The Meaning of Isaiah 43:10 Explained

Isaiah 43:10

KJV: 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.

YLT: Ye are My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And My servant whom I have chosen, So that ye know and give credence to Me, And understand that I am He, Before Me there was no God formed, And after Me there is none.

Darby: Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, 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.

ASV: Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 43:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh pointed to the people of Israel, His servant, as those who would be His witnesses that He could predict the future and bring it to pass. For example, He had promised to make Abraham a great nation, to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, to give them Canaan, and to make David"s dynasty secure. He had fulfilled all these promises and more. In the process He had made the Israelites His witnesses so they would learn that He alone is the true God (cf. Exodus 3:14). Similarly, Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses ( Acts 1:8). They had witnessed His works for several years and could testify to His uniqueness, even His deity. Thus the early confession of the church became "Jesus is Lord."

Context Summary

Isa 43:1-13 - Jehovah's Witnesses
The magnificent conception of Isaiah 43:1-28 underlies this. We have still the convocation of mankind, summoned to decide whether Jehovah or some idol god shall be recognized as the supreme deity. In the arena are rows of helpless images rich in paint and tinsel, but mute and helpless, Isaiah 43:8-9. Jehovah, to vindicate His claims, calls into the witness box His Chosen People, that they may tell what they have known, tasted, and handled, of the Word of life, Isaiah 43:10.
This special function is not confined to the Hebrew race. By the express words of our Lord it is shared by the Church. See Acts 1:8. As our Lord bore witness to truth, His subjects are summoned to do the same. See 1 Timothy 6:13-14; Revelation 1:5.
Let us witness to the love that never tires. "Fear not, thou art mine." Let us witness to a purpose that never falters, Isaiah 43:1 and Isaiah 43:7. Let us witness to a deliverance that never disappoints. We are not saved from fire and water, but are delivered in the midst of them by the never-failing presence of our King. Let us ask for the Spirit of Truth to witness with us, Acts 5:31-32. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isa 43

1  The Lord comforts the church with his promises
8  He appeals to the people for witness of his omnipotence
14  He foretells them the destruction of Babylon
18  And his wonderful deliverance of his people
22  He reproves the people as inexcusable

What do the individual words in Isaiah 43:10 mean?

You [are] My witnesses says Yahweh and My servant whom I have chosen that you may know and believe Me and understand that I [am] He Before Me no there was formed God and after Me nor shall there be -
אַתֶּ֤ם עֵדַי֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה וְעַבְדִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחָ֑רְתִּי לְמַ֣עַן תֵּ֠דְעוּ וְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּ לִ֤י וְתָבִ֙ינוּ֙ כִּֽי־ אֲנִ֣י ה֔וּא לְפָנַי֙ לֹא־ נ֣וֹצַר אֵ֔ל וְאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה ס

אַתֶּ֤ם  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
עֵדַי֙  My  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְעַבְדִּ֖י  and  My  servant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּחָ֑רְתִּי  I  have  chosen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
לְמַ֣עַן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
תֵּ֠דְעוּ  you  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
וְתַאֲמִ֨ינוּ  and  believe 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
לִ֤י  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
וְתָבִ֙ינוּ֙  and  understand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֲנִ֣י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
לְפָנַי֙  Before  Me 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לֹא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נ֣וֹצַר  there  was  formed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
אֵ֔ל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וְאַחֲרַ֖י  and  after  Me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִהְיֶֽה  shall  there  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation