Isaiah 43:1

1 And now the Lord God, making of nought thee, Jacob, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou dread, for I again-bought thee, and I called thee by thy name; thou art my servant. (And now the Lord God, making thee, Jacob, out of nothing, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou fear, for I have ransomed, or redeemed, thee, and I have called thee by thy name; thou art my servant.)

Isaiah 43:1 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 43:1

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob
This prophecy is not concerning Cyrus, and the redemption of the Jews by him, as some have thought; nor of Sennacherib and his army, and of their deliverance from him, as Kimchi and his father interpret it; but of the Christian church, and the state of it, when Jerusalem should be destroyed, as predicted in the preceding chapter; which goes by the name of Jacob and Israel, for the first churches chiefly consisted of Jews, and both Jews and Gentiles converted are the spiritual Israel of God: and he that formed thee, O Israel;
this creation and formation are not so much to be understood of their being the creatures of God, and the work of his hands, in a natural sense; but of their new creation and regeneration; of their being the spiritual workmanship of God, created in Christ, and formed for his glory: fear not: for I have redeemed thee:
though Jerusalem shall be destroyed, and Judea wasted, and though subject to the persecutions of wicked men in all places; yet since redeemed by Christ from sin, Satan, and the law, hell, and death, nothing is to be feared from either of them; redemption by Christ is an antidote against the fear of any enemy whatsoever: I have called thee by thy name;
with an effectual calling, which is of particular persons, and those by name, even the same that are redeemed by Christ; for whom he has redeemed by his precious blood, they are called by the grace of God to special blessings of grace, with a high, holy, and heavenly calling; and have no reason to fear anything, since they are the chosen of God; have a right to all spiritual blessings; all things work together for their good; they shall persevere to the end, and at last be brought to glory, to which they are called: thou art mine;
such as are redeemed by Christ, and called by his grace, they are his Father's gift, and his own purchase; they voluntarily give up themselves to him, under the influence of his Spirit and grace; they are his by profession and possession; they are his portion, people, sheep, and spouse; and his interest in them, and theirs in him, serve to prevent fear; such need not fear wanting anything, nor any enemy, nor perishing, or miscarrying of heaven and happiness, to which fears they are subject.

Isaiah 43:1 In-Context

1 And now the Lord God, making of nought thee, Jacob, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou dread, for I again-bought thee, and I called thee by thy name; thou art my servant. (And now the Lord God, making thee, Jacob, out of nothing, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou fear, for I have ransomed, or redeemed, thee, and I have called thee by thy name; thou art my servant.)

2 When thou shalt go by waters, I shall be with thee, and floods shall not cover thee; when thou shalt go in fire, thou shalt not be burnt, and flame shall not burn in thee (and the flame shall not burn thee).

3 For I am thy Lord God, the Holy of Israel, thy saviour. I gave (for) thy mercy Egypt, (yea, also) Ethiopia, and Seba, for thee. (For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. I gave up Egypt for thy ransom, yea, also Ethiopia, and Seba, for thee.)

4 Since thou art made honourable, and glorious in mine eyes; I (have) loved thee, and I shall give (up) men for thee, and peoples for thy soul.

5 Do not thou dread, for I am with thee; I shall bring thy seed from the east, and I shall gather thee together from the west. (Do not thou fear, for I am with thee; I shall bring thy descendants from the east, and I shall gather thee together from the west.)