chaldee-paraphraseapocrypha
Targum Isaiah 43
The Targum's rendering of Isaiah 43 renders every critical phrase through the Memra — the divine Word — making explicit what the Hebrew implies: Jehovah's redemptive acts are the acts of His living Word. Israel is called by name, purchased rather than discarded, and gathered from every compass point because covenant lineage carries weight before the throne. The Messiah is named directly in verse 10 as the Servant in whom the Lord delights — witness to the eternal claim that beside Jehovah there is no Savior. The Babylonian captivity is traced to sin; the exodus is the type; the new thing forming in the wilderness is the antitype, greater than the Red Sea crossing. Rebellion by fathers and teachers against the Word is the root of every scattering.
1
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee who art mine by thy name.
2
For at first when ye did pass the Red Sea my Word was your support. Pharaoh and the Egyptians, who were as many as the waters of the river, did not prevail against you. And again, when ye came amongst nations, who were as mighty as fire, they did not prevail against you; and kingdoms, which were strong as a flame, did not destroy you;
3
Because I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt in exchange for thee, Ethiopia, and Seba, in thy stead.
4
Ever since I loved thee, thou wast precious; yea, I loved thee dearly and I gave nations instead of thee, and kingdoms for thy soul.
5
Fear not, for my WORD shall be thy support; I will bring thy children from the east, I will bring together thy captivity from the west.
6
I will say to the north, Bring; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from afar, and the captivity of my people from the ends of the earth.
7
All these things shall come to pass for the sake of your righteous fathers, upon whom my name was called, yea, for my glory I have created them. I will restore their captivity, yea, I will work wonders for them.
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 witnesses, 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.
12
I, I have declared unto Abraham your father what would come to pass; I, I redeemed you out of Egypt, as I swore to him between the pieces; and I, I have made you to hear the doctrine of my law from Sinai, and ye are still alive, when there was no strange god among you; yea, ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
13
Yea, from eternity I am He; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will do it, and who shall turn it back?
14
Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, Because of your sins I led you captive to Babylon; but I will prostrate all of them with their oars, yea, the Chaldeans in the ships of which they boast.
15
I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16
Thus saith the Lord, I am He who prepared a way in the sea, and a path in mighty waters.
17
I who brought out the chariots, and horses, and a great host, yea, much people; they were swallowed up together, they did not rise, they were extinguished, they are extinct like the glimmering wick is extinguished.
18
Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19
Behold, I make a new thing, and now it shall be revealed: and will ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20
They shall honour me, when I make habitable provinces at the desert, and the places where the dragons and the daughters of the ostrich dwell ; because I will give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to the captives of my people, in whom I delight.
21
This people have I prepared for my service, they shall declare my praise.
22
It hath been said by the prophets, that ye of the house of Jacob have not met together for my worship; but that ye were weary of the doctrine of my law, O Israel.
23
Thou hast not brought unto me the lambs of thy burnt offerings, and with thy holy sacrifices thou hast not honoured me. I have not caused thee to multiply offerings, neither did I burden thee with frankincense.
24
Thou hast not bought for me the aromatic reed with silver; with the fat of thy holy sacrifices thou hast not anointed mine altar; but thou hast multiplied thy sins before me; thou hast burdened me with thine iniquities.
25
I, even I, am He who forgiveth thy sins for the sake of my name, and thy sins shall not be remembered.
26
Speak now, we will plead together, declare thou for the purpose, that thou mayest justify thyself, if thou art able to do so.
27
Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have rebelled against my WORD.
28
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and I have delivered Jacob to the slaughter, and Israel to reproaches.”
