Isaiah 49
49
The Lord’s Special Servant
1Listen to what I have to say, you islands.
Pay attention to me, you who live in distant lands.
Yahweh called me as his own before I was born
and named me while I was still in my mother’s womb.
2He gives me words that pierce and penetrate. # 49:2 Or “He makes my mouth a sharp sword.” See Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15.
He hid me and protected me in the shadow of his hand. # 49:2 Jesus was “hidden” in Nazareth for thirty years.
He prepared me like a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3And he said to me,
“Israel, you are my special servant;
in you I will be glorified.” # 49:3 See Gen. 32:28; Deut. 7:6; 26:18–19; Eph. 1:4–6.
4I said, “I’ve worked and served for nothing.
I have used up all my strength for nothing.” # 49:4 Or “empty breath.”
Yet my rights I leave in Yahweh’s hands,
and my just reward is with my God.
5And now, the Lord Yahweh—
who shaped me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob’s tribes back to him
that Israel would be gathered back to him,
for I am honored in the sight of Yahweh.
I find the source of all my strength in my God—
6who says:
“Is it too small a thing for you, my servant,
to restore greatness to Jacob’s tribes and the survivors of Israel?
I will make you to be a light to the nations and
to bring the light of my salvation to the ends of the earth!” # 49:6 Although Israel is named in this chapter, the future fulfillment of this prophecy is found in Jesus Christ, the true Servant of the Lord. He was called and named from the womb (v. 1). He was equipped and prepared by God (v. 2). He was appointed and commissioned as God’s Servant (v. 3). He would bring Israel back to God (v. 5). He is highly favored in the sight of God (v. 5). Jesus found all his strength in his Father and did only what pleased him (v. 5). He is light and salvation to the nations (gentiles; v. 6).
7Yahweh, Israel’s Kinsman-Redeemer and Holy One,
says to the one who is deeply despised and repulsed by rulers
and a slave to the ruling class:
“Kings will see and stand up in respect;
princes will bow down to honor the faithfulness of Yahweh,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
God’s Faithfulness
8Yahweh says:
“When the time of showing you favor has come, # 49:8 This may be a reference to the year of Jubilee (see Lev. 25:8–13). Believers today are now living in that season of God’s favor. See Luke 4:18–19.
I will answer your heart’s cry.
I will help you in the day of salvation,
for I have fixed my eyes on you.
I have made you a covenant people to restore the land
and to resettle families on forgotten inheritances.
9You will declare to prisoners, ‘You’re free!’
and to those in darkness, ‘Step out into the light!’
They will be like sheep that graze beside the roads
and find pasture on the barren hillside.
10They will never be hungry or thirsty.
Neither scorching sun nor desert wind will hurt them, # 49:10 See Rev. 7:16.
for he, the Loving One, will guide them
and lead them to restful, renewing streams of water. # 49:10 See Ps. 23:1–3.
11I will level all my mountains as a road for them
and raise up my highways.
12Look! They will come from faraway lands—
some from the north, some from the west,
and some from the land of Sinim.” # 49:12 There is much scholarly debate about the land of Sinim. There are some convincing arguments that link Sinim etymologically and historically to the Qin dynasty, which eventually grew and became modern-day China. The Sinites as a people group are mentioned in Gen. 10:17 and 1 Chron. 1:15. Others see Sinim as a Persian province, a variant name for Phoenicia, or a region in Aswan (Egypt).
13Sing for joy, you heavens!
Shout, you earth, and rejoice with dancing, shouting, and glee!
Burst into joyous songs, you mountains,
for Yahweh has comforted his beloved people.
He will show tenderness and compassion # 49:13 The Hebrew word for “compassion” is racham, a Hebrew homophone for “womb.” The implication is that God has a compassionate love for you, greater than a birth mother has for her child. God’s love comes from deep within his innermost being and births living mercy poured out over us. Racham can be translated “pity,” “grace,” “favor,” “tender affection,” or “compassion.” The very core of God’s being is filled with love and compassion for you.
to his suffering ones.
God Will Not Forget Zion
14But Zion has said, “Yahweh has forsaken me.
My Lord has forgotten me—I’m all alone.”
15Yahweh responds, “But how could a loving mother forget her nursing child
and not deeply love the one she bore?
Even if there is a mother who forgets her child,
I could never, no never, forget you.
16Can’t you see?
I have carved your name on the palms of my hands!
Your walls are always my concern. # 49:16 Although this is an apparent reference to the walls of Jerusalem, there is an application here for each of us. Wherever you are today, your limitations—your walls—are before God’s eyes. He knows where you are and what you face.
17Your children, your builders, # 49:17 The Hebrew root word for “children” (bnyk) is a homonym for “builders.” This translation includes both terms. See also v. 18. are running back to you
as those who ruined and destroyed you are running away.
18Lift up your head and look all around you.
See! All your children, your builders, gather to come back to you.
As surely as I live, I make this promise,” says Yahweh.
“You will wear them all like jewels,
as a radiant bride wears her beautiful jewelry! # 49:18 The Hebrew word for “bride” (kallah) also means “completed,” “perfected,” or “finished.” A mature bride will arise, wearing her sons and daughters as her jewelry and crown. See 1 Thess. 2:19.
19“See? Your ruins and devastated places
will soon be overcrowded with settlers
while your destroyers stay far away.
20You thought you had lost the children, # 49:20 Or “the children of your bereavement.”
but you will hear them say,
‘This place is too cramped for me.
Make more room for me to live in.’
21And you will say to yourself,
‘Where in the world did all these children come from?
Who birthed these for me?
I thought I was bereaved and barren.
I thought I was all alone, forgotten in exile—
so how did they all get here?’ ”
22This is what Lord Yahweh says:
“Soon I will raise my hand and signal to the nations,
and they will come with your little boys bundled in their arms # 49:22 Or “lap” or “bosom.”
and your little daughters carried on their shoulders.
23Kings will be their babysitters
and queens their nursing mothers.
With faces bowed to the ground,
they will lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh,
and I will never disappoint those
who entwine their hearts with mine.” # 49:23 Or “whoever waits on me.”
24Who can snatch the prey
from the hands of a mighty warrior
or rescue captives from a conqueror? # 49:24 Or “tyrant” (1QIsaa, Vulgate, Aramaic). The Hebrew reads “a righteous one.”
25But Yahweh says:
“The prey will be freed from the mighty warrior,
and captives will be rescued from a conqueror!
For I will fight with those who fight with you, # 49:25 See Gen. 12:1–3.
and I myself will save your children.
26I will cause the violence of your oppressors
to come back upon them, # 49:26 Or “I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,” a figure of speech for violently turning on one another.
and your enemies will kill one another in a killing frenzy! # 49:26 Or “they will get drunk on their own blood as with wine.” See Rev. 16:6.
Then all the earth will know that I am Yahweh,
your Savior, your Kinsman-Redeemer,
the mighty hero of Jacob’s tribes.”
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Isaiah 49: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 49
49
Israel, a Light to the Nations
1 #
Jer 1.5
Listen to me, distant nations,
you people who live far away!
Before I was born, the LORD chose me
and appointed me to be his servant.
2 #
Heb 4.12; Rev 1.16 He made my words as sharp as a sword.
With his own hand he protected me.#49.2 With his own hand… me; or He kept me hidden in his hand.
He made me like an arrow,
sharp and ready for use.
3He said to me, “Israel, you are my servant;
because of you, people will praise me.”
4I said, “I have worked, but how hopeless it is!
I have used up my strength, but have accomplished nothing.”
Yet I can trust the LORD to defend my cause;
he will reward me for what I do.
5Before I was born, the LORD appointed me;
he made me his servant to bring back his people,
to bring back the scattered people of Israel.
The LORD gives me honour;
he is the source of my strength.
6 #
Is 42.6; Lk 2.32; Acts 13.47; 26.23 The LORD said to me,
“I have a greater task for you, my servant.
Not only will you restore to greatness
the people of Israel who have survived,
but I will also make you a light to the nations —
so that all the world may be saved.”
7Israel's holy God and saviour says
to the one who is deeply despised,
who is hated by the nations
and is the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you released
and will rise to show their respect;
princes also will see it,
and they will bow low to honour you.”
This will happen because the LORD has chosen his servant;
the holy God of Israel keeps his promises.
The Restoration of Jerusalem
8 #
2 Cor 6.2
The LORD says to his people,
“When the time comes to save you, I will show you favour
and answer your cries for help.
I will guard and protect you
and through you make a covenant with all peoples.
I will let you settle once again
in your land that is now laid waste.
9I will say to the prisoners, ‘Go free!’
and to those who are in darkness,
‘Come out to the light!’
They will be like sheep that graze on the hills;
10 #
Rev 7.16–17
they will never be hungry or thirsty.
Sun and desert heat will not hurt them,
for they will be led by one who loves them.
He will lead them to springs of water.
11“I will make a highway across the mountains
and prepare a road for my people to travel.
12My people will come from far away,
from the north and the west,
and from Aswan#49.12 Aswan: A city in southern Egypt, where a large Jewish community had settled. in the south.”
13Sing, heavens! Shout for joy, earth!
Let the mountains burst into song!
The LORD will comfort his people;
he will have pity on his suffering people.
14But the people of Jerusalem said,
“The LORD has abandoned us!
He has forgotten us.”
15So the LORD answers,
“Can a woman forget her own baby
and not love the child she bore?
Even if a mother should forget her child,
I will never forget you.
16Jerusalem, I can never forget you!
I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
17“Those who will rebuild you are coming soon,
and those who destroyed you will leave.
18Look around and see what is happening!
Your people are assembling — they are coming home!
As surely as I am the living God,
you will be proud of your people,
as proud as a bride is of her jewels.
19“Your country was ruined and desolate —
but now it will be too small
for those who are coming to live there.
And those who left you in ruins
will be far removed from you.
20Your people who were born in exile
will one day say to you,
‘This land is too small —
we need more room to live in!’
21Then you will say to yourself,
‘Who bore all these children for me?
I lost my children and could have no more.
I was exiled and driven away —
who brought these children up?
I was left all alone —
where did these children come from?’ ”
22The Sovereign LORD says to his people:
“I will signal to the nations,
and they will bring your children home.
23Kings will be like fathers to you;
queens will be like mothers.
They will bow low before you and honour you;
they will humbly show their respect for you.
Then you will know that I am the LORD;
no one who waits for my help will be disappointed.”
24Can you take away a soldier's loot?
Can you rescue the prisoners of a tyrant?
25The LORD replies,
“That is just what is going to happen.
The soldier's prisoners will be taken away,
and the tyrant's loot will be seized.
I will fight against whoever fights you,
and I will rescue your children.
26I will make your oppressors kill each other;
they will be drunk with murder and rage.
Then the whole human race will know that I am the LORD,
the one who saves you and sets you free.
They will know that I am Israel's powerful God.”
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.