Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Israel, specifically those who claim the holy city and lean on the God of Israel, immediately before declaring their stubbornness.
The words — The verse emphasizes פִּתְאֹם (pit’om), meaning "suddenly," and עָשִׂ֖יתִי ('asiti), meaning "I acted," to show immediate execution of His speech.
The thread — This pattern of fulfilled declaration appears in Isaiah 42:9, where God announces former things and proclaims new ones, and Joshua 21:45, which records that not one promise failed.
Why it lands — The text states that God’s spoken word is immediately executed upon His action. This requires readers to acknowledge His sovereign control over history rather than relying on their own stubbornness.
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
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
- Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.
- Isaiah 41:22 “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- Isaiah 44:7 Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.
- Isaiah 45:21 Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
- Isaiah 43:9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
- Isaiah 46:9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
- Joshua 23:14 Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
- Isaiah 37:7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land, where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”
- Isaiah 10:33 Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled.