The Meaning of Isaiah 46:9 Explained

Isaiah 46:9

KJV: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

YLT: Remember former things of old, For I am Mighty, and there is none else, God -- and there is none like Me.

Darby: Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;

ASV: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Remember  the former things  of old:  for I [am] God,  and [there is] none else; [I am] God,  and [there is] none  like  me, 

What does Isaiah 46:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Israelites needed to remember all that God had done going all the way back to Creation. Only then would they become convinced that Yahweh was unique, the only true God.

Context Summary

Isa 46:1-13 - God's Salvation Shall Not Tarry
Here is a startling contrast! Babylon is broken up. An invading army of stern monotheists have slain the idolatrous priests at their altars and are engaged in carrying out the idols for the bonfire. And as the Jewish remnant is witnessing the extraordinary spectacle, they are reminded that their God does not require to be borne. Nay, on the contrary He has borne His people from the earliest days and will continue to bear them till the heavens have passed away.
The contrast is a perpetual one. Some people carry their religion; others are carried by it. Some are burdened by minute prescriptions and an external ritual; others yield themselves to God, to be borne by Him in old age as they were in the helplessness of childhood. They are persuaded that He will bear them "as a man doth bear His son," in all the way that they go, until they come to the prepared place. See Deuteronomy 1:31; Isaiah 63:9. God immediately responds to a trust like that, and His salvation does not tarry. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isa 46

1  The idols of Babylon could not save themselves
3  God saves his people to the end
5  Idols are not comparable to God for power
12  Or present salvation

What do the individual words in Isaiah 46:9 mean?

Remember the former things of old for I [am] God and [there is] no other [I am] God and [there is] none like Me
זִכְר֥וּ רִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת מֵעוֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָנֹכִ֥י אֵל֙ וְאֵ֣ין ע֔וֹד אֱלֹהִ֖ים וְאֶ֥פֶס כָּמֽוֹנִי

זִכְר֥וּ  Remember 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
רִאשֹׁנ֖וֹת  the  former  things 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
מֵעוֹלָ֑ם  of  old 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
אָנֹכִ֥י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֵל֙  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וְאֵ֣ין  and  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
ע֔וֹד  other 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים  [I  am]  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְאֶ֥פֶס  and  [there  is]  none 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
כָּמֽוֹנִי  like  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.