God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 49:15
15Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you.
Isaiah 49:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
- New International Version (NIV)“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
Context of Isaiah 49:15
13Sing with joy, you heavens! Rejoice, you earth! Break into shouts of joy, you mountains! The Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his humble people. 14But Zion said, “The Lord has abandoned me. My Lord has forgotten me.” Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you. 16I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in my presence. 17Your children will hurry back. Those who destroyed you and laid waste to you will leave you.
Read all of Isaiah 49Isaiah 49:15 word by word
הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ עוּלָ֔הּ מֵרַחֵ֖ם בֶּן־בִּטְנָ֑הּ גַּם־אֵ֣לֶּה תִשְׁכַּ֔חְנָה וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א אֶשְׁכָּחֵֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 49:15
- 1 Kings 3:26Then the woman whose son was still alive was deeply moved by her love for the child. She said to the king, “Please, sir, give her the living child. Please don’t kill him!” But the other woman said, “He won’t be mine or yours. Cut him ⌞in two⌟.”
- Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
- Malachi 3:17“They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.
- Matthew 7:11Even though you’re evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
- Leviticus 26:29You will eat the bodies of your sons and daughters.
- Deuteronomy 28:56The most tender and sensitive woman among you—so sensitive and tender that she wouldn’t even step on an ant—will become stingy toward the husband she loves or toward her own son or daughter.
- 2 Kings 6:28Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?” She answered, “This woman told me, ‘Give up your son. Let’s eat him today. We’ll eat my son tomorrow.’
- 2 Kings 11:1When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family.
- Lamentations 4:3Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the women of my people are as cruel as wild ostriches.
- Romans 1:31don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others.
- Isaiah 44:21Remember these things, Jacob: You are my servant, Israel. I formed you; you are my servant. Israel, I will not forget you.
- Jeremiah 31:20Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. That is why my heart longs for him, and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the Lord.
- Hosea 11:1“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
- Romans 11:28The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors.
Commentaries on Isaiah 49:15
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Can a woman forget her sucking child? - The design of this verse is apparent. It is to show that the love which God has for his people is stronger than that which is produced by the most tender ties created by any natural relation. The love of a mother for her infant child is the strongest attachment in nature. The question here implies that it was unusual for a mother to be unmindful of that tie, and to forsake the child that she should nourish and love…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Let there be universal joy, for God will have mercy upon the afflicted, because of his compassion; upon his afflicted, because of his covenant. We have no more reason to question his promise and grace, than we have to question his providence and justice. Be assured that God has a tender affection for his church and people; he would not have them to be discouraged. Some mothers do neglect their children; but God's compassions to his people…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. (Is 44:21; Psa 103:13; Mt 7:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 49:15
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries