What do the words at Isaiah 43:10 mean to you?

Answer 1

The Scriptural account that Jehovah’s Witnesses draw on for their name is in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah. There the world scene is viewed as a courtroom drama: The gods of the nations are invited to bring forth their witnesses to prove their claimed cases of righteousness or to hear the witnesses for Jehovah’s side and acknowledge the truth. Jehovah there declares to his people: “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.”—Isaiah 43:10, 11, American Standard Version.

Jehovah God had witnesses on earth during the thousands of years before Jesus was born. After Hebrews chapter 11 lists some of those men of faith, Hebrews 12:1 says: “So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Jesus said before Pontius Pilate: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” He is called “the faithful and true witness.” (John 18:37; Revelation 3:14) Jesus told his disciples: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

Answer 2

I see someone got the text... which you should have included in your question, really. For a slightly different translation in the New American Standard edition:

"10. "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD,
"And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me."

Now what do I think it means? I think it means that mortals have created a god in their own image, not the other way around. I think it means that mortals have given a voice to this god in order for it to have sway over the people. It is supposed to be a proof of God's existence, and a warning not to worship any other gods... though the only "proof" is that someone says it's true. Religion has long been used to lull and manipulate the masses, and this passage is a good example of that.

Edit: As mentioned, it does also call the Trinity into question. But then again, most of the Bible calls other parts of the Bible into question. It's a contradictory work that's just a more or less haphazard compilation of ancient texts.

There is a vibrant, spiritual world out there and life is amazing and beautiful. We needed religion once... it helped us crawl out of the Stone Age, it gave us a code of ethics, it helped early civilizations keep their people in line. But we've outgrown it. These days, almost every major conflict has religion somewhere in the mix.

What we see happening now in the Middle East is certainly in part a result of clashing religious ideologies. WWII resulted from an agressive racism... racism spawned by Christianity and an age-old hatred of the Jews as the people who killed Jesus (even though the Catholic Church had long since relented and gone with the story that the Romans under Pontius Pilate killed Jesus.) And if we drop further back, the story is still the same. Witch trials, IRA bombings, Crusades... all steeped in religion.

You can find god both within and without. But you won't find her in a book.

Answer 3

*** w81 3/1 p. 18 par. 4 Go! Make Disciples ***

Yes, the commission to be witnesses to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of people of all the nations at this “conclusion of the system of things” has been passed on to the anointed remnant of spiritual Israel, who are collectively Jehovah’s “servant” and his “witnesses.” (Isa. 43:10-12) They have been faithfully fulfilling this commission particularly since 1919. But how could these few thousand spirit-begotten Christians reach the billions of humans scattered “to the most distant part of the earth”? What tremendous faith it took even to envisage undertaking such a task! Reread the modern history of Jehovah’s Witnesses and you will see that one of the principal means used to spread the Kingdom message far and wide has been by the distribution of magazines, namely, The Watchtower and its companion magazine Awake! (formerly The Golden Age, then Consolation). These Bible-based periodicals have been distributed literally by the billions in over 100 languages and to the four corners of the earth.

Answer 4

"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me. " Isaiah 43:10


(Beautiful passage...)
He was talking to Israel - but there's a message for us too (since Gentiles also are adopted into God's fold...)

We are His chosen people. We are meant to be his living witnesses for this fallen generation...Also, he's affirming the Soveriegnty of God Almighty.



I think I like the next verse even better...lol

"I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior."



(I guess it kind of puts to rest any myths that other goddesses/gods hold any merit - compared to him...I think that's a pretty strong statement of His Soveriegnty, and His deity.)


God Bless you for asking this question. It was a wonderful question - very thought provoking.

Answer 5

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

There is only one God and Saviour.

Some are chosen before the foundations of the earth age we are in now to be God's fruit producers for the harvest.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Answer 6

If you notice in verse 1, it is specifically talking to the people of Israel. G-d is saying He has revealed Himself to the Jewish people, & they are now His witnesses. They have been given the Scripture; the prophets; the miracles; the love & favor of G-d. Verses 5-6 are saying He will bring them back from the Diaspora to Israel; their rightful land. Verse 9 is saying He cdeclared it before it happened; since He is G-d...He can do this!

Answer 7

Revelation 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:13
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

It explains his ALMIGHTY POWER, I hope those scriptures help you understand why he is Lord God Almighty !

Answer 8

It means that God is faithful to Israel through all times, He is their God and they are His witnesses. If it were not for this passage Israel would have been eliminated centuries ago. Just like Malachi says, "I am the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed."

Answer 9

WE ARE CHOSEN TO BE A WITNESS FOR GOD AND ALSO TO BE A SERVANT FOR HIM, AND IN SERVING HIM, THIS MEANS, LIKE JESUS, WE ARE NOT TO SERVE OURSELVES OR BOAST ABOUT OURSELVES, BUT TO DO WHAT EVER WE CAN TO HELP AND SHOW LOVE TO OTHERS WHILE TELLING THEM OF THE WONDERFUL GRACE AND POWER AND LOVE OF GOD. HE IS GOD, THE ONLY GOD NOW AND FOREVER, :)

Answer 10

It means that as a Jew, there is hope for future glory through god.