The interpretation timeline

Isa 43:17

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

1 Patristic · 2 Jewish · 1 Catholic

Isa 43:17 · Douay-Rheims

“Who brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the strong: they lay down to sleep together, and they shall not rise again: they are broken as flax, and are extinct.”

Patristic before A.D. 750

420

A.D.

Jerome Patristic

c. A.D. 347–420

“(Verse 17) Who brought out the chariot and horse, the army and the strong: they lay down to sleep together, they will not rise again; they are broken like flax, they are extinguished. LXX: Who brings out chariots and horses, and a multitude of warriors. But they lie down, they shall not rise; they are extinguished, extinguished like flax. He submerged Pharaoh's chariots, horses, and entire army in the depths, who slept an eternal sleep. They were crushed and annihilated, like flax in a short span of time, and in an instant. For flax, even before being consumed by fire, is immediately extinguished due to its light substance, and dissolves into ashes.”

Source

685 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet

Scholastic c. 1100 – 1500

1105

A.D.

Rashi Jewish

1040–1105

“they were quenched Jonathan renders: Like flax they dimmed, they were quenched.”

Source

1167

A.D.

Ibn Ezra Jewish

1089–1167

“Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, תיל ועזוז the great and powerful army on land; the army of the Chaldæans is meant, that went out to fight against the Persians. דעכו It is Pual, and means they are extinct; comp. ידעך shall be put out (Prov. 20:20)”

Source

1274

A.D.

Thomas Aquinas Catholic

1225–1274

“And as to the destruction of their enemies, who brought forth the chariot, the chariots of Pharaoh: his chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea (Exod 15:4); as flax, cut down in a moment.”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.