Isaiah 43:18
New International Version
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

New Living Translation
“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

English Standard Version
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Berean Standard Bible
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

King James Bible
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

New King James Version
“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

New American Standard Bible
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or consider things of the past.

NASB 1995
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.

NASB 1977
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Do not remember the former things, Nor carefully consider things of the past.

Amplified Bible
“Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past.

Christian Standard Bible
“Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.

American Standard Version
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Contemporary English Version
Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past.

English Revised Version
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago.

Good News Translation
But the LORD says, "Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.

International Standard Version
"Don't remember the former things; don't dwell on things past.

Majority Standard Bible
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

NET Bible
"Don't remember these earlier events; don't recall these former events.

New Heart English Bible
"Do not remember the former things, and do not consider the things of old.

Webster's Bible Translation
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

World English Bible
“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do not remember former things, "" And do not consider ancient things.

Young's Literal Translation
Remember not former things, And ancient things consider not.

Smith's Literal Translation
Will ye not remember the former things? will ye not discern the things of old?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Remember not former things, and look not on things of old.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You need not call to mind the past, nor consider the things of antiquity.

New American Bible
Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not;

New Revised Standard Version
Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
You shall not call to mind former things and you shall not perceive from the beginning
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Remember ye not the former things, Neither consider the things of old.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Remember ye not the former things, and consider not the ancient things.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Mercy
17who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. 19Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, / I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 21:5
And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”

Isaiah 65:17
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. / “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. ...

Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

Ephesians 4:22-24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; / to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; / and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

Isaiah 48:6
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.

Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Colossians 3:9-10
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, / and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 46:9
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.


Treasury of Scripture

Remember you not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 46:9
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Isaiah 65:17
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Deuteronomy 7:18
Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;

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Ancient Consider Dwell Early Forget Former Mind Minds Past Ponder Remember Thought Times
Isaiah 43
1. The Lord comforts the church with his promises.
8. He appeals to the people for witness of his omnipotence
14. He foretells them the destruction of Babylon
18. And his wonderful deliverance of his people
22. He reproves the people as inexcusable














Do not call to mind
This phrase encourages a deliberate choice to refrain from dwelling on past events. In the Hebrew, the word for "call to mind" is "zakar," which means to remember or recall. This is a call to shift focus from past failures or even past victories, which can hinder present faith and future hope. The Israelites are being urged to let go of their past, which includes their time in Egypt and their subsequent disobedience, to embrace the new work God is doing.

the former things
The "former things" refer to past events, particularly those that God has already accomplished for Israel, such as the Exodus from Egypt. Historically, these events were foundational for Israel's identity, but God is now pointing them towards a new future. Theologically, this suggests that while God’s past acts are important, they should not limit our expectation of what He can do now and in the future.

nor ponder
The Hebrew word here is "biyn," which means to consider or understand. This is a deeper level of reflection than merely remembering. It suggests an intentional analysis or meditation on past events. God is instructing His people not to dwell on or analyze the past to the point where it becomes a barrier to perceiving His new work.

the things of old
This phrase emphasizes the antiquity of the events being referenced. In the context of Isaiah, "the things of old" could include the covenant with Abraham, the deliverance from Egypt, and the giving of the Law at Sinai. While these are significant, God is doing something new that will surpass these past events. This is a call to faith, trusting that God’s future plans are greater than what has been experienced before.

(18, 19) Remember ye not . . .--All the wonders of the great historic past of Israel were to be as nothing compared with the new manifestation of the power of Jehovah, which Isaiah sees as already dawning in the future.

Shall ye not know it?--Better, Will ye not give heed to it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness . . .--The literal and the spiritual senses melt into each other. The very beasts of the field shall lose their ferocity in the presence of the saints of God. For "dragons and owls," read jackals and ostriches.

Verse 18. - Remember ye not the former things. The old deliverance will be as nothing compared with the new. Israel must cast its eye forwards, not backwards. Mr. Cheyne well compares Jeremiah 23:7, 8, and also well notes that "the chief glories of the second manifestation are spiritual." Israel in the wilderness was a stiff:necked and rebellious people, given to murmuring, licentiousness, and idolatry. Israel, returned from Babylon, will no more hanker after idols, but will have God's Law "put in their inward parts" (Jeremiah 32:33), and will "show forth God's praise" (ver. 21).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

call to mind
תִּזְכְּר֖וּ (tiz·kə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2142: To mark, to remember, to mention, to be male

the former things;
רִֽאשֹׁנ֑וֹת (ri·šō·nō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank

pay no
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

attention
תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃ (tiṯ·bō·nā·nū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

to things of old.
וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת (wə·qaḏ·mō·nî·yō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 6931: Anterior, oriental


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 43:18 Don't remember the former things and don't (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 43:17
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