“Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they sprout I proclaim them to you.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, the former things have happened, and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.”
- KJV Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
- 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.”
- 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. It springs out now. Don’t you 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 no other. I am God, and there is none like me.
- John 13:19From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he.
- 2 Pet 1:19–21We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:
- Isa 44:7–8Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
- Josh 23:14–15“Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.
- Josh 21:45Nothing failed of any good thing which Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.
- Isa 41:22–23“Let them announce, and declare to us what shall happen. Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
- 1 Kgs 8:15–20He said, “Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who spoke with his mouth to David your father, and has with his hand fulfilled it, saying,
- 1 Pet 1:10–12Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
- Gen 15:12–16When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him.
- 1 Kgs 11:36To his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
- Acts 15:18All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.’
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.