Isaiah 48:3

3 Past things I announced long ago; from my mouth I proclaimed them. I acted suddenly, and they came about.

Isaiah 48:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:3

I have declared the former things from the beginning
From the time of their first ancestors, from the time of Abraham their father, to whom was declared what should befall his posterity; that they should sojourn in Egypt, be afflicted there, and come out from thence with great substance; that they be brought into the land of Canaan, and the inhabitants of it being driven out before them, ( Genesis 15:13-18 ) . And they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them;
they were told to Abraham by word of mouth; they were shown to him in prophecy: I did them suddenly, and they came to pass;
for very quickly these things began to take place, even in Abraham's time; for his seed being a stranger in a land not theirs, and afflicted near four hundred years, must be reckoned from the birth of Isaac; and all which exactly came to pass as was foretold; not one thing which the Lord had spoken of failed; all was punctually fulfilled, ( Joshua 21:45 ) .

Isaiah 48:3 In-Context

1 Listen to this, house of Jacob, who are known by the name of Israel, descendants of Judah, who swear by the LORD's name and invoke Israel's God dishonestly and unrighteously.

2 They are known as residents of the holy city, those who depend upon the God of Israel— the LORD of heavenly forces is his name.

3 Past things I announced long ago; from my mouth I proclaimed them. I acted suddenly, and they came about.

4 Because I know that you are stubborn, your neck is made of iron, and your forehead is bronze.

5 I informed you long ago; before they came about I proclaimed them to you so you wouldn't say, "My idol did them; my wood statue and metal god commanded them."