Isaiah 48:6

KJV

Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare [it]? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou hast heard {H8085}, see {H2372} all this; and will not ye declare {H5046} it? I have shewed {H8085} thee new things {H2319} from this time {H6258}, even hidden things {H5341}, and thou didst not know {H3045} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

You have heard and seen all this, so why won't you admit it? "Now I am announcing new things to you, secret things you have not known,

Berean Standard Bible

You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not acknowledge them? From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.

American Standard Version

Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 48:6 presents a profound divine challenge and revelation to the nation of Israel, particularly those enduring the Babylonian exile. It begins with a tender yet firm rebuke, reminding them of God's past prophetic declarations and their undeniable fulfillment, questioning their reluctance to acknowledge and proclaim His mighty acts. The verse then pivots to unveil a new dimension of God's sovereign plan, promising to reveal "new things" and "hidden things"—previously unknown and unanticipated aspects of their imminent deliverance—all meticulously orchestrated by His unparalleled wisdom and foreknowledge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the latter half of the book of Isaiah (chapters 40-66), often referred to as the "Book of Consolation." This section primarily addresses the exilic and post-exilic community, offering messages of hope, restoration, and the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive purposes. Chapter 48 specifically serves as a concluding argument within a broader theological debate (chapters 40-48) where God systematically asserts His unique identity as the one true God by contrasting His unparalleled ability to declare future events with the utter impotence of pagan idols. Having meticulously recounted past prophecies and their precise fulfillment, God directly confronts Israel's persistent stubbornness and idolatry, challenging them to recognize His singular power and to bear witness to it. The "new things" promised here directly anticipate the miraculous return from Babylonian captivity, an event that would further cement God's faithfulness to His covenant people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The primary audience for Isaiah 48 was the Jewish exiles living in Babylon, a people who had suffered decades of displacement and subjugation as a consequence of their prolonged idolatry and disobedience. Residing within a vast polytheistic empire, they were constantly immersed in the worship of numerous deities, each attributed with specific powers or domains. In this environment, God's repeated and emphatic assertions of His exclusive deity, coupled with His unique capacity to predict and control the course of history, served as a powerful counter-narrative to the prevailing pagan worldview. The divine challenge to "declare" His works was not merely an internal spiritual exercise but an urgent call to public testimony, intended to demonstrate unequivocally to both Israel and the surrounding nations that the God of Israel was the sole true and living God, fundamentally different from the mute and powerless idols they encountered daily. This divine declaration was designed to instill unwavering confidence in His promises of deliverance and restoration.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 48:6 significantly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it powerfully underscores **Divine Foreknowledge and Sovereignty**, emphasizing God's unique ability to declare events before they happen, even "hidden things" previously unknown to humanity. This theme is central to God's self-revelation as the only true God, as powerfully articulated in His declaration, "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning" found in [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning"). Secondly, the penetrating rhetorical question, "will not ye declare [it]?", highlights **Israel's Unbelief and Stubbornness**. Despite having "heard" and "seen all this" (referring to past fulfilled prophecies), their hearts remained hardened, making them slow to believe or proclaim God's works. This persistent spiritual blindness and resistance to God's truth is a recurring lament throughout prophetic literature, echoing sentiments found in passages like [Jeremiah 5:23](/jeremiah/5-23 "Jeremiah 5:23 - A Stubborn and Rebellious Heart"). Finally, the mention of "new things" and "hidden things" points to the **Revelation of God's Unfolding Plan**. God is not merely reminding them of past acts but is actively revealing new, previously concealed aspects of His redemptive purpose, which includes their imminent deliverance from exile and, ultimately, the broader messianic hope that extends beyond their immediate circumstances, as seen in the promise of a [new covenant](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The Promise of a New Covenant").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **heard (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** From H8085, this word signifies not merely passive auditory reception, but intelligent listening, often carrying the implication of attention, comprehension, and obedience. In this context, it suggests that Israel had indeed received prophetic declarations, but their hearing lacked the receptive and obedient quality God desired, leading to their failure to respond appropriately to what they had been told.
* **declare (Hebrew, _nâgad'_):** From H5046, this primitive root literally means "to front," implying standing boldly out opposite, and by extension, to manifest or announce. It specifically refers to verbal proclamation made to one present. It is a forceful call to public testimony, challenging Israel to move beyond passive observation to active, courageous witness of God's works and truth.
* **hidden things (Hebrew, _nâtsar'_)::** From H5341, this word implies things that are guarded, kept, or reserved, emphasizing their previously inaccessible and unknown nature to humanity. It speaks to God's exclusive knowledge and His sovereign prerogative to reveal what has been concealed until His appointed time, highlighting the miraculous and often unexpected nature of His divine interventions.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou hast heard, see all this;":** This opening clause functions as a powerful divine indictment and a solemn reminder. God directly addresses Israel, recalling their past experiences with His prophetic declarations ("Thou hast heard") and the subsequent, undeniable fulfillment of those prophecies ("see all this"). This refers to the numerous predictions made by prophets, including Isaiah himself, concerning historical events, judgments, and even the rise of Cyrus, all of which had demonstrably come to pass. It powerfully underscores God's faithfulness and His unique ability to foretell the future, which stands in stark contrast to the utter impotence of idols.
* **"and will not ye declare [it]?":** This rhetorical question is a sharp challenge to Israel's spiritual apathy, stubbornness, and disobedience. Despite having witnessed God's undeniable power and prophetic accuracy firsthand, they remained unwilling or unable to publicly proclaim His truth and mighty works. The implied answer is a resounding "no," highlighting their persistent spiritual blindness and their failure to act as witnesses to God's glory among the nations, a role they were specifically called to fulfill as His covenant people.
* **"I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.":** Here, God shifts His focus from past fulfilled prophecies to future revelations. The "new things" (H2319, _châdâsh'_) and "hidden things" (H5341, _nâtsar'_) refer to God's imminent and unprecedented plan for their deliverance from Babylonian exile. This coming act of salvation would be so unexpected and miraculous that it was entirely beyond human foresight or comprehension. The phrase "from this time" indicates a fresh, immediate revelation of His ongoing work. The final assertion, "and thou didst not know them," emphatically underscores their utter ignorance of these divine plans, further highlighting God's exclusive knowledge and sovereign control over history, independent of human wisdom or anticipation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 48:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message and evoke a response from its audience. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "and will not ye declare [it]?", which serves not to elicit a factual answer but to underscore Israel's culpability, spiritual inertia, and moral failure despite overwhelming evidence of God's power and faithfulness. This is powerfully complemented by **Contrast**, as God juxtaposes Israel's past hearing and seeing with their present unwillingness to declare, and His own unique ability to reveal "new things" and "hidden things" with their complete ignorance ("thou didst not know them"). This highlights the vast chasm between divine omniscience and human limitation and stubbornness. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Divine Speech** (or direct address), as God speaks directly to His people, lending unparalleled authority, intimacy, and immediacy to His words. The phrases "new things" and "hidden things" also function as a form of **Anticipation**, building suspense and drawing the audience's attention to the unprecedented, miraculous, and unexpected nature of God's forthcoming acts of deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 48:6 is a profound declaration of God's unique nature as the sovereign Lord of history, whose foreknowledge and power are unmatched by any created being or false deity. It establishes a critical theological principle: God reveals His plans not only to demonstrate His omnipotence but also to call His people to a responsive faith and active witness. The "new things" signify that God is not confined to past patterns but continually acts in fresh, unexpected ways to fulfill His redemptive purposes. This calls believers to remain attentive to His ongoing work in the world and in their lives, recognizing that His ways are often higher and more intricate than human understanding can grasp. The challenge to "declare" what has been heard and seen underscores the intrinsic link between divine revelation and human responsibility—that those who receive God's truth are called to proclaim it.

* [Deuteronomy 29:29](/deuteronomy/29-29 "The Secret Things Belong to God")
* [John 16:13](/john/16-13 "The Spirit Guides into All Truth")
* [1 Corinthians 2:7-10](/1_corinthians/2-7-10 "God's Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 48:6 continues to resonate deeply with believers today, challenging us to cultivate a posture of attentive listening, humble acknowledgment, and bold declaration in the face of God's ongoing revelation. In a world often characterized by uncertainty, rapid change, and the clamor of competing voices, this verse reminds us that God remains the ultimate source of truth, foreknowing and orchestrating all things according to His perfect will. Just as ancient Israel was prone to spiritual forgetfulness and stubbornness, we too can become complacent or resistant to God's leading, especially when His plans deviate from our expectations or seem "hidden" and counter-intuitive. This passage calls us to trust in God's faithfulness, even when the future is obscured, and to recognize that His "new things" often emerge from unexpected places and through surprising means. Our response should be one of active faith, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to a vibrant, public declaration of His goodness and power, becoming living testimonies to His unfolding work in our lives and in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently struggling to trust God with "hidden things" or uncertain futures?**
* **How might God be calling you to "declare" His faithfulness or a truth you have "heard" and "seen" in your own life or community?**
* **What past experiences of God's faithfulness can you recall that strengthen your trust in His ability to do "new things" today?**
* **Are there any areas of spiritual stubbornness or resistance in your heart that prevent you from fully acknowledging or proclaiming God's work?**

### FAQ
**What are the "new things" and "hidden things" God refers to in this verse?**

Answer: The "new things" (H2319, _châdâsh'_) and "hidden things" (H5341, _nâtsar'_) primarily refer to God's imminent and unexpected plan for Israel's deliverance from Babylonian exile. This was a miraculous event that would demonstrate God's power in a fresh way, distinct from His past acts of salvation (like the Exodus). It was "hidden" because it was beyond human foresight or political maneuvering; only God knew the precise timing and means (e.g., the rise of Cyrus) by which He would bring it to pass. The concept also points to the broader, unfolding redemptive plan that culminates in the Messiah, a [new covenant](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The Promise of a New Covenant") that was previously concealed in its full scope.

**Why does God emphasize that Israel "did not know them"?**

Answer: God emphasizes Israel's ignorance ("thou didst not know them," H3045, _yâdaʻ'_) to underscore His absolute sovereignty and unique foreknowledge. It highlights that His plans are not dependent on human wisdom, foresight, or effort. By revealing things previously unknown, God demonstrates that He is the sole orchestrator of history, contrasting Himself with the powerless idols that cannot foretell or effect anything. This serves as a rebuke to Israel's reliance on their own understanding or on false gods, and a call to humble dependence on Him alone. It also sets the stage for God's gracious revelation, despite their spiritual dullness.

**What does it mean for Israel, and for us, to "declare" these things?**

Answer: To "declare" (H5046, _nâgad'_) means to publicly announce, report, or make known what God has done or is about to do. For Israel, it was a call to bear witness to God's prophetic accuracy and His mighty acts of deliverance, both to their own people and to the surrounding nations, thereby affirming His unique deity. For believers today, it means acknowledging God's active presence and power in our lives and in the world, sharing our testimonies of His faithfulness, and proclaiming the truth of His Word. It's a call to move beyond passive observation to active participation in making God's glory known, fulfilling the mandate to be [His witnesses](/acts/1-8 "Acts 1:8 - You Will Be My Witnesses").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 48:6 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "new things" and "hidden things" that God promised to reveal, which were partially realized in Israel's return from exile, find their full and glorious manifestation in the New Covenant established through Christ's sacrifice. The mystery "hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints" ([Colossians 1:26](/colossians/1-26 "Colossians 1:26 - The Mystery Revealed")) is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the ultimate "new thing" God did for humanity. The "hidden wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 2:7](/1_corinthians/2-7 "1 Corinthians 2:7 - God's Wisdom Hidden and Revealed")) was unveiled in Christ's incarnation, His atoning death, and His resurrection—events that humanity "did not know" or anticipate in their fullness. Through Christ, God has not only declared His future plans but has decisively acted to bring about the ultimate redemption and reconciliation of all things. The call to "declare" in Isaiah 48:6 is now transformed into the Great Commission, where believers are commanded to "go and make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")), proclaiming the "good news" of what God has done through His Son, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Thus, the ancient challenge to Israel becomes a vibrant mandate for the Church, empowered by the [Holy Spirit](/acts/2-1-4 "Acts 2:1-4 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit") to declare the "new and living way" ([Hebrews 10:20](/hebrews/10-20 "Hebrews 10:20 - The New and Living Way")) opened by Christ, a way of access to God previously hidden.

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

Revelation 4:1

¶ After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Romans 16:25

¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 16:26

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Isaiah 43:8

¶ Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Isaiah 43:10

Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Matthew 10:27

What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops.