Bible Strands
Isaiah 44:6
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks directly to Israel, identifying Himself as King and Redeemer immediately after describing how future believers will mark themselves as belonging to Him. This declaration occurs while the LORD challenges any rival to present a case and foretell future events.
The words — The noun מֶֽלֶךְ (Me.lekh) translates to "king," establishing sovereign rule, while גֹּאֵל (go'el) means "redeemer," denoting the act of buying back or restoring. The adverb כֹּֽה (koh) literally means "thus," framing the statement as a direct divine pronouncement.
The thread — The claim "I am the first and I am the last" appears in Isaiah 41:4 and Revelation 1:8, where God asserts eternal precedence and absolute deity. The title "LORD of Hosts" and the theme of exclusive divinity recur throughout the prophetic and apostolic writings.
Why it lands — The text demands the reader acknowledge Yahweh’s exclusive divinity and sovereign control over history. It requires a direct response of allegiance, as illustrated by those who publicly declare belonging to the LORD.
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 the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 41:4 Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”
- Isaiah 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.
- Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
- Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
- Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
- Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
- Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your benefit, who directs you in the way you should go.
- Isaiah 48:12 Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.
- Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
- Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.