Bible Strands
Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — YHWH speaks, having just claimed exclusive ownership of His name and glory (v. 8), addressing the nations and Israel as the closing credential of the first Servant Song (42:1–7).
The words — חֲדָשׁוֹת (chadashot, "new things") is the same root as the "new song" in v. 10 and the "new thing" in 43:19; תִּצְמַחְנָה (titzmachnah, "they will spring forth") borrows botanical language for events, as if prophecies are seeds.
The thread — Isaiah 43:19 repeats the chadash motif with the same hinneh ("behold") formula; Isaiah 46:9 reinforces the "remember former things" logic; John 13:19 transposes the "before it happens" claim to Jesus' self-identification.
Why it lands — The verse offers a testable warrant: if former things came to pass, the new announcement carries the same reliability, and the reader's task is to weigh that track record rather than demand the event be visible first.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Cross-references
- 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 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
- 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.
- 2 Peter 1:19 We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Isaiah 44:7 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 place.
- Joshua 23:14 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 you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
- 1 Kings 8:15 and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,
- Isaiah 41:22 “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
- 1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,