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Isaiah 65 · a question people ask

When 65:17 says "the former things will not be remembered", will everything that came before be forgotten?

In the text

The verse says, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind" (65:17). The verse before gives the words a setting: "because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes" (65:16). In Hebrew former is the same word in both verses, rishon (tap former). In 65:16 it goes with troubles; in 65:17 it stands alone, the former things. The chapter says no more about what will be remembered, and these notes don't add to it. The notes on Isaiah 43 ask about "Don’t remember the former things" (Isaiah 43:18) and set 65:17 beside it; that question isn't asked again here.

The verses

“so that he who blesses himself on the earth will bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears on the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 65:16-17 · World English Bible
““Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.”
Isaiah 43:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65: New heavens and a new earth

Paul gives 65:1-2 in Romans 10:20-21, and Peter, without naming Isaiah, looks for "new heavens and a new earth" "according to his promise" (2 Peter 3:13). The LORD's "See me, see me" (65:1) is the word of "Here I am" in 58:9. And "when I called, you didn’t answer" (65:12) turns around: "before they call, I will answer" (65:24).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions