Isaiah 43:11

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 43:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 43:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 43

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I, even I, am the Lord, &c.] Jehovah, the self-existing, eternal, and immutable Being; this is doubled for the confirmation of it, and to exclude all others: and besides me there is no Saviour; either in a temporal or spiritual sense; the gods of the Heathens could not save them out of their present troubles, and much less save them with an everlasting salvation; none but God can do this, and this is a proof that Christ is God, since none but God can be a Saviour.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lord--Jehovah. saviour--temporally, from Babylon: eternally, from sin and hell (Hos 13:4; Act 4:12). The same titles as are applied to God are applied to Jesus.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I, even I, am the Lord - The repetition of the pronoun ‘I’ makes it emphatic. The design is, to affirm that there was no other being to whom the name ‘Yahweh’ pertained. There was no other one who had the attributes which the name involved; there was, therefore, no other God. On the meanins of the word Yahweh, see the note at Isaiah 1:2. And beside me there is no Saviour - There is no one who can deliver from oppression, and captivity, and exile, such as the Jews suffered in Babylon; there is no one but he who can save from sin, and from hell. All salvation, therefore, must come from God; and if we obtain deliverance from temporal ills, or from eternal death, we must seek it from him. return…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 43:3, Isa 12:2, Isa 45:21, Isa 45:22; Deu 6:4; Hos 1:7, Hos 13:4; Luk 1:47, Luk 2:11; Joh 10:28-30; Act 4:12; Tit 2:10, Tit 2:13, Tit 3:4-6; Pe2 3:18; Jo1 4:14, Jo1 5:20, Jo1 5:21; Jde 1:25; Rev 1:11, Rev 1:17, Rev 1:18, Rev 7:10-12 Isaiah 43:12”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The address now closes by holding up once more the object and warrant of faith. "I am Jehovah; and beside me there is no Savour. I have proclaimed and brought salvation, and given to perceive, and there was no other god among you: and ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. Even from the day onwards I am so; and there is no deliverer out of my hand: I act, and who can turn it back?" The proper name "Jehovah" is used here ( Isa 43:13) as a name indicating essence: "I and no other am the absolutely existing and living One," i.e., He who proves His existence by His acts, and indeed by His saving acts. מושׁיע and Jehovah are kindred epithets here; just as in the New Testament the name…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification