Isaiah 44:1 kjv
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
Isaiah 44:1 nkjv
"Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 44:1 niv
"But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 44:1 esv
"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!
Isaiah 44:1 nlt
"But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.
Isaiah 44 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." | Command to listen and obey |
| Isa 43:8 | "...bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears." | Call to a deaf and blind people to listen |
| Psa 81:8 | "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you will listen to Me!" | God's longing for Israel to listen |
| Jer 30:10 | "'Fear not, O Jacob My servant,' says the LORD..." | Comfort for Jacob as servant, against fear |
| Isa 41:8 | "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen..." | Direct parallel, identifying Israel as chosen servant |
| Psa 105:6 | "O children of Abraham, His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones!" | Descendants of Jacob are chosen |
| Isa 43:10 | "'You are My witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and My servant whom I have chosen...' " | Links servant, chosen, and witness |
| Deut 4:37 | "And because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them..." | God's choice is based on His love |
| Deut 7:6 | "...for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you..." | Israel is chosen to be holy |
| Eph 1:4 | "...even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world..." | New Covenant believers also chosen |
| Rom 9:11 | "...though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God's purpose of election might continue..." | God's choice based on His purpose, not human works |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession..." | NT community as God's chosen people |
| Amos 3:2 | "You only have I known of all the families of the earth..." | Exclusivity of God's knowing/choosing of Israel |
| Gen 12:1-3 | "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go from your country... And I will make of you a great nation...' " | Call of Abraham, beginning of chosen line |
| Exod 19:5-6 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice... you shall be My treasured possession..." | Israel as a unique treasured possession |
| Psa 33:12 | "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance!" | Blessedness of being God's chosen |
| Isa 42:1 | "Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One..." | Prophecy of the coming Servant (Messiah), a further expression of "chosen" |
| Mal 1:2-3 | "'I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated,' declares the LORD." | God's sovereign and particular love/choice for Jacob |
| John 15:16 | "You did not choose Me, but I chose you..." | Jesus affirms divine election for His disciples |
| Rom 11:28 | "...as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers." | Israel remains beloved by election for covenant |
| Tit 1:1 | "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect..." | Reference to God's elect in the NT |
| Jas 2:5 | "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith..." | God's choice often falls on the humble |
| Isa 45:4 | "For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name..." | God's actions are for His chosen servant Israel |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 1 Meaning
This verse serves as a profound call to attention and assurance, where the Lord directly addresses His people, Israel, identified by both their ancestral name "Jacob" and their divinely given name "Israel." It reiterates God's unwavering covenant relationship with them, emphasizing His sovereign choice and their unique status as His "servant." Despite their past failures and present challenges (likely referring to the exilic context), God reaffirms His commitment and election, preparing them for a message of comfort, restoration, and a stark contrast with the impotence of idols.
Isaiah 44 1 Context
Isaiah 44:1 initiates a section of profound comfort and affirmation directly addressed to the exiled people of Israel. It flows naturally from the previous chapter (Isa 43), where God reminded Israel of His unparalleled power and redemptive acts, promising restoration despite their failures and calling them His witnesses. Chapter 44 intensifies this theme by explicitly drawing a sharp contrast between the living, active God who chose Israel, and the lifeless, manufactured idols of the nations. The historical context is the period of the Babylonian exile, or a prophetic foresight to it, where the Israelites were demoralized, questioning God's power and faithfulness, and surrounded by the prevalent idolatry of their captors. This verse, by firmly re-establishing Israel's chosen status and God's exclusive claim over them, directly serves as a powerful polemic against any temptation towards idolatry. It counters the cultural belief that their captors' gods were superior or had triumphed over the God of Israel by affirming that their God is the one who chooses, knows, and delivers.
Isaiah 44 1 Word analysis
- "Yet now" (וְעַתָּה, ve'attah): This phrase signals a transition. After discussing Israel's past failures and God's recent acts (in previous chapters), it introduces a new, strong emphasis on a message of fresh comfort, hope, and an urgent call to attention. It sets the stage for promises and revelations.
- "hear" (שְׁמַע, shema'): An imperative command. This is more than just auditory perception; it implies deep listening, understanding, and obedience, similar to the famous "Shema Israel" (Deut 6:4). It is a call to pay heed to the subsequent divine message.
- "O Jacob" (יַעֲקֹב, ya'akov): The patriarch's name, often representing the nation of Israel as a whole. It signifies their natural lineage, origin, and sometimes their sinful nature (Jacob, the "supplanter"). Here, it implies an intimate and personal address to the whole community.
- "My servant" (עַבְדִּי, 'avdi): Possessive suffix makes it "My servant." This is a title of great honor and intimacy, designating a privileged relationship with God, rather than servitude in a negative sense. It carries connotations of being set apart for God's purposes, witness, and mission.
- "and Israel" (וְיִשְׂרָאֵל, ve'yisra'el): The divinely bestowed name given to Jacob after his struggle with God (Gen 32:28), meaning "he struggles with God" or "God strives." It often highlights Israel's spiritual identity, calling, and destiny as God's chosen people. Used in parallel with "Jacob" for poetic emphasis and to encompass all aspects of the nation.
- "whom I have chosen" (בָּחַרְתִּי בּוֹ, bacharti bo): "I have chosen in him." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action in the past with ongoing results and unwavering purpose. This highlights God's sovereign, unmerited grace as the foundation of Israel's identity and existence. It signifies election, distinctiveness, and an exclusive claim by God. The preposition בּוֹ (in him) can emphasize the directness of the choice upon Jacob/Israel.
Words-group analysis:
- "Yet now hear": Emphasizes a shift from previous admonitions to urgent comfort and a directive to absorb the upcoming divine promises fully. It's a gracious invitation despite prior unfaithfulness.
- "O Jacob My servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen": This parallelism emphasizes both continuity (Jacob's lineage) and destiny (Israel's calling). God's double naming of His people here underscores His unchanging, deep, and intimate relationship with them, affirming their status as His unique possession and instrument, not based on their merit but on His sovereign choice and steadfast love.
Isaiah 44 1 Bonus section
The concept of "chosen" (בָּחַר, bachar) is fundamental to biblical theology, highlighting that salvation and relationship with God originate from His divine initiative, not human striving. While initially applied to Israel, the New Testament extends this truth to believers in Christ, designating the Church as God's "chosen people" (1 Pet 2:9, Eph 1:4), reflecting a continuity of God's electing purpose. This choice implies not only privilege but also responsibility—to be God's witnesses and to live in a way that reflects His character to the world. The reiteration of the title "servant" throughout Isaiah, sometimes referring to Israel collectively and sometimes narrowing to the Suffering Servant (Messiah), highlights the intricate connection between Israel's role and the ultimate Servant who would perfectly fulfill God's redemptive purpose.
Isaiah 44 1 Commentary
Isaiah 44:1 stands as a powerful declaration of God's unwavering commitment to His people, Israel, even in their most trying circumstances. The dual address, "Jacob My servant" and "Israel, whom I have chosen," beautifully weaves together their human origin with their divine purpose, reinforcing that their identity and existence are rooted in God's prior choice and covenant love, not in their own worthiness. This opening serves as an anchoring point of comfort, reminding them of who they are in God's eyes, irrespective of their current hardships or past sins. The imperative "hear" is crucial, signaling that what follows is a vital message intended not just for information, but for the re-shaping of their perspective and for instilling hope. In a context surrounded by pagan idol worship, this direct, personal address and affirmation of "My servant" and "whom I have chosen" immediately positions the Lord as the true and living God, utterly distinct from powerless human-made deities, setting the stage for the powerful anti-idolatry arguments that permeate the rest of the chapter.