Bible Strands
Isaiah 43:16
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh addresses Israel in Isaiah 43, positioned between a declaration of His identity as their Holy One and Creator (Isaiah 43:15) and a description of His past military victory over Egyptian forces (Isaiah 43:17).
The words — The phrase הַ/נּוֹתֵ֥ן בַּ/יָּ֖ם דָּ֑רֶךְ (ha./no.Ten ba/i.Yam Da.rekh) literally renders "who/ made in the/ sea a way," while עַזִּ֖ים ('a.Zim) denotes "mighty" or "surging."
The thread — This declaration of divine navigation through turbulent waters recurs in Psalms 77:19, Isaiah 43:2, and Isaiah 51:10.
Why it lands — The text states Yahweh's past act of clearing a path through the sea, demanding recognition of His power to deliver.
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
Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
Cross-references
- Psalms 77:19 Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.
- Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Isaiah 51:10 Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?
- Jeremiah 31:35 Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:
- Nehemiah 9:11 You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.
- Psalms 78:13 He split the sea and brought them through; He set the waters upright like a wall.
- Psalms 106:9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.
- Isaiah 51:15 For I am the LORD your God who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name.
- Isaiah 63:11 Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them,
- Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,