Translations
Modern
They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot claim, ‘I already knew them!’
Traditional
They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.
Literal
Now they have been created, and not from then; and before this day, and you did not hear of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’
Latin
Nunc creata sunt et non ex tunc; et ante diem, et non audisti ea, ne forte dicas: Ecce ego cognovi ea.
Original
Hebrew
English
They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot claim, ‘I already knew them!’
Notes
Although Israel often did not believe God's past predictions, God revealed new things they had not heard. Specifically, God revealed that Babylon would fall and Israel would be restored.
This prophecy is a disputation, a speech in which the prophet argues a set of points against his audience.
The Lord urges Israel to abandon its long history of rebellion and pay attention to his words. In Hebrew, the word for listening often means the same as obeying or acting on what is heard.
We can draw two conclusions from the earlier evidence that the Lord alone is God:
Babylon's great pride is foolish (Isaiah 47:1–15);
Israel should listen to the word of the Lord (Isaiah 48:1–22).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC