New English Translation
Isaiah 48:16
16Approach me! Listen to this! From the very first I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there.” So now, the sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by 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.
- 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, gather together and listen! Who among them announced these things? The Lord’s ally will carry out his desire against Babylon; he will exert his power against the Babylonians. 15I, I have spoken – yes, I have summoned him; I lead him and he will succeed. Approach me! Listen to this! From the very first I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there.” So now, the sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by his spirit. 17This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go. 18If only you had obeyed my commandments, prosperity would have flowed to you like a river, deliverance would have come to you 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“I announced events beforehand, I issued the decrees and made the predictions; suddenly I acted and they came to pass.
- Isaiah 45:19I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain!’ I am the Lord, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.
- John 18:20Jesus replied, “I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret.
- Isaiah 11:1A shoot will grow out of Jesse’s root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots.
- Isaiah 61:1The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,
- Zechariah 2:8For the Lord who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you – for anyone who touches you touches the pupil 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 release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,
- John 3:34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly.
- John 20:21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send 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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