Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 44:8

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any." — Isaiah 44:8 (ASV)

Fear ye not, neither be afraid - (see the notes at Isaiah 41:10). The word rendered here ‘be afraid,’ occurs nowhere else in the Bible. There can be no doubt, however, in regard to its meaning. The Septuagint renders it, Μηδέ πλανᾶσθε Mēde planasthe - ‘Neither be deceived.’ All the other ancient versions express the sense to fear, to be afraid (Gesenius’ Lexicon on the word ירה yârahh).

Have not I told thee from that time - Have I not fully declared from the very beginning of your history as a people, essentially what will occur?

Ye are even my witnesses - (See the notes at Isaiah 43:12).

Is there a God besides me? - This is a strong way of affirming that there is no God besides Yahweh (see the note at Isaiah 44:6).

Yea, there is no God - Margin, ‘Rock’ (צור tsûr). The word rock is often applied to God (see the note at Isaiah 30:29; compare to Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:30–31; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 31:2–3; Psalms 42:9; and often elsewhere). The idea is taken from the fact that a lofty rock or stronghold was inaccessible to an enemy, and that those who took refuge there were safe.