Isaiah 43:1
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Isaiah 43 follows words of judgment with renewed assurance. God reminds His people that He created, formed, and redeemed them, and that they belong to Him.
What Does Isaiah 43:1 Mean?
Isaiah 43:1 is God's tender assurance to His people that, because He has redeemed them and called them His own, they need not fear. The verse opens with "But now" -- a turning point after words of judgment, signaling that grace has the final word. The God who speaks is the one "that created thee" and "formed thee," emphasizing an intimate, personal relationship with the One who made them.
Then come four reasons not to fear, each more personal than the last. "I have redeemed thee" -- God has bought them back, paying the price to reclaim what was His. "I have called thee by thy name" -- not a faceless crowd but each one known individually, as a shepherd knows his sheep by name. And the climax: "thou art mine" -- a declaration of belonging that nothing can undo. Fear loses its grip in the face of such ownership and love. The verse speaks to anyone who feels lost, anonymous, or beyond reclaiming. God says He knows your name, has paid to redeem you, and claims you as His own. This is not a vague benevolence but a covenant bond: the Creator stooping to redeem and to call His people by name, securing them in a belonging that holds firm through every trial.
In the Original Language
"Redeemed" is gaal, to buy back as a kinsman-redeemer. "Formed" is yatzar, to shape as a potter shapes clay. "Called" is qara, to name or summon.
Cross References
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.”
- Isaiah 43:2
“and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”
- John 10:3
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.”
- 1 Peter 2:9
Application
When you feel lost or anonymous, hold to God's words: He knows your name, has redeemed you, and claims you as His own.
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