Isa 43:1-3 | JFB | STEP | 1. But now-- notwithstanding God's past just judgments for Israel's sins. created-- not only in the general sense, but specially created as a peculiar people unto Himself ( , 15, 21; , 21, 24). So believers, "created in Christ Jesus" ( ), "a peculiar people" ( ). redeemed-- a second argument why they should trust Him besides creation. The Hebrew means to ransom by a price paid in lieu of the captives (compare ). Babylon was to be the ransom in this case, that is, was to be destroyed, in order that they might be delivered; so Christ became a curse, doomed to death, that we might be redeemed. called ... by ... name-- not merely "called" in general, as in ; ; , but designated as His own peculiar people (compare , ; ; ; ).

‏ Isaiah 43:1-3

CHAPTER 43 Is 43:1-28. A Succession of Arguments Wherein Israel May Be Assured that, Notwithstanding Their Perversity towards God (Is 42:25), He Will Deliver and Restore Them.

1. But now--notwithstanding God's past just judgments for Israel's sins.

created--not only in the general sense, but specially created as a peculiar people unto Himself (Is 43:7, 15, 21; Is 44:2, 21, 24). So believers, "created in Christ Jesus" (Ep 2:10), "a peculiar people" (1Pe 2:9).

redeemed--a second argument why they should trust Him besides creation. The Hebrew means to ransom by a price paid in lieu of the captives (compare Is 43:3). Babylon was to be the ransom in this case, that is, was to be destroyed, in order that they might be delivered; so Christ became a curse, doomed to death, that we might be redeemed.

called ... by ... name--not merely "called" in general, as in Is 42:6; 48:12; 51:2, but designated as His own peculiar people (compare Is 45:3, 4; Ex 32:1; 33:12; Joh 10:3).

2. rivers ... not overflow thee--so in passing Jordan, though at its "overflow," when its "swellings" were especially dangerous (Jos 3:15; Jr 12:5).

waters ... fire--a proverbial phrase for the extremest perils (Psa 66:12; also Psa 138:7). Literally fulfilled at the Red Sea (Ex 14:21, 22), and in the case of the three youths cast into the fiery furnace for conscience' sake (Da 3:25, 27).

3. Egypt for thy ransom--Either Egypt or Israel must perish; God chose that Egypt, though so much more mighty, should be destroyed, in order that His people might be delivered; thus Egypt stood, instead of Israel, as a kind of "ransom." The Hebrew, kopher, means properly "that with which anything is overlaid," as the pitch with which the ark was overlaid; hence that which covers over sins, an atonement. Nebuchadnezzar had subdued Egypt, Ethiopia (Hebrew, Cush), and Saba (descended from Cush, Ge 10:7, probably Meroe of Ethiopia, a great island formed by the Astaboras and the Nile, conquered by Cambyses, successor of Cyrus). Cyrus received these from God with the rest of the Babylonian dominions, in consideration of his being about to deliver Israel. However, the reference may be to the three years' war in which Sargon overcame these countries, and so had his attention diverted from Israel (see on Is 20:1) [Vitringa]. But the reference is probably more general, namely, to all the instances in which Jehovah sacrificed mighty heathen nations, when the safety of Israel required it.