1Höret aufH7181 mich, ihr InselnH339, und merket auf, ihr Völkerschaften in der FerneH7350! JehovaH3068 hatH8085 mich berufenH7121 von MutterleibeH990 an, hat von meiner MutterH517 Schoße an meines NamensH8034 Erwähnung getan. 2Und er machteH7760 meinen MundH6310 wie ein scharfesH2299 SchwertH2719, hat michH2244 versteckt in dem SchattenH6738 seiner HandH3027; und er machteH7760 mich zu einem geglätteten PfeileH2671, hat mich verborgenH5641 in seinem KöcherH827. 3Und er sprachH559 zu mir: Du bist mein KnechtH5650, bist IsraelH3478, an dem ich mich verherrlichen werde. - 4Ich aberH403 sprachH559 : UmsonstH7385 habe ich mich abgemüht, vergeblichH8414 und für nichts meine KraftH3581 verzehrt; doch mein RechtH4941 istH3615 bei JehovaH3068 und mein LohnH6468 bei meinem GottH430. - 5UndH3068 nun sprichtH559 Jehova, der michH3513 von MutterleibeH990 an zu seinem KnechteH5650 gebildet hatH3335, um JakobH3290 zu ihm zurückzubringen, - undH3068 IsraelH3478 istH7725 nicht gesammelt worden; aber ich bin geehrt in den AugenH5869 Jehovas, und mein GottH430 istH7725 meine StärkeH5797 geworden - 6ja, erH559 spricht: Es istH7725 zu gering, daß du mein KnechtH5650 seiest, um die StämmeH7626 JakobsH3290 aufzurichten undH7043 die BewahrtenH5341 von IsraelH3478 zurückzubringen; ich habeH6965 dich auch zum LichtH216 der Nationen gesetztH5414, um mein HeilH3444 zu sein bis an dasH1471 EndeH7097 der ErdeH776. 7So sprichtH559 Jehova, der Erlöser IsraelsH3478, seinH4910 HeiligerH6918, zu dem von jedermann VerachtetenH960, zu dem Abscheu der Nation, zu dem KnechteH5650 der Herrscher: KönigeH4428 werdenH7200 es sehen undH3068 aufstehenH6965, FürstenH8269, undH3068 sie werden sichH7812 niederwerfen, um Jehovas willen, der treu istH539, des HeiligenH6918 IsraelsH3478, der dichH5315 erwähltH977 hatH1350. 8So sprichtH559 JehovaH3068 : Zur ZeitH6256 derH3444 Annehmung habeH6965 ich dich erhört, undH6030 am TageH3117 des Heils habe ich dir geholfenH5826. Und ich werde dich behütenH5341 und dich setzenH5414 zum BundeH1285 des VolkesH5971, um das LandH776 aufzurichten, um die verwüsteten ErbteileH5159 auszuteilenH5157, 9um den Gefangenen zu sagenH559 : Gehet hinausH3318! zu denen, die in FinsternisH2822 sind: Kommet ans Licht! Sie werden anH631 den WegenH1870 weidenH7462, und aufH1540 allen kahlen HöhenH8205 wird ihre WeideH4830 sein; 10sie werden nicht hungernH7456 und nicht dürstenH6770, und weder Kimmung noch SonneH8121 wird sie treffen. Denn ihr ErbarmerH7355 wird sie führenH5090 und wird sie leitenH5095 an WasserquellenH4002. 11Und alle meine BergeH2022 will ich zum WegeH1870 machenH7760, und meine Straßen werden erhöhtH7311 werden. 12Siehe, diese werden von ferner kommenH935, undH6828 siehe, diese von Norden und von Westen, und diese aus dem LandeH776 der SinimH5515. 13Jubelt, ihr HimmelH8064, und frohlocke, du ErdeH776; und ihr BergeH2022, brechet in Jubel aus! Denn JehovaH3068 hat seinH6476 VolkH5971 getröstetH5162, und seiner ElendenH6041 erbarmtH7355 er sichH7442. 14Und ZionH6726 sprachH559 : Jehova hat mich verlassenH5800, und der HerrH3068 hat meiner vergessenH7911. 15Könnte auch ein WeibH802 ihres Säuglings vergessenH7911, daß sie sichH7355 nichtH7911 erbarmte über den SohnH1121 ihres LeibesH990? Sollten selbst diese vergessen, ich werde deiner nichtH7911 vergessen. 16Siehe, in meine beiden Handflächen habe ich dichH8548 eingezeichnet; deine MauernH2346 sind beständig vor mir. 17Deine KinderH1121 eilenH4116 herbei, deine Zerstörer und deine Verwüster ziehen ausH3318 dir hinweg. 18Erhebe ringsum deine AugenH5869 undH5375 siehH7200 : sie alle versammeln sichH6908, kommenH935 zu dir. So wahr ich lebeH2416, sprichtH5002 JehovaH3068, du wirst sie alle wie ein Geschmeide anlegenH3847 undH5439 dich damit gürten wie eine BrautH3618. 19Denn deine Trümmer undH2723 deine Wüsten und dein zerstörtes LandH776 -ja, nun wirst duH3427 zu enge werdenH8074 für die Bewohner; und deine Verschlinger werdenH3334 fernH7368 sein. 20Die KinderH1121 deiner Kinderlosigkeit werdenH7923 noch vor deinen OhrenH241 sagenH559 : Der RaumH4725 ist mir zu engH6862; mache mir PlatzH4725, daß ich wohnenH3427 möge. 21Und duH559 wirst in deinem HerzenH3824 sprechen: Wer hatH1540 mir diese geborenH3205, da ich doch der Kinder beraubtH7921 und unfruchtbar war, verbannt und umherirrend? Und diese, wer hat sieH5493 großgezogen? Siehe, ich war ja allein übriggebliebenH7604; diese, woH375 waren sie? 22So sprichtH559 der HerrH136, Jehova: Siehe, ich werde meine HandH3027 zu den Nationen hin erhebenH5375, undH5375 zu den VölkernH5971 hin mein PanierH5251 aufrichten; undH3802 sie werden deine SöhneH1121 im BusenH2684 bringenH935, und deine TöchterH1323 werden aufH7311 der Schulter getragen werden. 23Und KönigeH4428 werden deine Wärter seinH539, und ihre FürstinnenH8282 deine Ammen; sie werden sichH7812 vor dir niederwerfen mit dem AntlitzH639 zur ErdeH776, und den StaubH6083 deiner FüßeH7272 leckenH3897. Und du wirst erkennenH3045, daß ichH6960 JehovaH3068 bin: die auf michH954 harren, werden nicht beschämt werden. 24Sollte wohl einem HeldenH1368 die Beute entrissen werdenH3947? Oder sollen rechtmäßig GefangeneH7628 entrinnenH4422? 25Ja, so sprichtH559 JehovaH3068 : Auch die GefangenenH7628 des HeldenH1368 werdenH3947 ihm entrissen werdenH3467, und die Beute des GewaltigenH6184 wird entrinnen. Und ichH7378 werde den befehden, der dich befehdet; und ich werde deine KinderH1121 rettenH4422. 26Und ich werde deine Bedrücker speisenH398 mit ihrem eigenen FleischeH1320, und von ihrem Blute sollen sieH3238 trunkenH7937 werdenH1350 wie von MostH6071. Und alles FleischH1320 wird erkennenH3045, daß ich, JehovaH3068, deinH3467 Heiland bin, und ich, der MächtigeH46 JakobsH3290, dein Erlöser.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 SIMILAR TO CHAPTER 42 (
Isa 49:1-
Isa 49:9). (Isa. 49:1-26)
O isles--Messiah is here regarded as having been rejected by the Jews (
Isa 49:4-
Isa 49:5), and as now turning to the Gentiles, to whom the Father hath given Him "for a light and salvation." "Isles" mean all regions beyond sea.
from the womb-- (
Isa 44:2;
Luke 1:31;
John 10:36).
from . . . bowels . . . mention of my name--His name "Jesus" (that is, God-Saviour) was designated by God before His birth (
Matt 1:21).
2 my mouth . . . sword-- (
Isa 11:4;
Rev 19:15). The double office of the Word of God, saving and damnatory, is implied (
Isa 50:4;
John 12:48;
Heb 4:12).
shaft-- (
Ps 45:5). "Polished," that is, free from all rust, implies His unsullied purity.
in . . . quiver . . . hid me--Like a sword in its scabbard, or a shaft in the quiver, Messiah, before His appearing, was hid with God, ready to be drawn forth at the moment God saw fit [HENGSTENBERG]; also always protected by God, as the arrow by the quiver (
Isa 51:16).
3 Israel--applied to Messiah, according to the true import of the name, the Prince who had power with God in wrestling in behalf of man, and who prevails (
Gen 32:28;
Hos 12:3-
Hos 12:4). He is also the ideal Israel, the representative man of the nation (compare
Matt 2:15 with
Hos 11:1).
in whom . . . glorified-- (
John 14:13;
John 17:1-
John 17:5).
4 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" (
Isa 53:1-
Isa 53:3;
Luke 19:14;
John 1:11;
John 7:5). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended (
Acts 1:15).
yet . . . my judgment . . . with the Lord--Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward (Margin for "work," compare
Isa 40:10;
Isa 62:11) My labors and sufferings. He was never "discouraged" (
Isa 42:4;
Isa 50:7,
Isa 50:10). He calmly, in spite of seeming ill success for the time, left the result with God, confident of final triumph (
Isa 53:10-
Isa 53:12;
1Pet 2:23). So the ministers of Christ (
1Cor 4:1-5;
1Pet 4:19).
5 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-- (
Matt 15:24;
Acts 3:26).
Though Israel be not gathered--metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (
Matt 23:37). Instead of the text "not," the Keri has the similar Hebrew word, "to Him," which the parallelism favors: "And that Israel may be gathered to Him."
yet--rather, parenthetically. "For I am glorious, &c., and My God is My strength." Then (
Isa 49:6) resuming the words from the beginning of
Isa 49:5, "He saith" (I repeat), &c. HORSLEY explains, "Notwithstanding the incredulity of the Jews, Messiah shall be glorified in the conversion of the Gentiles," reading as English Version: but if the Keri be read, "Israel shall at one time or other be gathered, notwithstanding their incredulity during Messiah's sojourn on earth."
6 It is a light thing--"It is too little that Thou shouldest," [HENGSTENBERG], that is, It is not enough honor to Thee to raise up Jacob and Israel, but I design for Thee more, namely, that Thou shouldest be the means of enlightening the Gentiles (
Isa 42:6-
Isa 42:7;
Isa 60:3).
the preserved--namely, those remaining after the judgments of God on the nation--the elect remnant of Israel reserved for mercy. LOWTH, with a slight but needless change of the Hebrew, translates for "tribes" and "preserved," the "scions"--the "branches."
7 whom man despiseth--Hebrew, "the despised of soul," that is, by every soul, by all men (
Isa 52:14-
Isa 52:15;
Isa 53:3;
Isa 50:6-
Isa 50:9;
Ps 22:6). LOWTH translates, "whose person is despised."
abhorreth--literally, "who is an abomination to the nation" (
Luke 23:18-
Luke 23:23). The Jews contemptuously call Him always Tolvi, "the crucified." I prefer, on account of Goi, the Hebrew term for nation being usually applied to the Gentiles, and that for people to the Jews (
Hos 1:9; so the Greek terms respectively also Laos and Ethne,
Rom 9:25), to take "nation" here collectively for the Gentile world, which also spurned Him (
Ps 2:1-
Ps 2:3;
Acts 4:25-
Acts 4:27).
servant of rulers-- (
Matt 17:27). He who would not exert His power against the rulers (
Matt 26:52-
Matt 26:53).
shall see--namely the fulfilment of God's promises (
Isa 49:3,
Isa 49:6), "when He (shall be) a light to the Gentiles."
arise--to reverence Thee (
Ps 72:10-
Ps 72:11;
Phil 2:10).
princes also--rather, for the parallelism, supply the ellipsis, thus, "Princes shall see and shall worship."
faithful--namely, to His promises.
choose thee--as God's elect (
Isa 42:1).
8 Messiah is represented as having asked for the grace of God in behalf of sinners; this verse contains God the Father's favorable answer.
an acceptable time--"In a time of grace" [HENGSTENBERG]. A limited time (
Isa 61:2;
2Cor 6:2). The time judged by God to be the best fitted for effecting the purposes of His grace by Messiah.
heard thee-- (
Ps 2:8;
Heb 5:7).
day of salvation--when "the fulness of time" (
Gal 4:4) shall have come. The day of salvation is "to-day" (
Heb 4:7).
helped--given Thee the help needed to enable Thee, as man, to accomplish man's salvation.
preserve--from the assaults and efforts of Satan, to divert Thee from Thy voluntary death to save man.
covenant of the people--(See on
Isa 42:6). "The people," in the singular, is always applied exclusively to Israel.
establish the earth--rather, "to restore the land," namely, Canaan to Israel. Spiritually, the restoration of the Church (the spiritual Israel) to the heavenly land forfeited by man's sin is also included.
cause to inherit . . . desolate heritages--image from the desolate state of Judea during the Babylonish captivity. Spiritually, the Gentile world, a moral waste, shall become a garden of the Lord. Literally, Judea lying desolate for ages shall be possessed again by Israel (compare
Isa 61:7, "in their land"). Jesus, the antitype of, and bearing the same name as Joshua (
Heb 4:8), shall, like him, divide the land among its true heirs (
Isa 54:3;
Isa 61:4).
9 (
Isa 42:7;
Zech 9:12).
prisoners--the Jews bound in legal bondage.
them . . . in darkness--the Gentiles having no light as to the one true God [VITRINGA].
Show yourselves--not only see but be seen (
Matt 5:16;
Mark 5:19). Come forth from the darkness of your prison into the light of the Sun of righteousness.
in the ways, &c.--In a desert there are no "ways," nor "high places," with "pastures"; thus the sense is: "They shall have their pastures, not in deserts, but in cultivated and inhabited places." Laying aside the figure, the churches of Christ at the first shall be gathered, not in obscure and unknown regions, but in the most populous parts of the Roman empire, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome, &c. [VITRINGA]. Another sense probably is the right one. Israel, on its way back to the Holy Land, shall not have to turn aside to devious paths in search of necessaries, but shall find them in all places wherever their route lies; so ROSENMULLER. God will supply them as if He should make the grass grow in the trodden ways and on the barren high places.
10 Messiah will abundantly satisfy all the wants, both of literal Israel on their way to Palestine, and of the spiritual on their way to heaven, as their Shepherd (
Isa 65:13;
Matt 5:6), also in heaven (
Rev 7:16-
Rev 7:17).
11 my--All things are God's.
mountains a way--I will remove all obstructions out of the way (
Isa 40:4).
exalted--that is, cast up (
Isa 57:14;
Isa 62:10); for instance, over valleys. VITRINGA explains "mountains" as great kingdoms, Egypt, Syria, &c., subjected to Rome, to facilitate the spreading of the Gospel; "highways," the Christian doctrine wherein those who join the Church walk, and which, at the time of Constantine, was to be raised into prominence before all, and publicly protected (
Isa 35:8-
Isa 35:9).
12 Sinim--The Arabians and other Asiatics called China Sin, or Tchin; the Chinese had no special name for themselves, but either adopted that of the reigning dynasty or some high-sounding titles. This view of "Sinim" suits the context which requires a people to be meant "from far," and distinct from those "from the north and from the west" [GESENIUS].
13 So
Rev 12:12. God will have mercy on the afflicted, because of His compassion; on His afflicted, because of His covenant.
14 Zion--the literal Israel's complaint, as if God had forsaken her in the Babylonian captivity; also in their dispersion previous to their future restoration; thereby God's mercy shall be called forth (
Isa 63:15-
Isa 63:19;
Ps 77:9-
Ps 77:10;
Ps 102:17).
15 (
Isa 44:21;
Ps 103:13;
Matt 7:11).
16 Alluding to the Jews' custom (perhaps drawn from
Exod 13:9) of puncturing on their hands a representation of their city and temple, in token of zeal for them [LOWTH], (
Song 8:6).
17 Thy children--Israel (
Isa 49:20-
Isa 49:21;
Isa 43:6). JEROME reads, for "Thy children," "Thy builders"; they that destroyed thee shall hasten to build thee.
haste--to rebuild thy desolate capital.
shall go forth--Thy destroyers shall leave Judea to Israel in undisturbed possession.
18 As Zion is often compared to a bride (
Isa 54:5), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels,"
Isa 62:3;
Mal 3:17). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant, as the context refers to their restoration; and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations (
Mic 5:7;
Rom 11:12,
Rom 11:15).
as a bride--namely, binds on her ornaments.
19 land of thy destruction--thy land once the scene of destruction.
too narrow-- (
Isa 54:1-
Isa 54:2;
Zech 10:10).
20 children . . . after . . . other--rather, "the children of thy widowhood," that is, the children of whom thou hast been bereft during their dispersion in other lands (see on
Isa 47:8) [MAURER].
again--rather, "yet."
give place--rather, "stand close to me," namely, in order that we may be the more able to dwell in in the narrow place [HORSLEY]. Compare as to Israel's spiritual children, and the extension of the gospel sphere,
Rom 15:19,
Rom 15:24;
2Cor 10:14-16. But
Isa 49:22 (compare
Isa 66:20) shows that her literal children are primarily meant. GESENIUS translates, "Make room."
21 Who, &c.--Zion's joyful wonder at the unexpected restoration of the ten tribes. Secondarily, the accession of spiritual Israelites to the mother church of Jerusalem from the Gentiles is meant. This created surprise at first (
Acts 10:45;
Acts 14:27;
Acts 15:3-
Acts 15:4).
lost . . . am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro--rather, "bereaved of . . . have been barren, an exile and outcast" [HORSLEY]. She had been "put away" by Jehovah, her husband (
Isa 50:1); hence her wonder at the children begotten to her.
22 lift . . . hand--that is, beckon to (see on
Isa 13:2).
standard-- (
Isa 11:12).
bring . . . sons in . . . arms--The Gentiles shall aid in restoring Israel to its own land (
Isa 60:4;
Isa 66:20). Children able to support themselves are carried on the shoulders in the East; but infants, in the arms, or astride on one haunch (
Isa 60:12). "Thy sons" must be distinct from "the Gentiles," who carry them; and therefore cannot primarily refer to converts among the Gentiles.
23 lick . . . dust--that is, kiss thy feet in token of humble submission.
for they . . . not . . . ashamed . . . wait for me--The restoration of Israel shall be in answer to their prayerful waiting on the Lord (
Isa 30:18-
Isa 30:19;
Ps 102:16-
Ps 102:17;
Zech 12:10;
Zech 14:3).
24 the prey--Israel, long a prey to mighty Gentile nations, whose oppression of her shall reach its highest point under Antichrist (
Dan 11:36-
Dan 11:37,
Dan 11:41,
Dan 11:45).
lawful captive--the Jews justly consigned for their sins (
Isa 50:1) as captives to the foe. Secondarily, Satan and Death are "the mighty" conquerors of man, upon whom his sin give them their "lawful" claim. Christ answers that claim for the sinners, and so the captive is set free (
Job 19:25;
Job 14:14;
Matt 12:29;
Hos 6:2, where
Isa 49:4 shows the primary reference is to Israel's restoration, to which the resurrection corresponds;
Isa 26:19;
Eph 4:8;
Heb 2:14-
Heb 2:15). Others not so well translate, "the captives taken from among the just Israelites."
25 (
Isa 53:12;
Ps 68:18;
Col 2:15).
contend with him, &c.-- (
Isa 54:17).
26 feed . . . own flesh--a phrase for internal strifes (
Isa 9:20).
own blood--a just retribution for their having shed the blood of God's servants (
Rev 16:6).
sweet wine--that is must, or new wine, the pure juice which flows from the heap of grapes before they are pressed; the ancients could preserve it for a long time, so as to retain its flavor. It was so mild that it required a large quantity to intoxicate; thus the idea here is that very much blood would be shed (
Rev 14:10,
Rev 14:20).
all flesh shall, &c.--the effect on the world of God's judgments (
Isa 66:15-
Isa 66:16,
Isa 66:18-
Isa 66:19;
Rev 15:3-
Rev 15:4).