Isaiah 43:16
New International Version
This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,

New Living Translation
I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.

English Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,

Berean Standard Bible
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,

King James Bible
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says, He who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

NASB 1995
Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

NASB 1977
Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

Amplified Bible
This is what the LORD says, He who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says — who makes a way in the sea, and a path through raging water,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says— who makes a way in the sea, and a path through surging waters,

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Contemporary English Version
I am the one who cut a path through the mighty ocean.

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD makes a path through the sea and a road through the strong currents.

Good News Translation
Long ago the LORD made a road through the sea, a path through the swirling waters.

International Standard Version
This is what the LORD says — who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,

Majority Standard Bible
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,

NET Bible
This is what the LORD says, the one who made a road through the sea, a pathway through the surging waters,

New Heart English Bible
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

World English Bible
Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Thus said YHWH, "" Who is giving a way in the sea, "" And a path in the strong waters.

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah giving a way in the sea, and a beaten path in the strong waters;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord, who made a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Thus says the Lord, who gave you a way through the sea and a path through the torrent of waters,

New American Bible
Thus says the LORD, who opens a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,

New Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thus says the LORD, who has made a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Thus says LORD JEHOVAH who gives a path in the sea and paths in many waters
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea, And a path in the mighty waters;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thus saith the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty water;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Mercy
15I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.” 16Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters, 17who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:…

Cross References
Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, / and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left.

Psalm 77:16-20
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken. / The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth. / Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. ...

Isaiah 51:10
Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea for the redeemed to cross over?

Isaiah 63:11-13
Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses. Where is He who brought them through the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is the One who set His Holy Spirit among them, / who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?

Exodus 15:8
At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea.

Psalm 106:9
He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; He led them through the depths as through a desert.

Nehemiah 9:11
You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into raging waters.

Job 26:12
By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.

Habakkuk 3:15
You trampled the sea with Your horses, churning the great waters.

Joshua 3:13-17
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will stand up in a heap.” / So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of them. / Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, ...

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Hebrews 11:29
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

Revelation 15:3
and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

Matthew 8:27
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Mark 4:39-41
Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. / “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” / Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”


Treasury of Scripture

Thus said the LORD, which makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

maketh

Isaiah 43:2
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.

Isaiah 11:15,16
And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod…

Isaiah 51:10,15
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? …

Jump to Previous
Deep Makes Maketh Mighty Path Road Sea Strong Waters Way Word
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Deep Makes Maketh Mighty Path Road Sea Strong Waters Way Word
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














Thus says the LORD
This phrase introduces a divine proclamation, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. It is a common introduction in prophetic literature, underscoring that the message is not from the prophet himself but from God. This establishes the importance and reliability of the message that follows.

who makes a way in the sea
This refers to God's miraculous intervention during the Exodus, where He parted the Red Sea to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 14:21-22). It highlights God's power over nature and His ability to create a path where none seems possible. This act is a foundational event in Israel's history, symbolizing salvation and deliverance.

and a path through the surging waters
This continues the imagery of the Exodus, emphasizing God's control over chaotic elements. The "surging waters" can symbolize overwhelming obstacles or threats. In a broader sense, it points to God's ability to provide guidance and deliverance through life's tumultuous circumstances. This imagery is echoed in other scriptures, such as Psalm 77:19, which reflects on God's unseen path through the waters, and it foreshadows the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who calms the storms (Mark 4:39) and provides a way to eternal life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is portrayed as the Creator and Redeemer. He is the one speaking in this passage, emphasizing His power and authority.

2. The Sea
Symbolic of chaos and obstacles. In the context of Israel's history, it often refers to the Red Sea, where God performed a miraculous deliverance for the Israelites.

3. Surging Waters
Represents challenges and overwhelming circumstances. It is a metaphor for the trials that God can navigate His people through.

4. Exodus Event
The historical backdrop of this verse, where God parted the Red Sea to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

5. Isaiah (the Prophet)
The author of the book, who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah, calling them to trust in God's deliverance and sovereignty.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nature
God has ultimate control over creation, including the chaotic and seemingly insurmountable challenges we face.

Trust in Divine Deliverance
Just as God made a way through the sea for Israel, He can make a way through our personal trials and difficulties.

Remembering Past Deliverances
Reflecting on God's past faithfulness can strengthen our faith in His present and future provision.

God's Presence in Chaos
Even in the midst of life's storms, God is present and actively working for our good.

Faith in Action
Our response to God's promises should be active faith, trusting Him to lead us through life's challenges.(16) Which maketh a way in the sea . . .--A distinct echo of Exodus 14:16 and Psalm 77:19. The return from Babylon is to be as a second Exodus from another house of bondage. In the one, as in the other, the "horse and his rider" are to be thrown into the sea.

Verse 16. - The Lord, which maketh a way in the sea. The deliverance out of Egypt is glanced at, to prepare the way for the announcement of deliverance from the hand of Babylon. Then "a way was made in the sea" (Exodus 14:21-29), "and a path in the mighty waters;" now it will be necessary to make "a way in the wilderness" (ver. 19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Thus
כֹּ֚ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

says
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD—
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

He who makes
הַנּוֹתֵ֥ן (han·nō·w·ṯên)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

a way
דָּ֑רֶךְ (dā·reḵ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

in the sea,
בַּיָּ֖ם (bay·yām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

and a path
נְתִיבָֽה׃ (nə·ṯî·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5410: Path, pathway

through surging
עַזִּ֖ים (‘az·zîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5794: Strong, vehement, harsh

waters,
וּבְמַ֥יִם (ū·ḇə·ma·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 43:16 Thus says Yahweh who makes a way (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 43:15
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