Isaiah 46:9–10
God calls his people to remember: there is no other like him, and he declares the end from the beginning
Study it word by word9Remember the former things of ages past, for I am El, and there is no other; I am Elohim, and there is nothing like me;
10declaring from the beginning the end, and from of old what has not been done; saying, ‘My counsel will stand, and all my desire I will do’;
In its context
7They lift it on the shoulder, they bear it, and set it in its place, and it stands; from its spot it does not move; also, if one cries to it, it does not answer; from his distress it does not save him.
8Remember this, and stand firm; bring it back to heart, transgressors.
…
11calling from the east a bird of prey, from a distant land the man of my counsel; also I have spoken, also I will bring it about; I have formed it, also I will do it.
12Listen to me, you hard of heart, who are far from righteousness:
Its words in the original
- זִכְרוּzichru· remember
Remember, call to mind; also mention. When God "remembers" someone, it is not that he had forgotten: it means he acts in his favor.
- רִאשֹׁנוֹתrishonot· first
First, in place, time or rank; former.
- עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal
A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".
- אֵלel· El, God, god
"El", an ancient Hebrew word for "God". Alone or with another title it is a name of the God of Israel: El Elyon (God Most High), El Shaddai (God Almighty). Neighboring peoples used the same word for their gods; then this translation writes "god" in lower case. It also means "mighty".
- אֱלֹהִיםelohim· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- אֶפֶסefes· end; only
End, limit; as an adverb, "only," "however."
- מַגִּידmagid· tell, declare
Tell, make known, report, declare; also explain.
- רֵאשִׁיתreshit· beginning, firstfruits
What is first in time, order or importance: the beginning of something. It is also used for the "firstfruits", the first part of a harvest; the best part.
- אַחֲרִיתacharit· end, future
What comes after: the end, the future; also posterity.
- קֶּדֶםkedem· east, of old
What is in front. Since in Israel one faced where the sun rises, it means "east"; applied to time, "of old", "ancient times".
- נַעֲשׂוּnaasu· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- אֹמֵרomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- עֲצָתִatsati· counsel
Counsel: good judgment for deciding; also a plan.
- תָקוּםtakum· rise, stand, establish
Rise, stand up; also stand firm, establish or fulfill something. "Rise against" is to attack.
- חֶפְצִcheftsi· delight, desire, matter
Delight, pleasure, desire: what pleases someone. It can also be a valuable thing or a matter, an affair.