The phrase "God of truth" is literally "God of the Amen," highlighting God's faithfulness and that all promises find their fulfillment in Him. This points to a future where people will trust and swear by God not just as a divine authority, but as the one whose very nature is truth and steadfastness, making their blessings and oaths absolutely certain.
so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks a transition from judgment to restoration, describing a future era where God's people will exclusively honor Him, abandoning all false gods. It follows the prophet's pronouncements of a new creation, where former suffering will be so completely erased that its memory will vanish from God's sight, ushering in an age of divine faithfulness and blessing. This complete remembrance is tied to God's steadfastness and the fulfillment of His promises, which will render the old troubles insignificant.
What does it mean to bless yourself 'in the God of truth'? This phrase points to a profound characteristic of God that grounds all our hopes.
The verse highlights God as the "God of truth." In the original Hebrew, this is closely related to the word "Amen," which signifies faithfulness, reliability, and certainty.
This isn't just about God being honest; it's about His unwavering commitment to His promises. When we bless ourselves or swear in the land, it's not in a fleeting human power but in the One who is eternally faithful.
Jesus Himself is called "the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness" (Revelation 3:14). This means that in Him, all of God's promises find their 'yes' and fulfillment. Blessing ourselves in Him means aligning our lives with His trustworthy character and His sure promises.
The verse promises that past troubles will be forgotten. What makes this possible, and what does it reveal about God's redemptive plan?
The reason given for this new reality of blessing in the "God of truth" is that "the former troubles are forgotten / and are hidden from my eyes." This speaks to the complete cancellation of past suffering and sin.
It signifies a restoration so profound that the memory of past calamities is erased. God's eyes, which see all things, will no longer focus on those troubles. This isn't a superficial forgetting, but a divine act of wiping the slate clean.
This foreshadows the ultimate renewal described later in Isaiah (65:17), where new heavens and a new earth are created, and "the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind." It points to a future where God's healing and restoration are so complete that past pain loses its power.
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Understand the original words
barak · Hebrew Verb
To pronounce or invoke divine favor, grace, or prosperity upon oneself or others. In the biblical context, it acknowledges God as the source of all goodness and life.
'amen · Hebrew Noun/Adjective phrase
Referring to the God of faithfulness or reliability. The Hebrew root implies steadiness, firmness, and trustworthiness, characterizing God as the One whose promises and nature never waver.
shaba' · Hebrew Verb
A solemn appeal to God to witness the truth of a statement or the sincerity of a promise. Swearing by God acknowledges His sovereignty as the ultimate judge of human hearts and actions.
This prophecy anticipates a future time when God's people will live in a renewed creation, blessing themselves and swearing oaths by the 'God of Amen' (truth and faithfulness), because all past sorrows will be utterly forgotten.
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah delivers his prophecies, foretelling judgment and restoration for Judah during a period of Assyrian dominance and regional instability.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem is completed, marking a significant milestone in the restoration of Jewish religious life after the exile.
c. 458-430 BC
Reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah
Ezra and Nehemiah lead further waves of returnees, focusing on religious and social reforms to restore adherence to the Law and rebuild Jerusalem's walls.
c. 167-160 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A revolt breaks out against Hellenistic Seleucid rule, leading to a period of conflict and the rededication of the Temple under the Maccabees.
c. AD 1-100— this verse
New Creation and Divine Faithfulness
This verse speaks to a future era of complete restoration and a new creation where God's ultimate faithfulness ('Amen') is fully realized, and past suffering is forgotten.
This passage echoes Isaiah's theme by stating that if Israel swears oaths in truth, they will swear by the LORD, highlighting the importance of taking God's name in truth during times of blessing and judgment.
Revelation 3:14This verse identifies Jesus as 'the Amen,' directly connecting to the Hebrew concept of 'God of the Amen' in Isaiah 65:16 and emphasizing Jesus' faithfulness and truthfulness as foundational to God's promises.
Isaiah 65:17Immediately following this verse, Isaiah 65:17 speaks of the creation of new heavens and a new earth where former troubles are forgotten, directly fulfilling the condition set forth in verse 16 for blessing and swearing by the God of truth.
Psalm 72:17This psalm speaks of a king whose name will endure, and that all nations will be blessed through him, aligning with the concept in Isaiah 65:16 of blessings extending universally through the 'God of truth'.
pulpitIsaiah 65:16: "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."
Verse 16. - That he who blesseth himself; rather, so that he who blesses himself. The sequence of the argument is not altogether clear. Perhaps it is recant that God will call them by his own Name (Amos 9:12) - "the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9); and…
jfbIsaiah 65:16: "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."
- That he—rather, "he who," &c.blesseth, &c.—(Ps 72:17; Jer 4:2).God of truth—very God, as opposed to false gods; Hebrew, Amen: the very name of Messiah (2Co 1:20; Re 3:14), faithful to His promises (Joh 1:17; 6:32). Real, substantial, spiritual,…
The phrase "God of truth" is literally "God of the Amen," highlighting God's faithfulness and that all promises find their fulfillment in Him. This points to a future where people will trust and swear by God not just as a divine authority, but as the one whose very nature is truth and steadfastness, making their blessings and oaths absolutely certain.
This verse marks a transition from judgment to restoration, describing a future era where God's people will exclusively honor Him, abandoning all false gods. It follows the prophet's pronouncements of a new creation, where former suffering will be so completely erased that its memory will vanish from God's sight, ushering in an age of divine faithfulness and blessing. This complete remembrance is tied to God's steadfastness and the fulfillment of His promises, which will render the old troubles insignificant.
This verse marks a transition from judgment to restoration, describing a future era where God's people will exclusively honor Him, abandoning all false gods. It follows the prophet's pronouncements of a new creation, where former suffering will be so completely erased that its memory will vanish from God's sight, ushering in an age of divine faithfulness and blessing. This complete remembrance is tied to God's steadfastness and the fulfillment of His promises, which will render the old troubles insignificant.
"so that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hid…" — The phrase "God of truth" is literally "God of the Amen," highlighting God's faithfulness and that all promises find their fulfillment in Him. This points to a future where people will trust and swea…
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Last reviewed October 2026
