Isaiah 43:18

KJV

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

KJV (with Strong's)

Remember {H2142} ye not the former things {H7223}, neither consider {H995} the things of old {H6931}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over times gone by;

Berean Standard Bible

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

American Standard Version

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 43:18 serves as a profound divine injunction to the exiled people of Israel, urging them to shift their focus from the glorious acts of God's past deliverances, such as the Exodus, towards a new and even more magnificent work of salvation He is about to perform. This verse marks a pivotal transition, preparing the audience to anticipate fresh manifestations of God's power and faithfulness, thereby instilling hope for a future restoration that will surpass even their most cherished historical memories.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 43:18 is situated within the second major section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), often referred to as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah." This section is primarily concerned with comforting the Jewish exiles in Babylon, proclaiming God's sovereignty over history, and announcing their imminent return to Judah. Chapters 40-48 specifically focus on God's unique identity as the only true God, contrasting Him with the impotent idols of Babylon. Preceding this verse, God has powerfully declared His unwavering commitment to Israel, promising to redeem them from captivity and gather them from the ends of the earth (e.g., [Isaiah 43:5-7](/isaiah/43-5 "Isaiah 43:5-7 - God's Promise to Gather Israel")). Immediately following, [Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's New Work") reveals the nature of this "new thing" – a new exodus, a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, symbolizing a miraculous and unprecedented restoration.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The primary historical backdrop for Isaiah 43 is the Babylonian exile, which began with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC. The Jewish people were living in a foreign land, under foreign rule, and many felt abandoned by their God. Their national identity and faith were deeply rooted in past acts of divine deliverance, particularly the Exodus from Egypt, which served as the foundational narrative of God's covenant faithfulness. The "former things" and "things of old" would immediately evoke memories of the Red Sea crossing, the wilderness wanderings, and the miraculous provision God had demonstrated. However, these memories, while comforting, could also lead to a static expectation of God's work, preventing them from recognizing His new initiatives. The prophet's message here is designed to reorient their perspective from past glories to future hope, preparing them for a return that would, in many ways, parallel but also exceed the first Exodus.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Isaiah. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Innovation and Sovereignty**, asserting that God is not bound by His past methods but is capable of continually doing "new things" that demonstrate His boundless power and creativity, as explicitly stated in [Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's Promise of New Things"). Secondly, it emphasizes a **Forward Focus and Hope**, instructing the people not to dwell exclusively on past deliverances or failures, but to cultivate an expectant anticipation of God's unfolding plans. This reorientation is crucial for a people facing despair, reminding them that God's future acts of salvation will surpass even the most miraculous events of their history. Finally, it reinforces the theme of **Redemption and Restoration**, assuring Israel that despite their current plight, God's covenant faithfulness guarantees their ultimate deliverance and renewal, a theme prevalent throughout [Isaiah 40-55](/isaiah/40 "Isaiah 40-55 - Comfort and Restoration").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** This primitive root means "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention." It encompasses not just recalling facts, but actively bringing something to mind, considering it, and acting upon it. The negative imperative here, "Remember ye not," is a strong command to deliberately cease dwelling on or being defined by past events, not to erase them from memory, but to shift focus from them as the exclusive paradigm for God's activity.
* **Former things (Hebrew, _riʼshôwn'_):** Derived from a word meaning "first," this term refers to things that are "first, in place, time or rank." In this context, it denotes God's initial or primary acts of salvation and covenant, most notably the Exodus from Egypt, which established Israel as a nation and defined their relationship with Yahweh. The prophet is not devaluing these foundational events but recontextualizing them in light of God's imminent, greater work.
* **Consider (Hebrew, _bîyn'_):** This primitive root means "to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand." It implies a deep mental engagement, to discern, attend to, or perceive with intelligence. The parallel negative imperative, "neither consider," reinforces the command to actively disengage from an over-preoccupation with the past, preventing it from limiting their expectation of God's future actions.
* **Things of old (Hebrew, _qadmôwnîy'_):** This word signifies something "anterior" or "ancient," referring to events that occurred long ago. It reinforces the idea of historical events that have become part of the distant past. Paired with "former things," it creates a comprehensive reference to all of God's past redemptive acts, urging the audience to look beyond these well-known precedents.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Remember ye not the former things":** This is a strong negative imperative, not a suggestion. It commands the audience to deliberately stop recalling or fixating on God's past acts of deliverance, particularly the foundational Exodus. The intent is not to forget God's faithfulness, but to prevent the past from becoming a spiritual comfort zone or a limiting framework that blinds them to God's new, unprecedented work.
* **"neither consider the things of old":** This clause serves as a synonymous parallelism, reinforcing the first command with another negative imperative. "Consider" (Hebrew: _bîyn_) implies deep reflection, discernment, and understanding. The instruction is to cease meditating on or analyzing ancient events as the sole or ultimate demonstration of God's power, because God is about to do something so novel and magnificent that it will redefine their understanding of His redemptive capacity.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 43:18 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Imperative**, as the verse opens with two strong negative commands: "Remember ye not" and "neither consider." These are not gentle suggestions but direct instructions, demanding a decisive shift in the audience's focus. This is immediately followed by **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism**, where "the former things" and "the things of old" refer to the same category of past divine acts, and "remember" and "consider" convey similar actions of mental engagement. This repetition intensifies the command, emphasizing the urgency of reorienting their perspective. While not explicit in this single verse, the broader context of [Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's New Act") implies a **Contrast** between the "former things" and the "new thing" God is about to do, setting up an expectation of divine innovation that transcends past experiences.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 43:18 stands as a pivotal theological statement on God's dynamic and progressive nature in salvation history. It challenges the human tendency to confine God to past paradigms, no matter how glorious, and instead calls for an expectant faith in His ongoing, often unprecedented, work. This does not negate the importance of remembering God's faithfulness throughout history, but rather elevates the understanding that His redemptive plan is ever-unfolding and culminates in something greater. It anticipates a "new exodus" for Israel, a return from exile that would demonstrate God's power in ways that surpassed even the first Exodus. Theologically, it points to the principle that God's greatest acts are often yet to come, demanding a forward-looking faith that is open to His divine innovation and the surpassing glory of His future revelations.

* [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant"): This passage directly speaks of a "new covenant" that will supersede the old, echoing Isaiah's theme of God doing a "new thing."
* [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ"): Paul declares that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new," powerfully reflecting the spiritual fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
* [Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - God Makes All Things New"): God declares, "Behold, I make all things new," pointing to the ultimate eschatological fulfillment of this divine promise to innovate and restore.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 43:18 offers profound guidance for believers today, encouraging a dynamic and forward-looking faith. It challenges us to avoid spiritual stagnation, where we might become so fixated on past victories, personal failures, or even cherished traditions that we fail to perceive or participate in God's present and future work. While we are called to remember God's faithfulness throughout history and learn from our experiences, this verse warns against allowing nostalgia or regret to blind us to the new ways God desires to move in our lives, our churches, and the world. It invites us to cultivate an expectant heart, trusting that God is always able to make a "way in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert" ([Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's Promise of New Things")) even in our most challenging or seemingly barren circumstances. Our focus should be on His unfolding purposes, embracing change, and anticipating His fresh anointing and direction, knowing that His best work is often still ahead.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I perhaps dwelling too much on "former things" or "things of old," preventing me from seeing God's new work?**
* **How can I cultivate a more expectant faith that anticipates God's innovative action, rather than relying solely on past experiences?**
* **What "new thing" might God be trying to do in my personal life, my community, or the church that I might be missing by looking backward?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness, without being fixated on it, inform my anticipation of His future actions?**

### FAQ

**Does Isaiah 43:18 mean we should forget God's past acts of deliverance, like the Exodus?**

Answer: No, the verse does not command us to literally forget God's past acts. The Hebrew word for "remember" (H2142, _zâkar_) means more than just recalling facts; it implies active consideration, dwelling on, and being defined by something. The command "Remember ye not" is a call to shift focus and perspective. It warns against being so fixated on past glories (like the [Exodus from Egypt](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Parting of the Red Sea")) that one fails to recognize or anticipate God's new and greater works. God's past faithfulness remains foundational, but He is not limited to repeating Himself; He is constantly innovating His redemptive plan.

**What are the "new things" God is doing that surpass the "former things"?**

Answer: Immediately following this verse, [Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's Promise of New Things") clarifies: "Behold, 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." For the exiles, this primarily referred to a "new exodus," a miraculous return from Babylonian captivity that would be even more glorious and comprehensive than the original Exodus from Egypt. It symbolized a new era of restoration, provision, and divine presence. The "new thing" emphasizes God's boundless power and creativity in bringing about salvation and renewal in unexpected ways.

**How does this verse apply to personal spiritual growth and overcoming past failures?**

Answer: For personal spiritual growth, [Isaiah 43:18](/isaiah/43-18 "Isaiah 43:18 - Don't Dwell on the Past") encourages us to release ourselves from being defined by past successes or failures. While we learn from history, dwelling on past regrets or resting on past achievements can hinder our progress. God is a God of new beginnings and fresh mercies every morning ([Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Mercies are New Every Morning")). This verse invites us to embrace His ongoing work of transformation, to anticipate His fresh guidance, and to believe that He can do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" ([Ephesians 3:20](/ephesians/3-20 "Ephesians 3:20 - God's Power to Do More")) in our present and future.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 43:18 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the immediate context points to a new exodus for Israel from Babylonian exile, the "new thing" God promised culminates in the New Covenant established through Christ's sacrifice. The "former things" of the Old Covenant, with its laws, sacrifices, and temple rituals, were glorious and divinely ordained, but they were shadows pointing to a greater reality. Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offered a perfect and final sacrifice that rendered the old sacrificial system obsolete ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). His resurrection marked the dawn of a new creation, where believers are made new in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")). The "way in the wilderness" and "rivers in the desert" ([Isaiah 43:19](/isaiah/43-19 "Isaiah 43:19 - God's Promise of New Things")) are realized in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way")) and who offers living water that quenches spiritual thirst ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water")). Through Christ, God has indeed done a "new thing" that surpasses all previous acts of salvation, inaugurating an eternal covenant and a spiritual reality far grander than any historical deliverance. This new work culminates in the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, where God declares, "Behold, I make all things new" ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - God Makes All Things New")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 65:17

¶ For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

2 Corinthians 3:10

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

Jeremiah 16:14

¶ Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

Jeremiah 16:15

But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

Isaiah 46:9

Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,

1 Chronicles 16:12

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Deuteronomy 8:2

And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.