Isaiah 48:3
in Isaiah 48I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
KJV
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
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This verse in Isaiah 48
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I have declared the former things - That is, in former times I have predicted future events by the prophets, which have come to pass as they were foretold. Though the fulfillment might have appeared to be long delayed, yet it came to pass at the very time, showing it to be an exact fulfillment of the prophecy. The design of thus referring to the former predictions is, to remind them of their proneness to disregard his declarations, and to recall to their attention the fact that all that he said would be certainly accomplished.
This site's exposition
I foretold the former things long ago
on Isaiah 48:3-5
“I foretold the former things long ago” carries on the argument from prediction. Verse 4 gives the reason, “your neck is iron and your forehead is bronze”, the stubbornness Moses names in Israel. Verse 5 states the purpose, so that Israel could not claim, “My idol has done this”.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It is not in human nature to know things that are to come. I am the God who foretells them even now and who did so throughout former times. In addition, the predictions that previously came through the mouths of my other prophets as declarative of many things to come were reported by and complied with by those prophesying, to whom the events seemed to fit the words of the other prophets.
The adversities that have come on you were announced by me well beforehand, in order that you would be frightened by threats and driven to repentance, so that you may steer clear of the dreadful events. But since you failed to believe my words, I …
(Verse 3, 4 and following) I announced the former things long ago, they went out from my mouth, and I made them heard. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze. I foretold them to you long ago, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, 'My idols did these things, and my carved images and molded idols commanded them.' You have heard; see all this. And will you not declare it?
The Medieval Church1 voice
885. Second, he promises liberation: the former things of old. And concerning this, he does three things: first, he shows the majesty of God who promises it; second, he shows the prosperity of Cyrus who executes it: assemble yourselves together, all you, etc.; third, he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Nothing material happened to their nation from its original which was not prophesied of before--their bondage in Egypt, their deliverance thence, the situation of their tribes in Canaan, &c. All these things went forth out of God's mouth and he showed them. Herein they were honoured above any nation, and even their curiosity was gratified.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I have declared the former things from the beginning,.... From the time of their first ancestors, from the time of Abraham their father, to whom was declared what should befall his posterity; that they should sojourn in Egypt, be afflicted there, and come out from thence with great substance; that they be brought into the land of Canaan, and the inhabitants of it being driven out before them, Gen 15:
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
former--things which have happened in time past to Israel (Isa 42:9; 46:10). suddenly--They came to pass so unexpectedly that the prophecy could not have resulted from mere human sagacity.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָרִֽאשֹׁנוֹת֙ | harishonot | the former [things] | H7223 → | 182 times |
| מֵאָ֣ז | meaz | from then | H227 → | 141 times |
| הִגַּ֔דְתִּי | higadti | I declared | H5046 → | 370 times |
| וּמִפִּ֥י | umipi | and from mouth my | H6310 → | 498 times |
| יָצְא֖וּ | yatzeu | they went out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| וְאַשְׁמִיעֵ֑ם | veashmiem | and I proclaimed them | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| פִּתְאֹ֥ם | pitom | suddenly | H6597 → | 25 times |
| עָשִׂ֖יתִי | ʾasiti | I acted | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| וַתָּבֹֽאנָה׃ | vatavonah | and they came | H935 → | 2568 times |
הָרִֽאשֹׁנוֹת֙the former [things]
harishonotH7223 →182 times
מֵאָ֣זfrom then
meazH227 →141 times
הִגַּ֔דְתִּיI declared
higadtiH5046 →370 times
וּמִפִּ֥יand from mouth my
umipiH6310 →498 times
יָצְא֖וּthey went out
yatzeuH3318 →1067 times
וְאַשְׁמִיעֵ֑םand I proclaimed them
veashmiemH8085 →1159 times
פִּתְאֹ֥םsuddenly
pitomH6597 →25 times
עָשִׂ֖יתִיI acted
ʾasitiH6213 →2628 times
וַתָּבֹֽאנָה׃and they came
vatavonahH935 →2568 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 21:45Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 8:56
“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.
- Joshua 23:14–15
Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to…
- Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
- 1 Kings 8:56
Through
Isaiah 42:9Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
- Isaiah 46:9–10
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
- Isaiah 44:7–8
Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 13:19
I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
- Isaiah 43:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Isaiah
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Eusebius of Caesarea, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 2:33; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 15:48.3 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.