See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
- KJV Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
- NKJV Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
- NASB “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
- NLT I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
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 has refined his people in the furnace of affliction, though not as pure silver. Suffering is his refining, purposeful tool.
Overview
Yahweh describes Israel's exile and hardship as a refining furnace, chosen by him to purify them — though they emerged less pure than fully refined silver. Affliction serves God's redemptive ends, testing and cleansing his people. The New Testament likewise sees trials as God refining faith more precious than gold.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 1 Pet 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Prov 17:3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
- Job 23:10Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
- Heb 12:10–11Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
- Ps 66:10For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver.
- 1 Pet 1:7so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- Jer 9:7Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people?
- Mal 3:2–3But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
- Rev 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Zech 13:8–9And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it.
- Deut 4:20Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.
- Ezek 22:18–22“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.
- 1 Kgs 8:51For they are Your people and Your inheritance; You brought them out of Egypt, out of the furnace for iron.
- Isa 1:25–26I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
- Ezek 20:38And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 48:10 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.