Isaiah 43 · Verse 4

Isaiah 43:4

Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
Isaiah 43:4, King James Version

Isaiah 43:4 in other translations

BSBBecause you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.
WEBSince you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
ASVSince thou hast been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.
YLTSince thou wast precious in Mine eyes, Thou wast honoured, and I have loved thee, And I appoint men in thy stead, And peoples instead of thy life.
DARBYSince thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee; and I will give men for thee, and peoples for thy life.
BBEBecause of your value in my eyes, you have been honoured, and loved by me; so I will give men for you, and peoples for your life.
WebsterSince thou hast been precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

What does Isaiah 43:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Since--All along from the beginning; for there was never a time when Israel was not Jehovah's people. The apodosis should be at, "I will give." "Since ever thou wast precious in My sight, honorable, and that I loved thee, I will give," &c. [Maurer]. Gesenius, as English Version, takes "Since" to mean, "Inasmuch as." If the apodosis be as in English Version, "Since thou wast precious" will refer to the time when God called His people out of Egypt, manifesting then first the love which He had from everlasting towards them (Jr 31:3; Ho 11:1); "honorable" and "loved," refer to outward marks of honor and love from God. men ... people--other nations for thee (so Is 43:3). thy life--thy person.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 43:1-7

God's unchangeable love for his people. (Is. 43:1-7) Apostates and idolaters addressed. (Is. 43:8-13) The deliverance from Babylon, and the conversion of the Gentiles. (Is. 43:14-21) Admonition to repent of sin. (Is. 43:22-28) Verses 1-7 God's favour and good-will to his people speak abundant comfort to all believers. The new creature, wherever it is, is of God's forming. All who are redeemed with the blood of his…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 43:1-7 →

Isaiah 43:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מֵאֲשֶׁ֨רme.'a.Sher<from> becauseH834
יָקַ֧רְתָּya.Kar.tayou are preciousH3365
בְעֵינַ֛יve.'ei.Naiin view myH5869
נִכְבַּ֖דְתָּnikh.Bad.tayou are honoredH3513
וַאֲנִ֣יva.'a.Niand IH589
אֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ'a.hav.Ti.khaI love youH157
וְאֶתֵּ֤ןve.'e.Tenand I may giveH5414
אָדָם֙'a.DamhumankindH120
תַּחְתֶּ֔יךָtach.Tei.khain place of youH8478
וּלְאֻמִּ֖יםu.le.'u.Mimand peoplesH3816
תַּ֥חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478
נַפְשֶֽׁךָ\׃naf.She.khalife yourH5315

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 43:4

  • Deuteronomy 7:6-8

    For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Jeremiah 31:3

    The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

  • Revelation 3:9

    Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

  • Genesis 12:2

    And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

  • Hosea 11:1

    When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

  • John 16:27

    For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

  • Deuteronomy 32:9-14

    For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. …

  • John 17:23

    I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

  • Exodus 19:5-6

    Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 14:2

    For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 26:18

    And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
precious.
Ex 19:5,6; De 7:6-8; 14:2; 26:18; 32:9-14; Ps 135:4; Mal 3:17
Tit 2:14; 1Pe 2:9
thou hast been.
Ge 12:2; Ps 112:9; Joh 5:44; 1Pe 1:7
I Have.
Jer 31:3; Ho 11:1; Mal 1:2; Joh 16:27; 17:23,26; Re 3:9
life. or, person.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 43:3

    For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

  • Isaiah 43:4

    Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

  • Isaiah 43:5

    Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Read all of Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque en mis ojos fuiste de grande estima, fuiste honorable, y yo te amé: daré pues hombres por ti, y naciones por tu alma.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Depuis que tu es devenu précieux à mes yeux, tu as été glorieux, et moi, je t’ai aimé; et je donnerai des hommes pour toi et des peuples pour ta vie.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Weil du teuer, wertvoll bist in meinen Augen, und ich dich lieb habe, so werde ich Menschen hingeben an deiner Statt und Völkerschaften anstatt deines Lebens.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ex quo honorabilis factus es in oculis meis, et gloriosus, ego dilexi te, et dabo homines pro te, et populos pro anima tua.