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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks to Israel, identifying himself by two titles before stating his purpose toward them. The surrounding verses frame this as a public declaration (v.16) followed by a conditional warning about obedience (v.18).

The words — גֹּאַל (gō'āl, "redeemer") is a kinsman-redeemer term carrying legal obligation, not merely rescue; it ties the one who buys back to the one who now instructs.

The thread — The "I will teach/direct you in the way" language recurs in Psalms 32:8 and 25:12, where the same Yahweh who redeems is the one who chooses the path. Job 22:21 links reconciliation with Yahweh to the practical outcome of "good will come to you," echoing the benefit clause here.

Why it lands — The verse binds redemption and instruction to the same actor, so accepting one while ignoring the other is incoherent. The reader is asked to treat divine direction as part of the redemption itself, not an add-on.

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

כֹּֽה־koh-thus אָמַ֧ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahweh גֹּאַלְךָ֖go.'al./Kharedeemer/ your קְד֣וֹשׁke.Do.osh[the] holy [one] of יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael אֲנִ֨י'a.NiI יְהוָ֤הYah.weh[am] Yahweh אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your מְלַמֶּדְךָ֣me.la.med./Kha[who] teaches/ you לְהוֹעִ֔ילle./ho.'Ilto/ profit מַדְרִֽיכֲךָ֖mad.ri.kha./Kha[who] leads/ you בְּדֶ֥רֶךְbe./De.rekhin/ [the] way תֵּלֵֽךְ׃te.Lekh[which] you will go

King James Version

Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Cross-references

Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
Psalms 25:12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.
Job 22:21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Deuteronomy 8:17 You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”
Isaiah 30:20 The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him.
Psalms 73:24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
Isaiah 54:13 Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.
Job 36:22 Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?
John 6:45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—
Psalms 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.