for the Jewish return to Jerusalem.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allowing Return
Cyrus issues an edict permitting the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of the restoration.
"“You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have…" — The verse challenges the listener to not just hear God's promises but to see their fulfillment. It emphasizes that the "new things" God reveals aren't just future events, but previously "hidden thi…
