Isaiah 43:10

Hebrew Bible

8 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears! 9 All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, “It is true.” 10 “You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “my servant whom I have chosen so that you may consider and believe in me, and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and none will outlive me. 11 I, I am the Lord, and there is no deliverer besides me.

Jonathan Isaiah 43:10

Targum

8 When I brought forth my people from Egypt, they were like the blind, although they had eyes; and like the deaf, although they had ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, let the kingdoms be brought together: who among them can declare this, and give us the joyful tidings of old? let them bring forth their wit nesses, that they may be justified; let them hear, and let them speak the truth. 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant, the Messiah, in whom is my delight, in order that ye may know, and that ye may believe in me, and understand that I am He who was from the beginning; yea, ages after ages are mine, and beside me there is no god. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no saviour.

 Notes and References

"... The ministry of the Messiah, as the meturgeman sees it, has already been detailed. Even within its broad range, the following statement comes as something of a surprise (43:10a) ... although the Messiah is regularly an eschatological figure in the Targum, he is here something of an eternal figure. He exists already as a witness before God, without reference to his very tangible ministry of restoration. It must be stressed that this emphasis does not contradict the normal Targumic teaching; indeed, an eschatological figure is of necessity to be conceived of as pre-existent, in that he is part of the divine intention. But the interpretation of 43:10 coheres with others in the Targum which speak of things hoped for as if they were accomplished facts ..."

Chilton, Bruce D. The Isaiah Targum (p. xviii) M. Glazier, 1987

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