Discovery BoxIsaiah 43:16-19 
Context43:16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
43:17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, 1
together with a mighty army.
They fell down, 2 never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
43:18 “Don’t remember these earlier events; 3
don’t recall these former events.
43:19 “Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen! 4 Do you not recognize 5 it?
Yes, I will make a road in the desert
and paths 6 in the wilderness.
1 tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
2 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
3 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
4 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
5 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
6 tn The Hebrew texts has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
