Isaiah 48:16

Isaiah 48:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
• New International Version (NIV)“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there." And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.”

Context of Isaiah 48:16

14All of you, come together and listen to me. Not one of your idols has said what will happen now. I, the Lord, have chosen a friend to attack Babylon. He will do what I want. He will have the power to punish the Babylonians. 15Yes, that is what I have commanded. I have called him to do this work. I have shown him what he must do, and he will do it! Come near to me! Listen to my message! From the beginning, I have not spoken secretly. When these things happen, I will already be there.’ Now the Almighty Lord has sent me, with the power of his Spirit. 17The Lord is your Redeemer, Israel's Holy God. He says, ‘I am the Lord your God. I teach you what will be good for you. I lead you along a good path in life. 18You should have obeyed my commands. Then you would have had peace in your lives, like a river that runs quietly. You would have been safe and well, like the strong waves in the sea.

Isaiah 48:16 word by word

קִרְב֧וּ אֵלַ֣י שִׁמְעוּ־זֹ֗את לֹ֤א מֵרֹאשׁ֙ בַּסֵּ֣תֶר דִּבַּ֔רְתִּי מֵעֵ֥ת הֱיוֹתָ֖הּ שָׁ֣ם אָ֑נִי וְעַתָּ֗ה אֲדֹנָ֧י יְהוִ֛ה שְׁלָחַ֖נִי וְרוּחֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Comeקָרַבqârab · to present: comeH7126
• unto me, hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• ye this; I have not spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• in secretסֵ֫תֶרsêther sithrâh · secrecyH5643
• from the beginningרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: firstH7218
• from the timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• I: and now the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• and his Spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• hath sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971

Cross-references for Isaiah 48:16

• Isaiah 48:3The Lord says to his people, ‘I already spoke about things that would happen at a future time. A long time ago I told you what would happen. Then I suddenly did my work, and I caused those things to happen!
• Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken secretly, as I hid in a dark place. I did not say to Jacob's descendants, “Look for me, but you will not find me.” I am the Lord. I speak what is right. My message is true.
• John 18:20Jesus answered him, ‘I have always taught in the Jewish meeting places, or at the temple. Those are public places where all the Jews meet together. I have said nothing secretly.
• Isaiah 11:1A descendant of Jesse will appear, like a new branch that grows from a tree stump. The roots of the tree will give new fruit!
• Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Almighty Lord is on me, because he has chosen me to serve him. He has sent me to tell good news to poor people. He has sent me to comfort people who are very upset. He has sent me to tell prisoners that they are now free. They can go out of their prisons!
• Zechariah 2:8Return because the Lord says, ‘Anyone that attacks you is attacking the Lord's people. He is attacking the people that the Lord loves.’ So the Lord Almighty sent me, Zechariah, with this message about the countries that have robbed his people.
• Luke 4:18‘The Spirit of the Lord God is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to poor people. He has sent me to tell people who are in prison, “You can go free!” I must say to people that cannot see, “See again!” I must cause people that are like slaves to become free.
• John 3:34The one that God has sent speaks God's words. God has given his Spirit to fill that person completely.
• John 20:21Jesus said again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, in the same way I am now sending you.’

Commentaries on Isaiah 48:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Come ye near unto me - After the word קרבו kirbu, "draw near," a MS. adds גוים goyim, "O ye nations;" which, as this and the two preceding verses are plainly addressed to the idolatrous nations, reproaching their gods as unable to predict future events, is probably genuine. Hear ye this "And hear ye this" - A MS. adds the conjunction, ושמעו vashimu ; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. I have not spoken in secret - The Alexandrine copy of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Come ye near unto me - (see Isaiah 48:14). I have not spoken in secret - (See the notes at Isaiah 45:19). The idea here is, that he had foretold the raising up of Cyrus, and his agency in delivering his people, in terms so plain that it could not be pretended that it was conjectured, and so clear that there was no ambiguity. From the time that it was, there am I - From the moment when the purpose was formed, and when it began to be accomplished, I was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those may speak boldly, whom God and his Spirit send. This is to be applied to Christ. He was sent, and he had the Spirit without measure. Whom God redeems, he teaches; he teaches to profit by affliction, and then makes them partakers of his holiness. Also, by his grace he leads them in the way of duty; and by his providence he leads in the way of deliverance. God did not afflict them willingly. If…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16I have not spoken in secret: God's promises are clear, though they do not always specify how or when they will happen. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit: The identity of the one sent is unclear. Isaiah might be referring to himself as a prophet inspired by the Spirit, speaking God's words to Israel. The connection with the spirit suggests it refers to the promised servant, the Messiah. The presence of the Spirit ensures the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. not ... in secret--(Is 45:19). Jehovah foretold Cyrus' advent, not with the studied ambiguity of heathen oracles, but plainly. from the time, &c.--From the moment that the purpose began to be accomplished in the raising up of Cyrus I was present. sent me--The prophet here speaks, claiming attention to his announcement as to Cyrus, on the ground of his mission from God and His Spirit. But he speaks not in his own person so much as in that of Messiah…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 48:16

• Holy Spirit
• Jesus, the Christ
• Trinity

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Holy Spirit
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Saviour
• Trinity

Commentaries on Isaiah 48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings