Isaiah 43:8-13 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

Israel Called by Yahweh as His Witness before the Nations. The scene is again a court of justice. The nations, Yahweh's opponents, are already assembled (read are for let be). Yahweh commands His people to be summoned as witnesses for Him. Blind as Israel may have been to the deeper significance of Yahweh's actions, yet even she has eyes to see the facts of history. What god can forecast and announce the future as Yahweh has done? Let them produce any witnesses who can attest the claim. Israel will attest Yahweh's claims and convince the heathen of His uniqueness. He alone who foretold the event can accomplish it. No strange god did this. His control of history is absolute.

Isaiah 43:9. former things: possibly read, beforehand. or: translate, and; witnesses is the subject of hear, and say.

Isaiah 43:10. servant: read plural. ye may: read, they may.

Isaiah 43:12. and I am God: add, from of old.

Isaiah 43:13. since: read mg., and connect with what precedes. let: render as mg.

Isaiah 43:8-13

8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?b