Isaiah 43:14

Authorized King James Version

Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
כֹּֽה
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
#2
אָמַ֧ר
Thus saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#3
יְהוָ֛ה
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#4
גֹּאַלְכֶ֖ם
your redeemer
to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido
#5
קְד֣וֹשׁ
the Holy One
sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) god (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary
#6
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
#7
לְמַעַנְכֶ֞ם
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
#8
שִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי
For your sake I have sent
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#9
בָבֶ֗לָה
to Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#10
וְהוֹרַדְתִּ֤י
and have brought down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#11
בָֽרִיחִים֙
all their nobles
a fugitive, i.e., the serpent (as fleeing), and the constellation by that name
#12
כֻּלָּ֔ם
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#13
וְכַשְׂדִּ֖ים
and the Chaldeans
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
#14
בָּאֳנִיּ֥וֹת
is in the ships
a ship
#15
רִנָּתָֽם׃
whose cry
properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e., shout (of joy or grief)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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