Isaiah 48:3
1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
- KJV
- I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
- WEB
- I have declared the former things from of old. Yes, they went out of my mouth, and I revealed them. I did them suddenly, and they happened.
- ASV
- I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
- DARBY
- I have declared the former things long ago; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I caused them to be heard: I wrought suddenly, and they came to pass.
- BLB
- The former [things] of old I have declared, and from My mouth they went forth, and I caused them to be heard—I acted suddenly, and they came [to pass].
- ÅB
- De forrige ting[^2] har jeg for lenge siden forkynt, de gikk ut av min munn, og jeg kunngjorde dem; brått satte jeg dem i verk, og de kom.
- OTB
- Jeg erklærte de tidligere tingene for lenge siden; de kom ut av Min munn, og Jeg gjorde dem kjent. Plutselig handlet Jeg, og de skjedde.
- B1930
- De forrige ting har jeg for lenge siden forkynt, de gikk ut av min munn, og jeg kunngjorde dem; brått satte jeg dem i verk, og de kom. / < JES 46, 9. 10.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Read in contextJoshua 21:45
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Read in contextIsaiah 41:22
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
Read in contextIsaiah 45:21
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Read in contextIsaiah 44:7–8
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
Read in contextIsaiah 46:9–10
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Read in contextIsaiah 43:9
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Read in contextJoshua 23:14–15
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Read in context