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 |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:1 | "But now hear, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen." | Direct address to God's chosen people. |
| Isaiah 41:8 | "But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen," | Similar phrasing for God's chosen servant. |
| Isaiah 43:1 | "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel:" | God as creator and former of Israel. |
| Jeremiah 30:10 | "Fear not, O Jacob my servant, says the LORD, for I am with you to save you;" | God's presence and salvation for Jacob. |
| Jeremiah 46:28 | "Fear not, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you,’ declares the LORD." | Reinforcement of God's presence for Jacob. |
| John 1:16 | "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." | God's abundant grace given to believers. |
| Romans 8:33 | "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?" | God's elect are protected. |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own possession," | New Testament parallel to Israel's calling. |
| Ephesians 1:4 | "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world," | God's eternal election. |
| Acts 7:34 | "and now I have seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning," | God hears the cries of His oppressed people. |
| Psalm 135:4 | "For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession." | God's specific possession of Israel. |
| Deuteronomy 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be his people," | God's choice making them holy. |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "You are my witnesses,' declares the LORD, 'and my servant whom I have chosen," | Israel as God's witnesses. |
| Isaiah 48:20 | "Go out from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, tell this, tell it to the end of the earth;" | Call for deliverance from Babylon. |
| Isaiah 44:2 | "Thus says the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb:" | God as the sustainer from the beginning. |
| Jeremiah 31:7 | "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob; cry aloud for the chief of the nations;" | Exhortation to joyful praise for Jacob. |
| Zechariah 10:6 | "I will strengthen them in the LORD, and in his name they shall walk,' declares the LORD." | God strengthens His people. |
| Matthew 24:22 | "And if those days had not been cut short, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short." | Election is a basis for salvation. |
| Romans 11:28 | "As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers," | God's love for the sake of the patriarchs. |
| Galatians 4:28 | "Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise." | Children of promise through faith. |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 1 Meaning
This verse signifies a direct declaration of God's sovereignty and his plan for his people. It asserts God's role as the initiator and sustainer of His purposes, particularly concerning Israel's future restoration. It speaks of a coming renewal and deliverance initiated by God Himself.
Isaiah 44 1 Context
Isaiah chapter 44 continues the prophecy of restoration and renewal for Israel after their exile. This particular verse acts as an introduction to a series of pronouncements of comfort and assurance from God. Following the previous chapters which detailed the coming judgment and destruction of idols, this verse pivots to a message of hope and reaffirmation of God's covenant. The audience, the exiled Israelites, would have been weary and possibly doubting God's faithfulness. God, through Isaiah, reminds them of their identity as His chosen people, setting the stage for promises of His ongoing care and future redemption. This is a direct contrast to the impotence of the idols previously condemned.
Isaiah 44 1 Word Analysis
- But (וְעַתָּה): Transliterated as 'wə‘at-tâ'. This conjunction indicates a shift in the discourse, moving from a previous topic (likely judgment or critique of idols) to a new phase of divine communication. It signifies a present action or statement by God.
- now: Reinforces the immediacy and present relevance of God's word.
- hear (שְׁמַע): Transliterated as 'šə-ma‘'. This is a strong imperative verb meaning "listen," "hear," or "obey." It commands rapt attention and receptivity to what follows. It's a pivotal command throughout scripture, often introducing significant divine pronouncements.
- O (קוֹל): Transliterated as 'qôl'. Used here vocatively, it draws attention to the entity being addressed.
- Jacob (יַעֲקֹב): Transliterated as 'Ya‘ă-qōḇ'. Refers to the patriarch Jacob, and by extension, to the nation of Israel itself, particularly when emphasizing their origin or the people's ongoing struggle and relationship with God.
- my servant (עַבְדִּי): Transliterated as ‘ăḇ-dî’. This term signifies a relationship of dedication, obedience, and service. God calls Israel His servant, highlighting their role in His divine plan and their duty to Him. This appellation is used repeatedly throughout scripture to denote those particularly chosen and empowered by God.
- and (וְ): Transliterated as 'wə'. A simple conjunction connecting the two nouns.
- Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל): Transliterated as 'Yis-rā-'ēl'. The name given to Jacob after his wrestling with God (Gen 32:28). It signifies "He strives with God" or "God contends." This name is used to refer to the entire covenant people, encompassing all the tribes.
- whom (אֲשֶׁר): Transliterated as ‘ă-šer’. A relative pronoun indicating relationship or description.
- I (אֲנִי): Transliterated as ‘ă-nî’. Emphatic pronoun for God, highlighting His personal involvement and initiative.
- have chosen (בָּחַרְתִּי): Transliterated as 'bā-ḥar-tî’. This is the first person singular perfect tense of the verb 'bā-ḥar', meaning "to choose," "to select," or "to elect." It signifies a deliberate and decisive act of selection by God, highlighting His sovereign will in establishing His covenant relationship with Israel. This concept of divine election is central to understanding Israel's unique calling and purpose.
Isaiah 44 1 Bonus Section
The dual address to "Jacob" and "Israel" can be understood in several ways. "Jacob" often emphasizes the lineage and the individual, perhaps alluding to the historical figure and his struggles, while "Israel" represents the corporate entity, the nation formed from his descendants. It also may hint at a duality in God’s people – those who are of the lineage and those who truly strive with and adhere to God. The repetition of God’s active verbs like "made" and "formed" in the following verse (44:2) reinforces that God's choice is not merely an adoption of existing people, but a foundational work of creation and formation, emphasizing His complete sovereignty from beginning to end. This active, intimate language (“formed you from the womb”) shows a parental care and a deep, personal knowledge of His people that no idol could possess.
Isaiah 44 1 Commentary
Isaiah 44:1 is a foundational statement of God's ongoing relationship with His people, even amidst exile and distress. The repeated use of "servant" and "chosen" for "Jacob" and "Israel" underscores their unique status in God's redemptive plan. This is not an arbitrary selection but a covenantal commitment. The verse establishes God as the initiator of this relationship and the one who sustains it. It’s a promise that God’s calling and election are firm, offering assurance that despite outward circumstances, His fundamental purpose for them remains intact. This sets the tone for further declarations of God's faithfulness, power, and intention to restore them, contrasting His active involvement with the passivity of the idols He has just condemned.