Sunday, November 7, 2010

Isaiah 43:16

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה הַנּוֹתֵן בַּיָּם דָּרֶךְ וּבְמַיִם עַזִּים נְתִיבָה׃

16 This is what the LORD says who makes a way in the sea, and in the mighty waters a path.

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה הַנּוֹתֵן בַּיָּם דָּרֶךְ This is what the LORD says who makes a way in the sea, הַנּוֹתֵן is a qal active participle; as in verse 15 it is attributive; here the article makes this more evident. The gospel message of the exodus is called to mind.

וּבְמַיִם עַזִּים נְתִיבָה and in the mighty waters a path. עַזִּים is an adjective, "mighty," a word that calls up images of raging storms, raging seas and raging lions. נְתִיבָה is typically a parallel term to derek; "path, way." The reference calls to our minds the crossing of the Red Sea; Isaiah wants to comfort the people going into exile with reminders of the way God helped them in the past, even against insurmountable odds.

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