English Standard Version
Isaiah 48:16
16Draw 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.
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.
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Come closer, and listen to this. From the beginning I have told you plainly what would happen.” And now the Sovereign Lord and his Spirit have sent me with this message.
Context of Isaiah 48:16
14"Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 15I, even I, have spoken and called him; I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way. 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. 17Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. 18Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
Read all of Isaiah 48Isaiah 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 48:3"The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
- Isaiah 45:19I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right.
- John 18:20Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.
- Isaiah 11:1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
- Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
- Zechariah 2:8For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:
- Luke 4:18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
- John 3:34For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
- John 20:21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am 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
In the dictionaries
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
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