43:1 he who created you, Jacob Yahweh is responsible for both Israel’s creation as living beings and their formation as a nation. Isaiah uses creation language to emphasize God’s power as Creator and His special attention to His chosen people.

I have redeemed you God already identified Himself as their Redeemer in 41:14. Now, He reminds them of the relationship between Redeemer and redeemed. The exiles have no reason to fear, because salvation is assured.

I have called you by your name Isaiah’s speeches throughout this section emphasize Yahweh’s special choice of Israel (see Isa 41:8–9; 45:3–4).

Election

43:2 you pass through the waters Continuing the poet’s emphasis on the return as a second exodus, this is likely an allusion to Israel’s passing through the Red Sea. See Exod 14.

43:3 I am Yahweh, your God Echoes God’s pronouncement at the opening of the Ten Commandments in Exod 20:2.

you Egypt as ransom God redeems His chosen people even at the cost of the other nations. This is a metaphorical ransom invoking the idea that redemption required payment. It does not reflect a historical or eschatological giving over of the nations to save Israel.

Cush The region in North Africa south of Egypt.

Seba May be located either on the North African coast or the northwest Arabian peninsula.

43:5 your offspring The exiles will be brought back. Compare Isa 44:3; 45:25; 53:10; and 54:3.

43:6 from the end of the earth God will bring back His people from all points of the compass and the farthest regions of the known world.

43:7 everyone who is called by my name Echoes v. 1; the phrase rounds off the poetic section in vv. 1–7 and signals a shift of focus in the following section away from the election and creation themes back to the idolatry and trial motif in vv. 8–13.

43:9 Let all the nations gather together Reconvening the assembly of 41:1 and 41:21–24 where the nations were challenged to bring proof of their gods’ power.

declared the former things to us Refers to earlier prophecies and the ability to explain their fulfillment.

43:10 my witnesses In the trial scene, God calls on Israel to witness on His behalf that it was He and no other god that saved them (compare v. 12).

my servant whom I have chosen Refers to corporate Israel, as in 41:8 and 42:19.

No god was formed before me No other deity existed before Yahweh. See 41:4; 47:8. Other divine beings are called Yahweh’s “sons” (Job 38:7–8; Psa 89:5–8), suggesting He created them.

43:11 there is no savior besides me This assertion is repeated in Isa 45:21 again in the context of a strong polemic against idolatry. For Israelites, the gods of the nations were inferior to Yahweh and undeserving of worship (Deut 32:8–9, 17).

43:14 the holy one of Israel A title that emphasizes God’s holiness. See note on 1:4.

For your sake I will send to Babylon Yahweh will redeem them from Babylon just as He brought them out of Egypt (Exod 6:6). This is the first explicit reference to Babylon since Isa 39, where the captivity was foreshadowed, but the people’s predicament in exile was in the background.

the Chaldeans Chaldea was an area of southern Mesopotamia associated with Babylon. The names “Chaldeans” and “Babylonians” are usually synonymous.

43:15 your holy one, the creator of Israel, your king See v. 1. Yahweh’s self-identification invokes His holiness, His kingship, and His election of Israel.

43:16 a way in the sea Allusions to the exodus from Egypt inspire Israel to remember how Yahweh formerly accomplished their salvation with great power, especially as evidenced by the crossing of the Red Sea (see Exod 14:21–31).

43:18 You must not remember the former things After evoking strong memories of the exodus event in Isa 43:16–17, God instructs the exiles to stop dwelling on the past. The “former things” previously seemed to refer to the judgment against Israel predicted earlier in Isaiah, so the instruction may have two parts: stop dwelling on your punishment (exile) and don’t yearn for the former days of Israel’s power. Rather, attention should now be focused on God and His miraculous redemption.

43:19 I will make a way in the wilderness Compare 40:3–4; 35:5–8.

43:20 The animals of the field will honor me A vision of the Eden-like peace of the natural world. The use of eschatological motifs like in 11:6–8 may inspire the exiles to trust Yahweh for their present and future redemption.

43:21 they might make known my praise Yahweh saves, and expects to be praised for it. But instead of receiving praise and sacrifices, He was burdened by sins (see v. 24).

43:23 frankincense A spice whose scent was used to cover the stench of sacrifice. See note on 60:6.

43:24 your iniquities The Servant bears the iniquities of sinful Israel in 53:11.

43:25 who blots out your transgressions for my sake Since Israel failed to worship properly and bring proper sacrifices, Yahweh forgives their sins out of His own grace. There is no merit or reason given apart from God’s decision. Compare to 1:11–15, where the people brought sacrifices—but not what Yahweh wanted. The inward allegiance was more important than the outward act.

43:26 let us enter into judgment together The trial scene shifts as God calls Israel to defend its record. Have they been unfaithful as He charges, or will they dispute it? They could argue that they tried, based on 1:11–15.

43:27 Your first ancestor sinned Perhaps an allusion to Adam as the one through whom sin entered the world (see Rom 5:12–14).

your representatives Refers to the religious leaders. Since they also failed to lead Israel into proper relationship with Yahweh, a savior was still needed.

43:28 I gave Jacob to destruction Describes the punishment of defeat and exile by Babylon (see Isa 39:6–7).