The Church Fathers on this verse
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Isaiah 43:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All the nations are assembled together, and the tribes are gathered: who among you can declare this, and shall make us hear the former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, let them be justified, and hear, and say: It is truth.

Douay-Rheims

כָּֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֞ם נִקְבְּצ֣וּ יַחְדָּ֗ו וְיֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִ֤י בָהֶם֙ יַגִּ֣יד זֹ֔את וְרִֽאשֹׁנ֖וֹת יַשְׁמִיעֻ֑נוּ יִתְּנ֤וּ עֵֽדֵיהֶם֙ וְיִצְדָּ֔קוּ וְיִשְׁמְע֖וּ וְיֹאמְר֥וּ אֱמֶֽת׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Let all nations gather and the tribes unite. Who among them can predict what is to come? They should reveal what has been established from the very beginning. No one has the ability to declare this, meaning what will befall them. The message of what concerns you and others is yours to proclaim, while the message of their own concerns does not belong to them. Therefore, who is able to announce all these matters? Let them bring forth witnesses to support their claims, just as in a courtroom, and they will be vindicated. If they can demonstrate their righteousness and speak the truth, I will not shy away from scrutiny, nor will I ignore it.

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Let them produce witnesses from among themselves if they exist, whether they be prophets or those who have faced trial, or from written records where I have previously declared many truths and brought them to completion. Observe how He lays out His case humbly and without force! Having now reproached His adversaries, He then directs His words toward the Jews.

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

Who will proclaim these matters? Who will be the first to reveal them to you? Let witnesses be presented, and they shall find justification; let them speak the truth and listen. Once the fruits of faith, those called to a deeper understanding of the truth, are mentioned, a pathway of mystery is opened, one that significantly exposes the deceit of spirits and unveils the utter futility of idol creations. To possess knowledge from the beginning to the end belongs uniquely to the One who is God by nature; all wisdom and understanding originate from Him, as written in Colossians 2:3, where it affirms that in Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. Should anyone appear to possess foresight, it is clear they received this ability by divine revelation from Him.

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Thus, He speaks to the Gentiles, proclaiming that all that is to occur with you, and that you will eventually come to the knowledge of the truth, I have announced. Who else will declare it to you or claim to do so? Let them produce their witnesses and be vindicated; let them communicate the truth and let them listen. I have spoken through the prophets and foretold through holy individuals who would serve as witnesses of my providence regarding the future. What can demons or lifeless idols present as witnesses that they have spoken through them? After all, the Greeks possess numerous poets and orators, but none have ever declared on behalf of their gods that such events will happen in due time, nor can any wise Grecian speak of the day when Satan will lose the glory he has obtained through malice, or when faith in Christ will illuminate the heavens, calling nations to know Him; when the shadows of idolatry will dissipate, and truth shall reign throughout creation. Therefore, let them produce their witnesses and reveal those who speak the truth; and even if such occurred, let them be heard—let them follow, praising the abundant knowledge of the future that the hosts of demons claim to possess. Yet, there is no witness among them nor any herald of what is to come. It is evident that those who regard them as deities are profoundly misguided, for these spirits are merely privy to secrets, being deceivers and flatterers.

Eusebius of Caesarea

4th centuryTeacher of the Church

Nations that are spiritually blind and mute are summoned by the Lord. Although they may possess physical sight and some degree of intellect, they remain oblivious to the falsehood of idolatry. Their deeds shape the fate of this prophecy. Through the apostolic seeds and teachings, those who were once spiritually blind and mute will be transformed and brought into the Church of God, while those who govern these nations have risen up against the people of God. In expressing this, the astonished prophet made a prediction, marveling as he proclaimed, "Who ... foretold this?"

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.