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 46:9KJV
Know the Bible

Isaiah 46:9 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 46:9 mean?

Isaiah 46:9 calls the people to remember what God has done in the past, declaring that He alone is God and that no one else is like Him. The verse emphasizes God’s uniqueness and unmatched power, urging the listeners to recall His acts and trust in His authority.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel, reminding them of His past deeds and faithfulness. The setting is a time when Israel is tempted by other gods and idols, and God is making it clear that He stands alone as the true God. The verse highlights the importance of remembering history to understand who God is and why He is different from any other being or idol.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 46:9

  • "Remember" (זָכַר, zakar, H2142) means to call to mind or to keep in memory. Here, it is a call for the people to actively recall God’s past actions, not just to know them but to let those memories shape their trust.
  • "God" (אֵל, El, H410) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim, H430) are both used, emphasizing both God’s might (El often highlights strength) and His identity as the one true deity (Elohim is the general word for God but used here in the singular sense).
  • "None" (אֵין, ayin, H657) and "like" (כָּמוֹ, kamo, H3644) together stress that there is absolutely no one who can be compared to God, underlining His complete uniqueness.

Why Isaiah 46:9 matters

  • This verse clears up any confusion about God’s identity by insisting there are no other gods or powers like Him, which was especially important in a culture surrounded by idol worship.
  • Isaiah 46:9 connects to the wider passage where God contrasts Himself with idols, showing that only He has acted in history and only He can predict and control the future.
  • The verse reminds readers that understanding God’s past actions is key to trusting Him in the present, making history not just a record but a foundation for faith.

Where else these words appear

“like” Hebrew H3644 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 19:15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
  • 2 Samuel 18:3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
  • Isaiah 26:17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

“none” Hebrew H657 · used in 43 verses

  • Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
  • Psalms 59:13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.
  • Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.