Isaiah 43:21

21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

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Isaiah 43:21 in Other Translations

KJV

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

ESV

21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

NLT

21 I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

MSG

21 the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.

CSB

21 The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

Isaiah 43:21 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:21

This people have I formed for myself
The Gentiles, compared to a desert and wilderness, wild and uncultivated, distinguished from Jacob and Israel in the next verse, and the same with the chosen people before mentioned; who being chosen of God, and redeemed by Christ, are formed anew by the Spirit of Christ, made new creatures, regenerated, and transformed by the renewing of their minds, and conformed to the image of Christ, and having him formed in their souls, and principles of grace and holiness wrought in them; in consequence of which they reformed in their lives and conversation, and were also formed into a Gospel church state, and all this done by the Lord for himself, his service, and his glory. The Targum is,

``this people have I prepared for my worship:''

they shall show forth my praise;
with their lips, by ascribing their formation to the power and grace of God, and even their whole salvation to it, and express their thankfulness for the same; and likewise by their actions, by a subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel, and by their lives and conversations being agreeably to it. Joseph Kimchi, as Abendana observes, interprets this people of the beasts of the field, spoken of in the preceding verse, that should honour the Lord, and here said to be formed for himself, and should show forth his praise; and which is taken notice of to aggravate the sins of the people of the Jews, who called not on the Lord as in the following verses; so the ants and conies are called a people not strong, and the locusts a people great and strong, ( Proverbs 30:25 Proverbs 30:26 ) ( Joel 2:2 ) .

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Isaiah 43:21 In-Context

19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.

23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.