Isaiah 43:2

When thou passest through the waters -This is a general promise, and means that whenever and wherever they should pass through water or fire, he would protect them. It had been true in their past history as a people; and the assurance is here given in order that they might be comforted in view of the calamities which they were then suffering in Babylon. Fire and water are often used in the Scriptures to denote calamity - the latter because it overwhelms; the former because it consumes; seePsalms 69:1- ‘The waters are come into my soul;’ alsoPsalms 73:10;Psalms 124:4-5;Psalms 66:12- ‘We went through fire and through water.’ I will be with thee -(Compare the note atIsaiah 41:10).