Isaiah 48:7
They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
Original Language Analysis
עַתָּ֤ה
H6258
נִבְרְאוּ֙
They are created
H1254
נִבְרְאוּ֙
They are created
Strong's:
H1254
Word #:
2 of 12
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מֵאָ֔ז
H227
וְלִפְנֵי
now and not from the beginning even before
H6440
וְלִפְנֵי
now and not from the beginning even before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 12
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
י֖וֹם
the day
H3117
י֖וֹם
the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
6 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שְׁמַעְתָּ֑ם
when thou heardest
H8085
שְׁמַעְתָּ֑ם
when thou heardest
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
8 of 12
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
פֶּן
H6435
פֶּן
Strong's:
H6435
Word #:
9 of 12
properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest
Historical Context
This addresses 'new things' like the servant's suffering (ch. 53) and new covenant (54:10) which earlier revelation only shadowed. Progressive revelation doesn't mean Scripture evolved from primitive to advanced, but that God unveiled His eternal plan in stages.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding progressive revelation help you reconcile differences between Old and New Testament emphases?
- What 'new things' is God revealing to you in Scripture that you hadn't seen before?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The declaration 'they are created now, and not from the beginning' reveals that God has reserved some revelations for optimal timing. The phrase 'even before the day when thou heardest them not' emphasizes human ignorance before God's revelation. This establishes that biblical progressive revelation was God's sovereign plan, not human religious evolution.