New International Version
Isaiah 49:5
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—
Isaiah 49:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him— for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength),
- New Living Translation (NLT)And now the Lord speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
Context of Isaiah 49:5
3He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” 4But 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.” And 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.” 7This is what the Lord says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Read all of Isaiah 49Isaiah 49:5 word by word
וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה יֹצְרִ֤י מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙ לְעֶ֣בֶד ל֔וֹ לְשׁוֹבֵ֤ב יַֽעֲקֹב֙ אֵלָ֔יו וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ל֣וֹ יֵאָסֵ֑ף וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וֵאלֹהַ֖י הָיָ֥ה עֻזִּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And now, saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- that formedיָצַרyâtsar · to form: formedH3335
- me from the wombבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: wombH990
- his servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- to bringשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to him, Though Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- be not gatheredאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
- yet shall I be gloriousכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
- in the eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- and my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- shall be my strengthעֹז‛ôz ‛ôz · strengthH5797
Cross-references for Isaiah 49:5
- Isaiah 49:1Listen 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.
- Isaiah 46:8“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.
- Matthew 15:24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
- Acts 10:36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
- Romans 15:8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed
- Matthew 21:37Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
- 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.
- Luke 19:42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone
- Psalms 110:1The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
- Matthew 3:17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
- Matthew 11:27“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
- Matthew 17:5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
- Matthew 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
- John 3:35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
- John 5:20For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
Commentaries on Isaiah 49:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5And now, saith the Lord "And now, thus saith Jehovah" - The word כה coh, before אמר amar, is dropped out of the text: it is supplied by eight MSS. (two ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, two of De Rossi's, and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Though Israel be not gathered "And that Israel unto him might be gathered" - Five MSS. (two ancient) confirm the Keri, or marginal correction of the Masoretes, לו lo, unto him, instead of לא lo, not, in the text; and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And now, saith the Lord that formed me - This verse contains the reason why he cherished the hope that his work would not be unaccepted. The reason is, that Yahweh had said to him that he should be glorious in his eyes, and that he would be his strength. He stood so high in his favor, and he had such assurances of that favor, that he could confidently commit himself to his care. That formed thee from the womb - Who appointed me before I was born to the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7God planned to rescue the Israelites from exile. But an important question remained. How could sinful Israel serve the Holy One again? God would make a way to remove Israel’s sin. He would restore their fellowship with him. This means he would bring them back into a right relationship with himself. The way would be through the promised Servant. This Servant would come for Israel and for all nations. He was first introduced in Isaiah 42:1–9. n this…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. The reason why He was confident that His work would be accepted and rewarded, namely, because He is "glorious in the eyes of Jehovah," &c. to bring Jacob again to him--(Mt 15:24; Ac 3:26). Though Israel be not gathered--metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (Mt 23:37). Instead of the text "not," the Keri has the similar Hebrew word, "to Him," which the parallelism favors: "And that Israel…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 49:5
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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