In this verse the Hebrew text uses the independent pronoun I five times in combination with first person singular affixes on the verbs. God is making an emphatic declaration here of what he personally has done and will do for his people.

Even to your old age I am He reminds the people that the LORD’s relationship with them as their God is permanent and unchanging, however old the nation may become. For I am He, see the comments on 41.4. This whole line may be rendered “I will be your God even when you are old.”

And to gray hairs I will carry you is parallel to the previous line. God speaks to the nation as though it is an individual growing old and whose hair is turning gray. He promises here that he will support them forever. The Hebrew word rendered gray hairs can also mean “old age.” Revised English Bible and Bible en français courant say “white hairs.” There is a wordplay here since the Hebrew word for gray hairs is sebah and the word for “captivity” in verse 2 is shebi. Yahweh is hinting that he will support his people even while they are in exile. The Hebrew verb rendered carry differs from the one in the previous verse, but it has the same sense of support here.

I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save: I have made emphasizes again that God formed the Israelites into a nation (see 43.7; 44.2). I will bear and I will carry highlight that he will help them. The Hebrew verb rendered bear is the same one translated “carry” in verse 1 and “carried” in verse 3, while the verb for carry is the same one as in the second line. Will save emphasizes that God will rescue his people. The Hebrew verb for save is the same one used in verse 2. There is a contrast here between Yahweh and the Babylonian gods. The idols representing these gods have to be carried (verse 1) and the gods cannot save the idols (verse 2), but Yahweh will carry his people and save them.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• I am He who will carry you even when you are old
and your hair has turned white.
I created you, and I will support you,
I will carry you and rescue you.

• Even when you grow old and your hair is white,
I will be the one who supports you.
I made you, and I will sustain you,
I will support you and rescue you.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .