Isaiah 49:4

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• 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 sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. 3He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 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.” 5And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— 6he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 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 65:2All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations—
• Ezekiel 3:19But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
• Matthew 17:17“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
• Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
• John 1:11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
• Romans 10:21But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
• Galatians 4:11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
• Leviticus 26:20Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.
• 2 Corinthians 12:15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?
• Isaiah 53:10Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
• Psalms 22:22I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
• Luke 24:26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
• John 17:4I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
• 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
• Philippians 2:9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
• Hebrews 12:2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down 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

• Jesus Continued

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Forget
• Mouth
• Atonement
• Choose; Chosen
• Christ, Offices of
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Nought

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