The Meaning of Isaiah 43:16 Explained

Isaiah 43:16

KJV: Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

YLT: Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path.

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters,

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD,  which maketh  a way  in the sea,  and a path  in the mighty  waters; 

What does Isaiah 43:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 43:14-28 - A Way In The Wilderness
Let uptake care lest we thwart God's purpose in our lives. We were made to show forth His praise, Isaiah 43:21; but we must beware of causing a revoking of His gracious purpose (See Numbers 14:34, r.v. margin): by prayerlessness, Isaiah 43:22; by the neglect of little things, Isaiah 43:23; by the lack of sweetness and tenderness in our disposition, Isaiah 43:24. "Be not high-minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will He spare thee," Romans 11:20-21, r.v.
On the other hand, directly sin is repented of and put away, it is blotted out, Isaiah 43:25. It is persistence in sin that causes God to turn from us. If we forsake what is evil, as soon as we are conscious of it, "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." It is blotted out as a cloud from the sky and no more remembered against us forever. This is done for God's own sake. The reason for our salvation and deliverance is not in us, but in Him. The cross of shame and sorrow was His own expedient, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne is the emblem of the divine Atonement, which was commenced and finished by the inexplicable grace of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 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 43:16 mean?

Thus says Yahweh who makes in the sea a way and through the waters mighty a path
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן בַּיָּ֖ם דָּ֑רֶךְ וּבְמַ֥יִם עַזִּ֖ים נְתִיבָֽה

כֹּ֚ה  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן  who  makes 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בַּיָּ֖ם  in  the  sea 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
דָּ֑רֶךְ  a  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וּבְמַ֥יִם  and  through  the  waters 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
עַזִּ֖ים  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.
נְתִיבָֽה  a  path 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נָתִיב 
Sense: trodden with the feet, path, pathway.