Isaiah 48:16

Come near to Me and listen to this: From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time it happened, I was there.” And now the Lord GOD has sent me, accompanied by His Spirit.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD addresses His covenant people in Isaiah 48 at the moment of announcing a commissioned mission. He speaks publicly to establish His authority and continuous presence.

The words — The Hebrew קִרְב֧וּ (kir.Vu) commands the audience to draw near, while בַּ/סֵּ֣תֶר (ba./Se.ter) literally means in secrecy, marking the contrast with His open speech.

The thread — Isaiah 45:19 records God stating He did not speak in secret or in a land of darkness. The sending motif continues in John 20:21, where Jesus declares the Father sent Him, and John 18:20 shows Jesus affirming He spoke openly to the world.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to approach God’s word directly and accept His unhidden instruction. It demands immediate attention to His revealed direction rather than searching for hidden meanings.

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

קִרְב֧וּkir.Vudraw near אֵלַ֣י'e.La/ito/ me שִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-listen to זֹ֗אתZotthis לֹ֤אlo'not מֵרֹאשׁ֙me./roShfrom/ [the] beginning בַּסֵּ֣תֶרba./Se.terin <the>/ secrecy דִּבַּ֔רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiI have spoken מֵעֵ֥תme./'Etfrom/ [the] time הֱיוֹתָ֖הּhe.yo.Ta/hhappened/ it שָׁ֣םsham[was] there אָ֑נִי'A.niI וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ now אֲדֹנָ֧י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִ֛הYah.wehYahweh שְׁלָחַ֖נִיshe.la.Cha./nihe has sent/ me וְרוּחֽוֹ׃ פve./ru.Ch/oand/ spirit/ his

King James Version

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

Cross-references

John 18:20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
John 20:21 Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.”
Isaiah 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
John 3:34 For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
Isaiah 48:3 I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—
Isaiah 41:1 “Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.