Isaiah 49

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 49

1¶ Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

3And said unto me, Thou [art] my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God.

5And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

7¶ Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

8Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places.

10They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

11And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

12Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

13¶ Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

14But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.

17Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

18¶ Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth].

19For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

20The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place [is] too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where [had] they [been]?

22Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in [their] arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon [their] shoulders.

23And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with [their] face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

24¶ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

25But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

26And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD [am] thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 49 introduces the Lord's Servant, called from birth and empowered to be a light to the Gentiles, extending salvation globally. Though initially feeling his labor is in vain, the Servant is assured of divine vindication and a mission beyond restoring Israel. The Lord then addresses Zion's lament of being forgotten, promising her restoration, the return of her children, and the humbling of her oppressors, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness as her Redeemer.

Medium Summary

Isaiah 49 begins with the divine calling of the Lord's Servant from the womb, equipped as a sharp instrument for God's glory. Though the Servant expresses a sense of futility in his efforts to gather Israel, the Lord reaffirms his purpose, declaring that he will not only restore Jacob but also serve as a light to the Gentiles, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. The Lord promises that this despised Servant will be honored by kings and princes, and will act as a covenant to the people, releasing prisoners and guiding them from distant lands. Zion, however, laments being forsaken, but the Lord passionately refutes this, assuring her of His constant remembrance, likening His care to a mother's love and having her graven on His hands. He promises a dramatic restoration where her desolate places will overflow with returning children, brought by the Gentiles, and her oppressors will be consumed by their own actions, proving the Lord's power as her Saviour and Redeemer.

Long Summary

Isaiah 49 commences with the Lord's Servant, called from his mother's womb and divinely equipped with a mouth like a sharp sword and made a polished shaft, destined to glorify the Lord as 'Israel.' This Servant expresses a feeling of having labored in vain, spending strength for nought, yet trusts his judgment is with the Lord. The Lord then clarifies the Servant's expanded mission: it is a 'light thing' merely to restore Jacob, for he will also be a 'light to the Gentiles,' bringing salvation to the 'end of the earth.' The Lord, the Redeemer, promises that this Servant, though despised and abhorred by nations, will be honored by kings and princes who shall arise and worship. In an 'acceptable time,' the Lord will help and preserve the Servant, making him a 'covenant of the people' to establish the earth, release prisoners from darkness, and guide them to abundant pastures. Distant peoples from the north, west, and Sinim will return. A call for universal rejoicing follows, as the Lord has comforted His afflicted people. However, Zion laments, believing the Lord has forsaken and forgotten her. The Lord emphatically refutes this, asking if a mother can forget her sucking child, and declares He has graven Zion upon the palms of His hands, her walls continually before Him. He promises that Zion's children will return swiftly, and her destroyers will depart. Her desolate land will become too narrow for the multitude of inhabitants, causing Zion to marvel at the unexpected return of so many children, brought by the Gentiles. Kings and queens will serve as nursing fathers and mothers, bowing down to Zion, so she will know the Lord's faithfulness. Finally, the Lord answers the question of whether captives can be taken from the mighty, affirming that He will contend with Zion's oppressors, save her children, and feed her enemies with their own flesh and blood, ensuring all flesh will know Him as the mighty Saviour and Redeemer of Jacob.

Core Concepts

  • The Lord's ServantA figure called from the womb, identified as 'Israel' but with a mission extending beyond the nation, equipped by God and destined to glorify Him. This Servant will be a light to the Gentiles and a covenant to the people.
  • Mission to GentilesThe Servant's role is not limited to restoring Jacob; he is appointed to be a 'light to the Gentiles' and God's 'salvation unto the end of the earth.' This expands the scope of God's redemptive plan universally.
  • Divine Vindication and HonorDespite feeling his labor is in vain and being despised by man, the Servant is promised that kings and princes will see and worship him. The Lord will preserve him and establish him as a covenant.
  • Zion's Lament and God's AssuranceZion expresses a feeling of being forsaken and forgotten by the Lord. The Lord passionately refutes this, affirming His unwavering remembrance and care, comparing His faithfulness to a mother's love and having Zion graven on His hands.
  • Restoration and IngatheringThe chapter promises a dramatic restoration for Zion, where her desolate places will be repopulated by returning children. These children will be brought by the Gentiles, and kings and queens will serve Zion.
  • Deliverance and JudgmentThe Lord promises to deliver His people from their oppressors, contending with those who contend with Zion. He will save her children and inflict judgment upon her enemies, who will consume themselves.
  • God's Unwavering FaithfulnessThroughout the chapter, the Lord's faithfulness is a central theme, demonstrated in His calling of the Servant, His promises of restoration to Zion, and His commitment to delivering His people and judging their adversaries.