The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
Parallel translations
- WEB the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.
- KJV This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
- NKJV This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
- NASB “The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.
- NLT I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
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
God formed His people for Himself so that they would declare His praise. It states the purpose of redemption: a people who glorify God.
Overview
The redeemed exist not for themselves but to proclaim the excellencies of their God. Praise is the fitting response to His saving work. This purpose carries into the New Testament, where the redeemed in Christ are formed to declare the praises of Him who called them out of darkness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Heb 13:15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
- Ps 102:18Let this be written for the generation to come, so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
- 1 Cor 6:19–20Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- Luke 1:74–75deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
- 1 Cor 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Isa 61:3to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
- Col 1:16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- Isa 60:21Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.
- Eph 1:5–12He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- Eph 3:21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
- Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- Ps 4:3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.
- Isa 50:7Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.
- Prov 16:4The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 43:21 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.