Bible Question: Explain Isaiah 43:7 - made, created, formed |
Bible Answer: Hi Aida, And welcome to the forum. The forum is made up of many people who call themselves Christians. We represent many points of view here. So you must be like the noble-minded believers of Berea and check out what we say with Scripture to see if those things are so. (Act 17:10,11) The Study Bible Forum has some great tools you can use to help you in your study of the Word. You can type in your verse in the "Book Chapter:Verse" box on the right. Then click the "I" for verse information to see what Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek words our English translation are translated from. Now, your verse: Is 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made." The words are of course synonyms and are used for literary effect to emphasize God's unique and sovereign love and care for his people. But the words are interesting in themselves. "Created" is translated from "bara." It is a special and particular term and has just a few meanings. But when it is used to mean create, this term is applied to God alone. It's a special type of creating which only God can do. It means to create by command alone (fiat), to create from nothing (Rom 4:17 ...even God, who gives life to the dead and CALLS [my emphasis] into being that which does not exist.). Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. Ps 33:9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. Gen 1:3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. The next word "formed" is translated from the word "yatsar." This word is a little bit broader and has more meanings. You find this word used in Genesis when God makes from the ground the body of Adam and the animals. Here God uses one thing to make something else. Gen 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Gen 2:19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The last word "asah" is the most general with the broadest meaning, and the translators chose a comparably broad English word to translate it, "made." It's interesting to me that Isaiah chose these three words from the very particular "bara" to the very broad "asah" to, as it were, "cover all the bases" of God's involvement in his people's lives. The New Testament, thank God, fills out our understanding of God's creative, forming, making work in our lives: In Christ we are a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature [creation, KJV]; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. As new creatures, the Father conforms us to Christ. Rom 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Finally, Jesus will make all things new at the resurrection. Rev 21:4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." Rev 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Rev 21:6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. Peace, Lionstrong |