Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, the former things have happened, and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.”
- BSB Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
- NKJV Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
- NASB “Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they sprout I proclaim them to you.”
- NLT Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As former predictions have come true, God now announces new things before they happen.
Overview
God points to the fulfillment of His past words as proof that His new declarations will likewise come to pass. His ability to foretell the future authenticates His sovereignty. The 'new things' herald the unfolding work of redemption, ultimately the new covenant inaugurated in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 43:19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
- Isa 46:9–10Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
- John 13:19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
- 2 Pet 1:19–21We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- Isa 44:7–8And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.
- Josh 23:14–15And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
- Josh 21:45There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
- Isa 41:22–23Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
- 1 Kgs 8:15–20And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
- 1 Pet 1:10–12Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
- Gen 15:12–16And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
- 1 Kgs 11:36And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
- Acts 15:18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 42:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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