Isaiah 49

Isaiah 49:1-26

1. The speaker is the Servant of Jehovah. From the womb] The thought is that of pre-destined creation, as in Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15; Galatians 1:152. He is trained and protected by Jehovah.
2. Though here identified with Israel as fulfilling its ideal, the Servant is yet a Person distinct from the nation, or perhaps a personification of the pious core of the nation, who is to be the means of its restoration (Isaiah 49:6).
3. Though for a moment discouraged, the thought that God will vindicate the right and reward him reassures him. Work] RV ‘recompense.’
4. Though.. glorious] RV ‘and that Israel be gathered unto Him; for I am honourable.’
5. Cp. Isaiah 42:6. The Servant’s mission is not limited to Israel. He is to proclaim a world-wide salvation.
6. A promise to the nation now despised and in bondage that the highest honour is yet in store for it. And he shall choose] RV ‘who hath chosen.’
7. To establish, etc.] RV ’to raise up the land, to make them inherit,’ fulfilled in the first place in the work of Zerubbabel. Give thee for a covenant, etc.] see Isaiah 42:6.
8. Cp. Isaiah 42:7. High places] RV ‘bare heights.’ The prisoners] i.e. in Babylon. 10, 11. The journey homeward shall be made easy for them. The language of Isa 49:10 is borrowed in Revelation 7:16, Revelation 7:17.
9. Heat] properly, ‘mirage’ (Isaiah 35:7)
10. From all quarters the returning exiles will come. Sinim stands for distant lands generally; in the opinion of most scholars it strictly signifies China.
11. Graven] refers to the custom of tattooing, by which devotees often indicated their consecration to a deity. According to the prophet’s bold figure, Jehovah is devoted to Jerusalem, and cannot use His hands without being reminded of her.
12. Children] LXX and Vulgate read, ‘builders.’
13. The land of thy destruction] RV ’thy land that hath been destroyed.’
14. The children.. other] RV ’the children of thy bereavement,’ i.e. the children born in the days (of the exile) when Zion thought herself bereft of all her children.
15. Arms] RV ‘bosom.’ A particular fulfilment of Isa 49:22-23 may be traced in the favour shown by Persian monarchs to Jerusalem after the return from the exile (Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 6:1-15; Ezra 7:11; Nehemiah 2:1-9); a higher and spiritual fulfilment in the way in which princes in all lands have shown themselves patrons of the Church.
16. An incredulous question on the part of despondent Israelites. Lawful (lit. ‘righteous’) captive] i.e. captive taken from the righteous, or, adopting a slight emendation, ‘captive of the terrible one’ (Vulg., Syr., RM).
17. Feed, etc.] a figure expressing the destruction of Zion’s enemies by mutual hostility (Isaiah 9:20).