Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Original Language Analysis
עֹשֶׂ֤ה
Behold I will do
H6213
עֹשֶׂ֤ה
Behold I will do
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
2 of 13
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
עַתָּ֣ה
H6258
תִצְמָ֔ח
now it shall spring forth
H6779
תִצְמָ֔ח
now it shall spring forth
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
5 of 13
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
הֲל֖וֹא
H3808
הֲל֖וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵֽדָע֑וּהָ
shall ye not know
H3045
תֵֽדָע֑וּהָ
shall ye not know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
7 of 13
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אַ֣ף
H637
אַ֣ף
Strong's:
H637
Word #:
8 of 13
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
אָשִׂ֤ים
it I will even make
H7760
אָשִׂ֤ים
it I will even make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
9 of 13
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בַּמִּדְבָּר֙
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּר֙
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
10 of 13
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
דֶּ֔רֶךְ
a way
H1870
דֶּ֔רֶךְ
a way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
11 of 13
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Cross References
Isaiah 48:6Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.Isaiah 42:9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.Revelation 21:5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.Isaiah 41:18I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.Jeremiah 31:22How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.Exodus 17:6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.Deuteronomy 8:15Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;Psalms 105:41He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.Numbers 20:11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Historical Context
Isaiah ministered 700 years before Christ, prophesying both the Babylonian exile and restoration (539 BC). The 'new thing' initially meant the return under Cyrus through the Arabian desert, but Isaiah repeatedly layers meanings—ultimately pointing to Messiah's new creation work. Early church fathers saw this verse as quintessentially Messianic.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise to make 'rivers in the desert' speak to areas of spiritual barrenness in your life?
- What 'new thing' has God done in Christ that surpasses even the greatest Old Testament deliverances?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Behold, I will do a new thing (חָדָשָׁה, chadashah)—not merely recent, but unprecedented in quality and character. God announces a redemption surpassing even the Exodus. Now it shall spring forth (תִּצְמָח, titsmach)—the verb used of vegetation sprouting, suggesting organic, irresistible life breaking through death.
Shall ye not know it? challenges Israel to recognize God's new work. The promise a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (נְהָרוֹת בַּיְשִׁמוֹן, neharot bayeshimon) reverses the Exodus pattern—where Moses struck rock for water, now rivers flow perpetually. This prophesies both the return from Babylonian exile and, ultimately, the new covenant era when the Spirit flows like rivers (John 7:38-39) and Christ becomes the Way (John 14:6) through barren human religion.