The Meaning of Isaiah 43:4 Explained

Isaiah 43:4

KJV: Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

YLT: Since thou wast precious in Mine eyes, Thou wast honoured, and I have loved thee, And I appoint men in thy stead, And peoples instead of thy life.

Darby: Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee; and I will give men for thee, and peoples for thy life.

ASV: Since thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Since thou wast precious  in my sight,  thou hast been honourable,  and I have loved  thee: therefore will I give  men  for thee, and people  for thy life. 

What does Isaiah 43:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh would sacrifice other nations for Israel because of what the Israelites were to Him, in spite of themselves, as well as because of what He was to them ( Isaiah 43:3).

Context Summary

Isaiah 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: 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 43:4 mean?

Since you were precious in My sight You have been honored and I have loved you therefore I will give men for you and people for your life
מֵאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָקַ֧רְתָּ בְעֵינַ֛י נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ וַאֲנִ֣י אֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ וְאֶתֵּ֤ן אָדָם֙ תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים תַּ֥חַת נַפְשֶֽׁךָ

מֵאֲשֶׁ֨ר  Since 
Parse: Preposition-m, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יָקַ֧רְתָּ  you  were  precious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָקַר  
Sense: to esteem, be prized, be valuable, be precious, be costly, be appraised.
בְעֵינַ֛י  in  My  sight 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּ  You  have  been  honored 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
וַאֲנִ֣י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
אֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ  have  loved  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
וְאֶתֵּ֤ן  therefore  I  will  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אָדָם֙  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָ  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים  and  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ  your  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.