God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 49:1
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 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, 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. 2He made my tongue like a sharp sword and hid me in the palm of his hand. He made me like a sharpened arrow and hid me in his quiver. 3He said to me, “You are my servant Israel. I will display my glory through you.”
Read all of Isaiah 49Isaiah 49:1 word by word
שִׁמְע֤וּ אִיִּים֙ אֵלַ֔י וְהַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ לְאֻמִּ֖ים מֵרָח֑וֹק יְהוָה֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן קְרָאָ֔נִי מִמְּעֵ֥י אִמִּ֖י הִזְכִּ֥יר שְׁמִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Listenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- O islesאִי'îy · coastlandH339
- unto me; and hearkenקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
- ye peopleלְאֹםle'ôm le'ôm · peopleH3816
- from farרָחֹקrâchôq râchôq · distantH7350
- The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- hath calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- me from the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
- from the bowelsמֵעֶהmê‛eh · bellyH4578
- of my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- hath he made mentionזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
- of my nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
Cross-references for Isaiah 49:1
- Isaiah 41:1“Be silent and listen to me, you coastlands. Let the people gain new strength. Let them come near and speak. Let us come together for judgment.
- Isaiah 42:1Here is my servant, whom I support. Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased. I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.
- Isaiah 45:22Turn to me and be saved, all who live at the ends of the earth, because I am God, and there is no other.
- Isaiah 51:5My righteousness is near. My salvation is on the way. I will bring justice to people. The coastlands put their hope in me, and they wait eagerly for me.
- Isaiah 60:9Certainly, the coastlands wait with hope for me. The ships from Tarshish are the first to bring your children from far away. Their silver and their gold comes with them to honor the name of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, because he has honored you.
- Isaiah 66:19I will set up a sign among them and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands who have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will tell about my glory among the nations.
- Zephaniah 2:11The Lord will terrify them, because he will make all the gods of the earth waste away. So every person from every coast and nation will bow to him.
- Isaiah 55:3Open your ears, and come to me! Listen so that you may live! I will make an everlasting promise to you— the blessings I promised to David.
- Isaiah 57:19I’ll create praise on their lips: “Perfect peace to those both far and near.” “I’ll heal them,” says the Lord.
- Ephesians 2:17He came with the Good News of peace for you who were far away and for those who were near.
- Hebrews 12:25Be careful that you do not refuse to listen when God speaks. Your ancestors didn’t escape when they refused to listen to God, who warned them on earth. We certainly won’t escape if we turn away from God, who warns us from heaven.
- Isaiah 49:5The Lord formed me in the womb to be his servant in order to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him. (The Lord honors me, and my God has become my strength.)
- Psalms 71:5You are my hope, O Almighty Lord. You have been my confidence ever since I was young.
- Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
- Matthew 1:20Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
- Luke 1:15As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
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
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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