Bible Strands

Isaiah 43:4

Because 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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — YHWH speaks to Israel as their God and Savior (v.3), addressing a people in or approaching exile. The speech is covenant reassurance, positioning God as the one who redeems.

The words — יָקַרְתָּ (yāqar·tā) is a qal perfect with second-person suffix: "you have become precious," a settled state rather than a conditional promise. אֲהַבְתִּיךָ ('aha·və·tî·kha) is likewise perfect: "I have loved you," a completed act stated as fact.

The thread — The "precious" language runs into Deuteronomy 7:6 and 1 Peter 2:9, where Israel and the church are called God's "prized possession" (סִגּוּל). The declared love echoes Jeremiah 31:3's "everlasting love."

Why it lands — Worth is stated as a fact already established, not a reward for faithfulness. The reader is asked to stop negotiating their value with God and receive it as given.

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

מֵאֲשֶׁ֨רme./'a.Sher<from>/ becauseיָקַ֧רְתָּya.Kar.tayou are preciousבְעֵינַ֛יve./'ei.Na/iin/ view/ myנִכְבַּ֖דְתָּnikh.Bad.tayou are honoredוַאֲנִ֣יva./'a.Niand/ Iאֲהַבְתִּ֑יךָ'a.hav.Ti./khaI love/ youוְאֶתֵּ֤ןve./'e.Tenand/ I may giveאָדָם֙'a.Damhumankindתַּחְתֶּ֔יךָtach.Tei./khain place of/ youוּלְאֻמִּ֖יםu./le.'u.Mimand/ peoplesתַּ֥חַתTa.chatin place ofנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃naf.She./khalife/ your

King James Version

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.

Cross-references