Bible/Isaiah/49

Isaiah 49:1

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.

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Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother he has mentioned my name.

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.

Listen, O isles, to me; and listen, you people, from far; The LORD has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name.

49:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

What does Isaiah 49:1 mean?

Isaiah 49:1 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), אִי (ʼîy), קָשַׁב (qâshab). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Listen,שָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
O
isles,אִיʼîy/ee/H339properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island
unto
me;
and
hearken,קָשַׁבqâshab/kaw-shab'/H7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
ye
people,לְאֹםlᵉʼôm/leh-ome'/H3816a community
from
far;רָחוֹקrâchôwq/raw-khoke'/H7350remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
The
LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
hath
calledקָרָאqârâʼ/kaw-raw'/H7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
me
from
the
womb;בֶּטֶןbeṭen/beh'-ten/H990the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
from
the
bowelsמֵעֶהmêʻeh/may-aw'/H4578used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a vest; by extension the stomach, the uterus (or of men, the seat of generation), the heart (figuratively)
of
my
motherאֵםʼêm/ame/H517a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))
hath
he
made
mentionזָכַרzâkar/zaw-kar'/H2142properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
of
my
name.שֵׁםshêm/shame/H8034an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

Commentary on Isaiah 49:1

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 49:1
hardens his face —brazens it, that he may not blush—steels it, that he may not tremble when he commits the greatest crimes; he bids defiance to the terrors of the law and the checks of his own conscience, the reproofs of the word and the rebukes of Providence; he will have his way and nothing shall hinder him, Isa. lvii. 17 . 2. The caution and circumspection of a good man: As for the upright, he does not say, What would I do? What have I a mind to? and that will I have; but, What should I do? What does God require of me? What is duty? What is prudence? What is for edification? And so he does not force his way, but direct his way by a safe and certain rule. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord . 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Psalms 3:3

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. for: or, about

Psalms 3:8

Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalms 20:7

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalms 33:17

An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

Psalms 33:18

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 49:1.

2 Samuel 18:28

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. All: or, Peace be to thee: Heb. Peace delivered: Heb. shut up

2 Samuel 22:4

I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

2 Samuel 22:7

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Isaiah 34:1

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. all that: Heb. the fulness thereof

Isaiah 41:1

Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

Isaiah 51:4

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

Psalms 10:17

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: prepare: or, establish

Psalms 17:1

A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. the right: Heb. justice not: Heb. without lips of deceit

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 49:1 say?

Isaiah 49:1 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Isaiah 49:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 49:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 49:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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