The Meaning of Isaiah 43:2 Explained

Isaiah 43:2

KJV: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

YLT: When thou passest into waters, I am with thee, And into floods, they do not overflow thee, When thou goest into fire, thou art not burnt, And a flame doth not burn against thee.

Darby: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

ASV: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When thou passest through  the waters,  I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers,  they shall not overflow  thee: when thou walkest  through  the fire,  thou shalt not be burned;  neither shall the flame  kindle  upon thee. 

What does Isaiah 43:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

"Water" and "fire" are traditional symbols for testing that suggest totality when used together (cf. Psalm 32:6; Psalm 42:7; Psalm 66:12; James 1:2). God promised to protect His people from total destruction when they underwent their various trials. He had done this in the past, and He would do it in the future because He would be with His special people (cf. Daniel 3; Romans 8:31-39).

Context Summary

Isaiah 43:1-13 - Jehovah's Witnesses
The magnificent conception of Isaiah 43:1-28 underlies this. We have still the convocation of mankind, summoned to decide whether Jehovah or some idol god shall be recognized as the supreme deity. In the arena are rows of helpless images rich in paint and tinsel, but mute and helpless, Isaiah 43:8-9. Jehovah, to vindicate His claims, calls into the witness box His Chosen People, that they may tell what they have known, tasted, and handled, of the Word of life, Isaiah 43:10.
This special function is not confined to the Hebrew race. By the express words of our Lord it is shared by the Church. See Acts 1:8. As our Lord bore witness to truth, His subjects are summoned to do the same. See 1 Timothy 6:13-14; Revelation 1:5.
Let us witness to the love that never tires. "Fear not, thou art mine." Let us witness to a purpose that never falters, Isaiah 43:1 and Isaiah 43:7. Let us witness to a deliverance that never disappoints. We are not saved from fire and water, but are delivered in the midst of them by the never-failing presence of our King. Let us ask for the Spirit of Truth to witness with us, Acts 5:31-32. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 43

1  The Lord comforts the church with his promises
8  He appeals to the people for witness of his omnipotence
14  He foretells them the destruction of Babylon
18  And his wonderful deliverance of his people
22  He reproves the people as inexcusable

What do the individual words in Isaiah 43:2 mean?

When you pass through the waters with you I [will be] and through the rivers not they shall overflow you you walk through the fire you shall be burned and the flame nor shall scorch you
כִּֽי־ תַעֲבֹ֤ר בַּמַּ֙יִם֙ אִתְּךָ־ אָ֔נִי וּבַנְּהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָ תֵלֵ֤ךְ בְּמוֹ־ אֵשׁ֙ תִכָּוֶ֔ה וְלֶהָבָ֖ה לֹ֥א תִבְעַר־ בָּֽךְ

תַעֲבֹ֤ר  you  pass 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בַּמַּ֙יִם֙  through  the  waters 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
אִתְּךָ־  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
אָ֔נִי  I  [will  be] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
וּבַנְּהָר֖וֹת  and  through  the  rivers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָהָר  
Sense: stream, river.
יִשְׁטְפ֑וּךָ  they  shall  overflow  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁטַף  
Sense: to wash, rinse, overflow, engulf, rinse or wash off.
תֵלֵ֤ךְ  you  walk 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בְּמוֹ־  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בְּמֹו  
Sense: in, at, by.
אֵשׁ֙  the  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
תִכָּוֶ֔ה  you  shall  be  burned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּוָה  
Sense: to burn, scorch, brand.
וְלֶהָבָ֖ה  and  the  flame 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֶהָבָה  
Sense: flame.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִבְעַר־  shall  scorch 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּעַר 
Sense: to burn, consume, kindle, be kindled.