Isaiah 43:18

18 ne memineritis priorum et antiqua ne intueamini

Isaiah 43:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:18

Remember ye not the former things
Just now referred to, the bringing of Israel out of Egypt, and through the Red sea, and the drowning of Pharaoh and his army in it; for though these things were worthy to be remembered with thankfulness and praise, and to the glory of God, and for the encouragement of faith, yet not in comparison of what was hereafter to be done; meaning, not the redemption from Babylon, unless as a type of spiritual and eternal redemption by Christ; for otherwise there were greater and more wonderful things done, when Israel were brought out of Egypt, than when they were brought out of Babylon; but the great salvation by the Messiah, which exceeds both the deliverances out of Egypt and Babylon, is meant: neither consider the things of old;
unless as figures of the new, but not to be put upon a foot with them, much less to the undervaluing of them, and indeed to be forgotten in comparison of them; see ( Jeremiah 23:7 Jeremiah 23:8 ) . The Talmudists F17, by the "former" things, understand subjection to kingdoms; and, by the "things of old", the going out of Egypt; as they do by the "new thing", in the following verse, the war of Gog and Magog.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 13. 1. T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 4. 1.

Isaiah 43:18 In-Context

16 haec dicit Dominus qui dedit in mari viam et in aquis torrentibus semitam
17 qui eduxit quadrigam et equum agmen et robustum simul obdormierunt nec resurgent contriti sunt quasi linum et extincti sunt
18 ne memineritis priorum et antiqua ne intueamini
19 ecce ego facio nova et nunc orientur utique cognoscetis ea ponam in deserto viam et in invio flumina
20 glorificabit me bestia agri dracones et strutiones quia dedi in deserto aquas flumina in invio ut darem potum populo meo electo meo
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.