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.King James Version
The same verse in modern English
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.Isaiah 43:2, World English Bible (WEB)
KJV and WEB compared
The KJV ends “neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,” meaning the flame will not catch hold of you; the WEB says “flame will not scorch you.” Otherwise the two run line for line, “through the waters” and “through the rivers,” then fire. The KJV’s thee and thou are singular, because the chapter speaks to Jacob and Israel as one people, called by name. The promise is the same: God is present in the danger, not only after it.
Sitting with this verse
The verse just before says God created, formed, redeemed and named his people: “You are mine.” Waters and rivers may recall the Red Sea and the Jordan, crossings Israel already knew. The verse says when, not if: it assumes floods and fire will come, and promises his presence within them. Rest a moment on the five words “I will be with thee.”
Older words in this verse
- thee, thou
- you (one person)
- shalt, wilt
- shall, will
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