Isaiah 43:9
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
Original Language Analysis
כָּֽל
H3605
כָּֽל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֞ם
Let all the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֞ם
Let all the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
2 of 18
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
be assembled
H622
וְיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
be assembled
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
5 of 18
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
מִ֤י
H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
7 of 18
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יַגִּ֣יד
who among them can declare
H5046
יַגִּ֣יד
who among them can declare
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
וְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת
us former things
H7223
וְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת
us former things
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
11 of 18
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ
or let them hear
H8085
וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ
or let them hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
12 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יִתְּנ֤וּ
let them bring forth
H5414
יִתְּנ֤וּ
let them bring forth
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
13 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עֵֽדֵיהֶם֙
their witnesses
H5707
עֵֽדֵיהֶם֙
their witnesses
Strong's:
H5707
Word #:
14 of 18
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ
that they may be justified
H6663
וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ
that they may be justified
Strong's:
H6663
Word #:
15 of 18
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ
or let them hear
H8085
וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ
or let them hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
16 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 43:26Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.Isaiah 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:Isaiah 41:1Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.Psalms 50:1The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
Historical Context
This courtroom scene pits God against all nations and their gods. The challenge is clear: produce evidence or admit defeat. Israel's historical experience provides undeniable proof of God's reality.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the biblical pattern of witness and verification validate Christian truth claims?
- What evidence from your life witnesses to God's reality that others must acknowledge?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
All nations are gathered for trial. God challenges them: 'let them bring forth their witnesses' and 'let them hear, and say, It is truth.' The Hebrew 'ed' (witness) requires testimony validated by truth. Only God's witnesses can verify their testimony; false gods remain silent with no validation.