Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 49:4
4But I myself said: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility; yet my vindication is with the Lord, and my reward is with my God.
Isaiah 49:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then 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.
- New International Version (NIV)But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’ ”
Context of Isaiah 49:4
2He made my words like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow; he hid me in his quiver. 3He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I myself said: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and futility; yet my vindication is with the Lord, and my reward is with my God. 5And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him so that Israel might be gathered to him; for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God is my strength — 6he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Read all of Isaiah 49Isaiah 49:4 word by word
וַאֲנִ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ לְרִ֣יק יָגַ֔עְתִּי לְתֹ֥הוּ וְהֶ֖בֶל כֹּחִ֣י כִלֵּ֑יתִי אָכֵן֙ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וּפְעֻלָּתִ֖י אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- I have labouredיָגֵעַyâga‛ · be weary/toilH3021
- in vainרִיקrîyq · vainH7385
- I have spentכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: expendH3615
- my strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
- for noughtתֹּ֫הוּtôhû · formlessnessH8414
- and in vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
- surelyאָכֵן'âkên · surelyH403
- my judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
- with the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and my workפְּעֻלָּהpe‛ûllâh · wagesH6468
- with my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
Cross-references for Isaiah 49:4
- Isaiah 65:2I spread out my hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in the path that is not good, following their own thoughts.
- Ezekiel 3:19But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.
- Matthew 17:17Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”
- Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
- John 1:11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
- Romans 10:21But to Israel he says, All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and defiant people.
- Galatians 4:11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
- Leviticus 26:20and your strength will be used up for nothing. Your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.
- 2 Corinthians 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
- Isaiah 53:10Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
- Psalms 22:22I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will praise you in the assembly.
- Luke 24:26Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
- John 17:4I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
- Philippians 2:9For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
- Hebrews 12:2keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Commentaries on Isaiah 49:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Then I said - I the Messiah. In the previous verses he speaks of his appointment to the office of Messiah, and of his dignity. The design here is to prepare the way for the announcement of the fact that he would make known his gospel to the pagan, and would be for a light to the Gentiles. For this purpose he speaks of his labors among his own countrymen; he laments the little success which attended his work at the commencement, but consoles himself with…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4I have labored in vain: Even though people stubbornly refuse his message, the servant will still reach out to them. My vindication is with the LORD: Despite discouragement and suffering, the servant will continue to perform his duty faithfully, trusting God for the outcome. God promised to reward the servant’s faithfulness (see also Isaiah 40:10; 50:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I--Messiah. in vain--comparatively in the case of the greater number of His own countrymen. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (Is 53:1-3; Lu 19:14; Joh 1:11; 7:5). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended (Ac 1:15). yet ... my judgment ... with the Lord--Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward (Margin for "work," compare Is 40:10; 62:11) My labors and sufferings. He was never…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 49:4
In the dictionaries
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
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