Bible/Isaiah/49

Isaiah 49:5

49:4 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. my work: or, my reward
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. Though: or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may, etc

KJV

Save image

Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and to gather Israel to him, for I am honorable in Yahweh’s eyes, and my God has become my strength.

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.

And now, says 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.

49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. It is: or, Art thou lighter than that thou shouldest, etc preserved: or, desolations

What does Isaiah 49:5 mean?

Isaiah 49:5 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָמַר (ʼâmar), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh), יָצַר (yâtsar). It connects to 15 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
And
now,
saithאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
the
LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
that
formedיָצַרyâtsar/yaw-tsar'/H3335to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
me
from
the
wombבֶּטֶןbeṭen/beh'-ten/H990the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
to
be
his
servant,עֶבֶדʻebed/eh'-bed/H5650a servant
to
bringשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
JacobיַעֲקֹבYaʻăqôb/yah-ak-obe'/H3290Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
againשׁוּבshûwb/shoob/H7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
to
him,
Though
IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
be
not
gathered,אָסַףʼâçaph/aw-saf'/H622to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
yet
shall
I
be
gloriousכָּבַדkâbad/kaw-bad'/H3513to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses)
in
the
eyesעַיִןʻayin/ah'-yin/H5869an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
of
the
LORD,יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
and
my
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
shall
be
my
strength.עֹזʻôz/oze/H5797strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
Though:
or,
That
Israel
may
be
gathered
to
him,
and
I
may,
etc

Commentary on Isaiah 49:5

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 49:5
>and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Here are two things which are more valuable and which we should covet more than great riches:—1. To be well spoken of: A name (that is, a good name, a name for good things with God and good people) is rather to be chosen than great riches; that is, we should be more careful to do that by which we may get and keep a good name than that by which we may raise and increase a great estate. Great riches bring great cares with them, expose men to danger, and add no real value to a man. A fool and a knave may have great riches, but a good name makes a man easy and safe, supposes a man wise and honest, redounds to the glory of God, and gives a man a greater opportunity of doing good. By great riches we may relieve the bodily wants of others, but by a good name we may recommend religion to them. 2. To be well beloved, to have an interest in the esteem and affections of all about us; this is better than silver and gold. Christ has neither silver nor gold, but he grew in favour with God and man, Luke ii. 52 . This should teach us to look with a holy contempt upon the wealth of this world, not to set our hearts upon that, but with all possible care to think of those things that are lovely and of good report, Phil. iv. 8 . 2 The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. Note, 1. Among the children of men divine Providence

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 9:20

He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:

Exodus 9:21

And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field. regarded: Heb. set not his heart unto

Isaiah 7:7

Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

Isaiah 7:22

And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land. the land: Heb. the midst of the land

Isaiah 7:23

And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.

Isaiah 9:16

For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. the leaders: or, they that call them blessed led of: or, called blessed of destroyed: Heb. swallowed up

Isaiah 14:16

They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Isaiah 26:20

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Isaiah 26:21

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. blood: Heb. bloods

Isaiah 27:12

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.

Isaiah 29:1

Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. Woe: or, O Ariel, that is, the lion of God the city: or, of the city kill: Heb. cut off the heads of

Matthew 24:15

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

1 Thessalonians 5:2

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. moved: or, being wary

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 49:5.

Exodus 4:10

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. eloquent: Heb. a man of words heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day

Ezekiel 28:25

Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

Ezekiel 37:25

And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

Genesis 27:36

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? Jacob: that is, A supplanter

Genesis 42:13

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

Genesis 44:16

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

Genesis 44:23

And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

Genesis 45:16

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of Pharaoh

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 49:5 say?

Isaiah 49:5 (King James Version) reads: "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. Though: or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may, etc"

Is Isaiah 49:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 49:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 49:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Isaiah 49:5
49:4Read all of Isaiah 4949:6