They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
They are created now, and not from the beginning - literally, not from that time-not from of old (Hebrew, mee'aaz (H227)). Not like natural results from existing causes; the events when they take place are like acts of creative power, such as have never before been "from the beginning."
Even before the day when thou heardest them not - Hebrew, 'even before the day (of their fulfillment) and (when), thou hast not heard them.' Maurer translates, 'before the day (of their occurrence) thou hast not heard of them' - i:e., by any human acuteness; they are only heard of by the present inspired announcement. But the English version is more literal, and gives good sense, if for "when" we translate the Hebrew, ve, 'and (when);' and if we understand as in Isaiah 48:5-6, "I have showed thee them;" or else take, "they are created now," not of their coming to pass, but of their being announced by the prophetic word which creates by its divine power the fulfillment (Jeremiah 1:10). These creative foreshowings of events are before the day of fulfillment, and at a time when human ear has not heretofore heard them anticipated by human sagacity (cf. end of Isaiah 48:6).