God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 46:3
3Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, the few people left of the nation of Israel. I’ve carried you since your birth. I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born.
Isaiah 46:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
- New International Version (NIV)“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb;
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb:
Context of Isaiah 46:3
1The god Bel bows down; the god Nebo stoops low. Their statues are seated on animals and cattle. The gods that you carry are burdens, a load for weary people. 2These gods stoop low and bow down together. They aren’t able to escape with heavy loads. They go away into captivity. Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, the few people left of the nation of Israel. I’ve carried you since your birth. I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born. 4Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you. 5To whom will you compare me and make me equal? To whom will you compare me so that we can be alike?
Read all of Isaiah 46Isaiah 46:3 word by word
שִׁמְע֤וּ אֵלַי֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְכָל־שְׁאֵרִ֖ית בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הַֽעֲמֻסִים֙ מִנִּי־בֶ֔טֶן הַנְּשֻׂאִ֖ים מִנִּי־רָֽחַם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Hearkenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- unto me, O houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
- of Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- and all the remnantשְׁאֵרִיתshe'êrîyth · remnantH7611
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- which are borneעָמַס‛âmas ‛âmaώ · loadH6006
- from the bellyבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
- which are carriedנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- from the wombרַחַםracham · wombH7356
Cross-references for Isaiah 46:3
- Isaiah 44:1But now listen, my servant Jacob, Israel, whom I have chosen.
- Isaiah 48:1Listen to this, descendants of Jacob! You are given the name of Israel. You are descended from Judah. You take oaths by the name of the Lord. You acknowledge the God of Israel, but you are not honest or sincere.
- Isaiah 51:1Listen to me, you people who pursue what is right and seek the Lord. Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were dug.
- Psalms 81:8Listen, my people, and I will warn you. Israel, if you would only listen to me!
- Isaiah 1:9If the Lord of Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Isaiah 10:22Although your people Israel may be as ⌞numerous as⌟ the grains of sand on the seashore, only a few will return. Destruction will be complete and fair.
- Isaiah 11:11At that time the Lord will use his power again to recover what remains of his people in Assyria, Upper and Lower Egypt, Sudan, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath, and the islands of the sea.
- Isaiah 37:4The Lord your God may have heard the words of the field commander. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to defy the living God. The Lord your God may punish him because of the message that the Lord your God heard. Pray for the few people who are left.”
- Isaiah 49:1Listen to me, you islands. Pay attention, you people far away. Before I was born, the Lord chose me. While I was in my mother’s womb, he recorded my name.
- Isaiah 63:9In all their troubles he was troubled, and he was the Messenger who saved them. In his love and compassion he reclaimed them. He always held them and carried them in the past.
- Exodus 19:4‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to my mountain.
- Deuteronomy 1:31and in the desert.” There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as parents carry their children. He carried you wherever you went until you came to this place.
- Deuteronomy 32:11Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreads its wings to catch them, and carries them on its feathers,
- Psalms 22:9Indeed, you are the one who brought me out of the womb, the one who made me feel safe at my mother’s breasts.
- Psalms 71:6I depended on you before I was born. You took me from my mother’s womb. My songs of praise constantly speak about you.
- Ezekiel 16:6“ ‘Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, “Live.”
Commentaries on Isaiah 46:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Which are borne by me from the belly "Ye that have been borne by me from the birth" - The prophet very ingeniously, and with great force, contrasts the power of God, and his tender goodness effectually exerted towards his people, with the inability of the false gods of the heathen. He like an indulgent father had carried his people in his arms, "as a man carrieth his son," Deuteronomy 1:31. He had protected them, and delivered them from their distresses…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Hearken unto me - From this view of the captive gods, the address is now turned to the Jews. The utter vanity of the idols had been set before them; and in view of that, God now addresses his own people, and entreats them to put their trust in him. The address he commences with words of great tenderness and endearment, designed to lead them to confide in him as their Father and friend. And all the remnant - All who were left from slaughter, and all who…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3the remnant of the house of Israel: This refers to the survivors after Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC. The Lord, the Creator of humanity, cares for and carries his people, unlike the Babylonian idols that need carrying. sustained from the womb, carried along since birth: The Lord chose Israel even before it became a nation (see also Isaiah 49:5).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. in contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from bearing its people safely are themselves borne off, a burden to the laden beast; but Jehovah bears His people in safety even from the womb to old age (Is 63:9; De 32:11; Psa 71:6, 18). God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast Moses' language (Nu 11:12).Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 46
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries