Isaiah 65:17

For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord addresses Israel in Isaiah 65, declaring the termination of their past distress and the inauguration of a renewed creation. This announcement directly follows the statement that former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from His sight (Isaiah 65:16).

The words — The Hebrew בוֹרֵא (bo're) translates literally as "[I am] about to create," indicating imminent divine action. It governs both שָׁמַיִם (sha'mayim, "heavens") and אָרֶץ (a'retz, "earth"), each modified by חֲדָשׁ (cha'dash, "new").

The thread — The phrase "new heavens and a new earth" recurs in Isaiah 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, and Revelation 21:1 to describe the permanent replacement of the original cosmos.

Why it lands — The text states that prior realities will cease to be recalled or mentally accessed by God or His people. Readers must accept that past conditions are definitively terminated and redirect attention to the specific creation God is actively establishing.

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

כִּֽי־ki-for הִנְנִ֥יhi./Nihere/ I בוֹרֵ֛אvo.Re'[am] about to create שָׁמַ֥יִםsha.Ma.yimheavens חֲדָשִׁ֖יםcha.da.Shimnew וָאָ֣רֶץva./'A.retzand/ an earth חֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.Shahnew וְלֹ֤אve./Lo'and/ not תִזָּכַ֙רְנָה֙ti.za.Khar.nahthey will be remembered הָרִ֣אשֹׁנ֔וֹתha./Ri.sho.Notthe/ former [things]וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not תַעֲלֶ֖ינָהta.'a.Lei.nahthey will come up עַל־'al-on לֵֽב׃Leva heart

King James Version

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Cross-references

2 Peter 3:13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Isaiah 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Isaiah 43:18 “Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.
Jeremiah 3:16 “In those days, when you multiply and increase in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer discuss the ark of the covenant of the LORD. It will never come to mind, and no one will remember it or miss it, nor will another one be made.
Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”