Isaiah 49:1

Isaiah 49:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.

Context of Isaiah 49:1

Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me. 2He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver. 3He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”

Isaiah 49:1 word by word

שִׁמְע֤וּ אִיִּים֙ אֵלַ֔י וְהַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ לְאֻמִּ֖ים מֵרָח֑וֹק יְהוָה֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן קְרָאָ֔נִי מִמְּעֵ֥י אִמִּ֖י הִזְכִּ֥יר שְׁמִֽי׃Read the interlinear

• Listenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• to Meאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• O islandsאִי'îy · coastlandH339
• pay attentionקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• O distantרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
• peoplesלְאֹםle'ôm le'ôm · peopleH3816
• The LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• called Meקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• from the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
• from the bodyמֵעֶהmê‛eh · bellyH4578
• of My motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
• He named Meזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• He named Meשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034

Cross-references for Isaiah 49:1

• Isaiah 41:1“Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.
• Isaiah 42:1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
• Isaiah 45:22Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
• Isaiah 51:5My righteousness draws near, My salvation is on the way, and My arms will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look for Me and wait in hope for My arm.
• Isaiah 60:9Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
• Isaiah 66:19I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
• Zephaniah 2:11The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
• Isaiah 55:3Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David.
• Isaiah 57:19bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”
• Ephesians 2:17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
• Hebrews 12:25See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?
• Isaiah 49:5And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him— for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—
• Psalms 71:5For You are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence from my youth.
• Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
• Matthew 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
• Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Commentaries on Isaiah 49:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Listen, O isles, unto me "Hearken unto me, O ye distant lands" - Hitherto the subject of the prophecy has been chiefly confined to the redemption from the captivity of Babylon; with strong intimations of a more important deliverance sometimes thrown in, to the refutation of idolatry, and the demonstration of the infinite power, wisdom, and foreknowledge of God. The character and office of the Messiah was exhibited in general terms at the beginning of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Listen - This is the exordium, or introduction. According to the interpretation which refers it to the Messiah, it is to be regarded as the voice of the Redeemer calling the distant parts of the earth to give a respectful attention to the statement of his qualifications for his work, and to the assurances that his salvation would be extended to them (compare Isaiah 41:1). The Redeemer here is to be regarded as having already come in the flesh, and as…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The unbelief and rejection of the Jews. (Is. 49:1-6) Gracious promise to the Gentiles. (Is. 49:7-12) God's love to the church. (Is. 49:13-17) Its increase. (Is. 49:18-23) And deliverance. (Is. 49:24-26) Verses 1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience; but all these wounds will be healed, when the sinner prays…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1O distant peoples: The servant's work would not be limited to Israel. His ministry would reach people in faraway nations (see Isaiah 42:4, 10, 12; 51:5; 60:9; 66:19). called Me from the womb … He named Me: The promised servant's prophetic call was like Jeremiah's call (see Jeremiah 1:5; see also Galatians 1:15). It was not a general call but a very specific, personal one (see also Isaiah 43:1; 45:3–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-26Messiah, as the ideal Israel (Is 49:3), states the object of His mission, His want of success for a time, yet His certainty of ultimate success. 1. O isles--Messiah is here regarded as having been rejected by the Jews (Is 49:4, 5), and as now turning to the Gentiles, to whom the Father hath given Him "for a light and salvation." "Isles" mean all regions beyond sea. from the womb--(Is 44:2; Lu 1:31; Joh 10:36). from ... bowels ... mention of my name--His…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 49:1

• Gentiles
• Island
• Jesus Continued

In the dictionaries

• Forget
• Mouth
• Atonement
• Choose; Chosen
• God
• Inspiration
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Saviour
• Servant of Jehovah; Servant of the Lord; Servant of Yahweh

Commentaries on Isaiah 49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings