Isaiah 48:6 · Bible study
Isaiah 48:6 Commentary: New Things, Hidden Things, and God's Sovereign Revelation
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does God reveal hidden truths now? See how fulfilled prophecy proves His sovereignty and calls us to be witnesses.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God fulfills past prophecies and reveals new, hidden things to prove His sole deity, to dismantle idolatry, and to commission His people as witnesses.
- Key words: חדש (cha.dash) 'new,' חזה (cha.zah) 'see,' נצר (na.tsar) 'hidden/secret,' נגד (na.gad) 'declare.'
- Main debate: Whether the 'new things' refer strictly to Cyrus and the return from exile, or also typologically to the gospel and eschatological new creation.
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty in revelation, He reveals and conceals according to His wise purposes, humbling human pride and magnifying His grace.
- Best use: To teach how fulfilled prophecy authenticates Scripture, and to encourage believers to see, confess, and declare God's works in their lives.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not acknowledge them? From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You have heard it. Now see all this. And you, won’t you declare it? “I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thou hast heard, see the whole of it, And ye, do ye not declare? I have caused thee to hear new things from this time, And things reserved that ye knew not.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou heardest, see all this; — and ye, will not ye declare [it]? I have caused thee to hear new things from this time, and things hidden, and that thou knewest not:
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
See now all the things which thou hast heard: but have you declared them? I have shewn thee new things from that time, and things are kept which thou knowest not:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Oístelo, vístelo todo; ¿ y no lo anunciaréis vosotros? Ahora pues te he hecho oir nuevas y ocultas cosas que tú no sabías.
Já tens escutado. Olha bem para tudo isto: por acaso vós não diríeis que isto é verdade ? A partir de agora eu te faço ouvir coisas novas, ocultas, e que nunca antes soubeste.
Tu entends! Considère tout cela!
Solches alles hast du gehört und siehst es, und verkündigst es doch nicht. Ich habe dir von nun an Neues sagen lassen und Verborgenes, das du nicht wußtest.
Gij hebt het gehoord, aanmerkt dat alles; zult gijlieden het ook niet verkondigen? Van nu af doe Ik u nieuwe dingen horen, en verborgen dingen, en die gij niet geweten hebt.
Tu ne hai udito l’annunzio; mirale avvenute tutte quante. Non lo proclamate voi stessi? Ora io t’annunzio delle cose nuove, delle cose occulte, a te ignote.
Słyszałeś o tem, spojrzyjże na to wszystko; a wy izali tego nie opowiecie? Teraz już ogłaszam nowe i tajemne rzeczy, i o którycheś nie wiedział.
Ты слышал, - посмотри на все это! и неужели вы не признаете этого? А ныне Я возвещаю тебе новое и сокровенное, и ты не знал этого.
你已經聽見，現在要看見 這一切；你 不 說明嗎？從今以後，我將新事，就是你所不 知道 的隱密事 指示你。
All this has come to your ears and you have seen it; will you not give witness to it? I am now making clear new things, even secret things, of which you had no knowledge.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 48:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Across the supplied commentators, a clear consensus emerges. God addresses Israel as witnesses to fulfilled prophecy (the 'former things') to demonstrate that He alone is God. Barnes, Gill, and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown agree that the 'new things' refer primarily to the deliverance from Babylon by Cyrus, events hidden from human foresight, disclosed only by divine revelation. The timing is deliberate: God reveals these things only now, not earlier, to prevent Israel from claiming prior knowledge (Lange, Keil & Delitzsch) and to cut off any pretext for idolatry (Matthew Henry). Calvin stresses the personal responsibility this places on Israel: they are to become heralds of God's works. The underlying pastoral concern is Israel's character described in verse 4, obstinate, with an iron sinew, yet God continues to reveal and save, a grace many commentators see as foreshadowing Christ and the gospel.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical-exclusive view: The 'new things' refer only to the deliverance by Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28–45:1), based on immediate context.
- Typological-extension view: The historical deliverance anticipates the greater gospel deliverance (2 Cor 5:17, Rev 21:5), supported by NT usage.
- Editorial-interpolation view: Some scholars (Duhm, Cheyne) assign vv.6-8 to a later editor due to stylistic peculiarities, as noted in the Cambridge Bible.
What is clear: God sovereignly reveals hidden truths at the appropriate time to demonstrate His deity and to humble human pride.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the 'new things' | Commentators across traditions agree the primary reference is to the deliverance from Babylon through Cyrus. | Some (Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) see a clear typological reference to Christ and the gospel; others (Barnes, Calvin) focus on the historical fulfillment. |
| Reason for timing of revelation | All agree God reveals 'new things' only now to prevent Israel from boasting of prior knowledge (v.7). | Some (Lange, Keil & Delitzsch) emphasize the pedagogical purpose; others (Matthew Henry) stress the legal courtroom strategy to remove excuse. |
| Israel's character and God's persistence | Israel is described as obstinate and rebellious (v.4,8) from the beginning. | Reformed traditions (Calvin) emphasize God's sovereign grace saving despite total depravity; Wesleyan traditions (Wesley) stress human responsibility to respond to the call to 'declare.' |
| Textual issue of 'see' (חזה) vs 'this' (זה) | The Masoretic Text reads 'see,' which is accepted by most. | A few commentators (Adam Clarke) note a variant reading 'this' from some manuscripts, though the overall sense is unaffected. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 48 is a critical chapter in the prophet's courtroom argument with Israel. The people claim the holy city and the God of Israel (v.2), but God exposes their hypocrisy: they are obstinate, with an iron sinew and a bronze brow (v.4). The chapter contrasts 'former things' (prophecies already fulfilled) with 'new things' now being revealed. The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile and the impending rise of Cyrus of Persia (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1). God had foretold 'former things' from of old, events like the Assyrian invasion and the fall of Babylon, so that when they happened, Israel could not credit their idols (v.5). Now, in verse 6, God pivots: 'You have heard it. Now see all this.' The verb 'see' (חזה) is used for prophetic vision, suggesting careful, spiritual discernment of the fulfillment. The 'new things' are the specific announcements of return and restoration, hidden in God's decree, beyond human foresight. The word 'created' in verse 7 (which follows) emphasizes these events are radically new, not developments from the past. The timing is deliberate: God reveals them only now to prevent Israel from claiming, 'I knew them' (v.7). The people's history of treachery (v.8) means even revelation must be managed to protect them from pride. Yet God proceeds not because of their merit but for His own name's sake (v.9). This historical setting of rebellion and redemption sets the pattern for God's dealings with His people in every age: He reveals what we need, when we need it, so that the glory belongs to Him alone.
Textual Notes
The Masoretic Text is stable at this point. Adam Clarke notes that for 'see' (חזה), some manuscripts read 'this' (הזה), and the Syriac reads 'thou hast seen,' but the meaning remains essentially the same. The BHS apparatus shows no major variants affecting interpretation. The passage is well-preserved.
Reception History
Isaiah 48:6 has been received in multiple streams of interpretation. Early Christian writers (cf. 1 Cor 2:9-10) saw the 'hidden things' as the mysteries of the gospel, a reading later amplified by Reformed commentators who linked them to the 'new covenant' (Jer 31:31). Jewish exegesis consistently understands the 'new things' as the redemption from Babylon and the future Messianic age. In medieval and Reformation traditions, the call to 'declare' became a text for the duty of personal confession and evangelism. The verse appears in hymnody focused on the 'new song' of redemption. It remains a key passage for understanding how God's hidden wisdom is disclosed in Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Evidence: Fulfilled Prophecy Proves God's Sovereignty. God points Israel to the 'former things', prophecies they heard, saw fulfilled, and must now confess. This is concrete history that authenticates His exclusive claim to deity.
- The Exhortation: See and Declare What God Has Done. 'Now see all this… and won't you declare it?' Seeing leads to confessing. Israel is called to become a herald, not a silent beneficiary. This mirrors the apostolic call to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
- The Mystery: Hidden Things Revealed for Our Good. God waited until now to show 'new things, hidden things' so that Israel could not boast of prior knowledge. His timing protects humility and deepens trust. He reveals what we need when we need it.
Five-point outline
- God's Faithfulness in the Past: 'You have heard.' The former prophecies were declared long beforehand and came to pass exactly. This builds a track record of reliability.
- Israel's Responsibility to Inquire: 'Now see all this.' The imperative 'see' demands careful examination, not passive listening but active investigation of God’s works.
- The Call to Witness: 'Won't you declare it?' The rhetorical question expects a positive answer. God’s people are to be confessors and proclaimers, not silent observers.
- The New Revelation: 'I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things.' These are fresh acts of redemption (the return from exile) that could not be foreseen. They point forward to Christ and the new creation.
- The Purpose: Grace That Overcomes Stubbornness: God knows Israel's obstinate character (v.4,8), yet He continues to speak and act. He reveals despite their unworthiness, for His name’s sake.
Illustration hooks
- Historical parallel: In the early days of aviation, Charles Lindbergh used precise navigation to cross the Atlantic solo. When he succeeded, skeptics could not claim they had predicted it, they could only acknowledge what they saw.
- Everyday scenario: A student struggles with a math problem for hours. The teacher has the answer all along but waits until the student has exhausted his own ideas, so he truly learns the method rather than claiming he 'figured it out.'
- Current event: When a long-lost letter from a historical figure is discovered, historians re-evaluate what they thought they knew. The 'new' document changes everything.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God sometimes reveal His will gradually rather than all at once?
- If I've failed in the past, can I still be a credible witness for God?
- What do I do with the new truths God shows me, keep them or declare them?
Leading a Discussion
This passage invites groups to reflect on how God's timing and revelation shape our faith. Notice the progression: the people have heard prophecy, now they are called to see its fulfillment, and finally to declare it. The discussion moves from what the text says to how it exposes our own hearts.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 48:3-8 as a group. What exactly are the 'former things' and the 'new things'? How are they different?
- Why does God stress that Israel has 'heard' these things before? What does that imply about their responsibility?
- God says, 'See all this.' How is seeing different from hearing? What does active seeing require from us?
- The rhetorical question 'Won't you declare it?' expects a positive answer. Why is it important for God's people to testify to what He has done?
- What are the 'hidden things' that God reveals? How does the timing of revelation protect against human pride (see v.7)?
- In what ways do we see our own stubbornness (iron sinew, bronze brow) in this passage? How does God's persistence change how you view your failures?
- How does this passage help you trust God's timing in your life, especially when He seems to be withholding information or acting slowly?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 40:9 | I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know. |
| Psalms 40:10 | I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your loving kindness and your truth from the great assembly. |
| Psalms 71:15 | My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don’t know its full measure. |
| Psalms 71:18 | Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come. |
| Psalms 78:3 | which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. |
| Psalms 78:6 | that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, |
| Psalms 107:43 | Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh. |
| Psalms 119:13 | With my lips, I have declared all the ordinances of your mouth. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to a textual variant in the Hebrew, where one manuscript reads "this" instead of "see." He combines that variant with the Syriac reading "heard and seen" to capture the full sense of God's message: what was foretold has now been fully accomplished and witnessed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that God calls the people as firsthand witnesses: they heard the prophecy long before its fulfillment, and now they see it happen. The "new things" God reveals, especially deliverance from Babylon, are hidden from human wisdom and political insight, known only to God who sees even what is concealed in darkness.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin interprets the command to "see" not as an invitation to observe fulfilled events but as an urgent call to examine and ponder God's words carefully. He stresses that human sluggishness, not lack of revelation, causes ignorance. Moreover, those who understand are then obliged to become heralds, declaring what they have learned to others.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that these verses take a harsher stance toward Israel than the rest of Second Isaiah, with a judgmental tone more like Ezekiel. The unusual argument about prophecy hides new events until the last moment, which some scholars assign to a later editor, though the difficulties may be overstated given parallels elsewhere.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
God has already fulfilled what He foretold, which should convince His people to speak of His works. Now He reveals new and hidden things they never knew before, showing that His prophecy continues and demands their testimony.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that God has shown the people both prophecies already fulfilled and new hidden things, such as the coming destruction of Babylon and deliverance through Cyrus. These events typify redemption through Christ and the new Gospel age, mysteries unknown until God's Spirit reveals them. Yet having heard and seen, the people are called to declare these truths.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that God calls Israel as witnesses because they saw the prediction long before the fulfillment. The "new things" refer to Cyrus delivering Babylon, distinct from earlier fulfilled prophecies. On a deeper level, these foreshadow gospel truths and the coming of Messiah, with Babylon prefiguring the mystical Babylon of Revelation.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch resolve the tension between former and new prophecies by placing the prophet’s standpoint in the midst of the exile. From this vantage he can look back at earlier predictions preparing for Cyrus, yet also announce entirely new revelations—the redemption, glorification, and new creation—that had never been heard before, preserving the unity of the book.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on the gap between the Jews' impressive religious profession and their actual condition. They carry all the outward marks of God's people — name, lineage, oaths, and claims on the holy city — yet none of it is genuine. Their worship is a show, and God sees the iron neck and brass brow underneath.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the gradual uncovering of God's plan: Israel had heard these truths piece by piece over time. Now God presents a fresh, secret prediction regarding their rescue from Babylon through Cyrus, forcing them to acknowledge openly that what He says is undeniably true.