New English Translation
Isaiah 49:15
15Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never 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
13Shout for joy, O sky! Rejoice, O earth! Let the mountains give a joyful shout! For the Lord consoles his people and shows compassion to the oppressed. 14“Zion said, ‘The Lord has abandoned me, the sovereign master has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you! 16Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are constantly before me. 17Your children hurry back, while those who destroyed and devastated you depart.
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 3:26The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said, “My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don’t kill him!” But the other woman said, “Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!”
- Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.
- Malachi 3:17“They will belong to me,” says the Lord who rules over all, “in the day when I prepare my own special property. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.
- Matthew 7:11If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
- Leviticus 26:29You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.
- Deuteronomy 28:56Likewise, the most tender and delicate of your women, who would never think of putting even the sole of her foot on the ground because of her daintiness, will turn against her beloved husband, her sons and daughters,
- 2 Kings 6:28Then the king asked her, “What’s your problem?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Hand over your son; we’ll eat him today and then eat my son tomorrow.’
- 2 Kings 11:1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line.
- Lamentations 4:3Even the jackals nurse their young at their breast, but my people are cruel, like ostriches in the desert. ד (Dalet)
- Romans 1:31senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless.
- Isaiah 44:21Remember these things, O Jacob, O Israel, for you are my servant. I formed you to be my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you!
- Jeremiah 31:20Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children. They are the children I take delight in. For even though I must often rebuke them, I still remember them with fondness. So I am deeply moved with pity for them and will surely have compassion on them. I, the Lord, affirm it!
- Hosea 11:1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.
- Romans 11:28In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.
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
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Commentaries