English Standard Version
Isaiah 49:4
4But 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."
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.”
- 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.’ ”
- New Living Translation (NLT)I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
Context of Isaiah 49:4
2He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." 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." 5And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end 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 the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;
- Ezekiel 3:19But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
- Matthew 17:17And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."
- Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
- John 1:11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
- Romans 10:21But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
- Galatians 4:11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
- Leviticus 26:20And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.
- 2 Corinthians 12:15I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
- Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
- Psalms 22:22I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
- Luke 24:26Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
- John 17:4I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
- Philippians 2:9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
- Hebrews 12:2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries