The Meaning of Isaiah 45:18 Explained

Isaiah 45:18

KJV: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

YLT: For thus said Jehovah, Creator of heaven, He is God, Former of earth, and its Maker, He established it -- not empty He prepared it, For inhabiting He formed it: 'I am Jehovah, and there is none else.

Darby: For thus saith Jehovah who created the heavens, God himself who formed the earth and made it, he who established it, not as waste did he create it: he formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.

ASV: For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thus saith  the LORD  that created  the heavens;  God  himself that formed  the earth  and made  it; he hath established  it, he created  it not in vain,  he formed  it to be inhabited:  I [am] the LORD;  and [there is] none else. 

What does Isaiah 45:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Again the Lord affirmed (cf. Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 45:14) that He created the heavens, and there is no other God beside Him (cf. Exodus 20:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:4). These affirmations indicate that what follows substantiates what has gone before. God is trustworthy, and will not embarrass or humiliate His worshippers, because He is the almighty Creator. Isaiah"s elaboration on this statement stresses that God"s creative activity was for the welfare of His creatures.
Some readers of this verse have understood the statement that "God did not create the earth waste" (Heb. tohu) as clarifying the creation process. When God created the heavens and the earth, did He create them unformed and then form them, or does the waste condition of Genesis 1:2 describe the universe before Creation? I think this verse means that God"s intention in Creation was not to create something permanently without form but to create an environment for His creatures that He suitably formed for their habitation. Thus this verse says nothing about the steps God may have taken in creating the cosmos. It rather explains His purpose in creating the cosmos.

Context Summary

Isa 45:14-25 - A Call To The Ends Of The Earth
As the prophet reviews God's method of delivering His people-so unexpected and so wonderful-he cannot restrain the ejaculation: Thou art a God that hidest thyself! "Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will." You do not see how God is going to save you; but most certainly His Angel will redeem you from all evil.
God contrasts Himself with idols, Isaiah 45:20. We can never seek His face in vain. They that trust in man or their own devices are doomed to disappointment; but faith and prayer make all the difference. He is "a just God and a Savior." This is the wonderful combination that the Cross reveals. See Romans 3:26; 1 John 1:9. Look to Him and be saved. Even if you dwell in a far land or at the ends of the earth, and even if you can only look toward Him with failing sight, remember that "there is life in a look." Dare to say, "In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." You have none of your own! Your strength is weakness! Your righteousness is full of flaws! Look to Him; boast in Him; and men shall come to you for your secret. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isa 45

1  God calls Cyrus for his church's sake
5  By his omnipotence he challenges obedience
20  He convinces the idols of vanity by his saving power

What do the individual words in Isaiah 45:18 mean?

For thus says Yahweh who created the heavens He is God who formed the earth and made it has established it not in vain who did create it to be inhabited who formed it I [am] Yahweh and [there is] no other
כִּ֣י כֹ֣ה אָֽמַר־ יְ֠הוָה בּוֹרֵ֨א הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים יֹצֵ֨ר הָאָ֤רֶץ וְעֹשָׂהּ֙ כֽוֹנְנָ֔הּ לֹא־ תֹ֥הוּ בְרָאָ֖הּ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יְצָרָ֑הּ אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין עֽוֹד

כֹ֣ה  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָֽמַר־  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְ֠הוָה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בּוֹרֵ֨א  who  created 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם  the  heavens 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַיִם  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים  is  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יֹצֵ֨ר  who  formed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
הָאָ֤רֶץ  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וְעֹשָׂהּ֙  and  made  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
כֽוֹנְנָ֔הּ  has  established  it 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
תֹ֥הוּ  in  vain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּהוּ  
Sense: formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness.
בְרָאָ֖הּ  who  did  create  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
לָשֶׁ֣בֶת  to  be  inhabited 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְצָרָ֑הּ  who  formed  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
אֲנִ֥י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְאֵ֥ין  and  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
עֽוֹד  other 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.