Isaiah 49:1 kjv
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Isaiah 49:1 nkjv
"Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
Isaiah 49:1 niv
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name.
Isaiah 49:1 esv
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.
Isaiah 49:1 nlt
Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
Pay attention, you who are far away!
The LORD called me before my birth;
from within the womb he called me by name.
Isaiah 49 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 49:1 | "Listen to me, you islands; pay attention, you peoples from far away. The LORD has called me before my birth; from within my mother’s womb he has called me by name." | Calls to remote lands |
| Psalm 72:10 | "May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts." | Gentile rulers acknowledge sovereignty |
| Isaiah 42:1 | "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations." | Servant identified with divine authority |
| Matthew 12:18 | "‘Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.’" | Fulfillment of servant prophecy |
| Acts 13:47 | "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’" | Servant's mission to Gentiles |
| Luke 2:32 | "a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." | Jesus as light for nations |
| Jeremiah 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." | God's foreknowledge and calling |
| Galatians 1:15 | "But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace, was pleased" | Paul's divine appointment |
| Romans 1:1 | "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—" | Called and set apart |
| Ephesians 3:8 | "Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," | Ministry to Gentiles |
| Revelation 18:8 | "Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, because strong is the judge, the Lord God who judges her." | Divine judgment upon opposition |
| Psalm 2:8 | "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession." | Messiah's inheritance |
| Isaiah 11:10 | "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious." | Nations seeking the Messiah |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." | God's love for the world |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." | God's choice of the humble |
| Isaiah 52:15 | "so he will startle many nations and kings will shut their mouths because of him, for what they were told will be seen and what they had not been told will be understood." | Messiah's impact on nations |
| Mark 1:17 | "‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of people.’" | Jesus calling disciples |
| Acts 10:34 | "Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism’" | God's impartiality |
| Zechariah 8:23 | "‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by his garment and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”’" | Nations seeking God in Israel |
| Isaiah 55:3 | "Listen to me and come to me for eternal life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." | Everlasting covenant |
| Isaiah 41:8 | "“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend," | Israel as servant |
Isaiah 49 verses
Isaiah 49 1 Meaning
The prophet Isaiah is commanded by the LORD to speak to the "islands" and "distant peoples." This directive indicates a mission that extends beyond Israel to the Gentiles. The LORD has prepared the servant from the womb and named him. This prepares the audience for the identity and purpose of this special servant, who is presented as an instrument of God's salvation.
Isaiah 49 1 Context
This verse is the opening of the second "Song of the Suffering Servant" in Isaiah. It follows the initial lament of the servant in chapter 48, where he expresses frustration at God's seemingly absent justice. Chapter 49 shifts focus to the servant's divine commissioning and the far-reaching impact of his mission. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time of national crisis and despair for Judah. The prophet is speaking to a people who felt abandoned by God and isolated from the world. This passage offers them hope by revealing God's plan for a unique servant who will bring salvation not only to Israel but to all nations.
Isaiah 49 1 Word analysis
Listen (Shema'): In Hebrew, this is not merely a passive act of hearing, but an active command to heed, understand, and obey. It signifies a deep attentiveness and willingness to engage with the message.
islands (iyim): This Hebrew word refers to lands bordering the sea or distant coastlands. It encompasses the Gentile nations, those outside the direct sphere of Israel.
peoples (le'umim): This refers to nations or peoples collectively, emphasizing the broad scope of the commission.
far away (rachokim): Highlights the geographical and perhaps spiritual distance of these recipients.
The LORD (YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement and promise.
called me (qor'ani): A divine summons and designation, implying selection and purpose from the very beginning.
before my birth (mibhah karbet): Indicates pre-existence and divine election prior to any earthly existence. God's plan was established from eternity.
from within my mother's womb (miqreh beten immi): Further emphasizes God's intimate and personal knowledge and involvement in the servant's life even before his conception and birth.
called me by name (qara' li bishmi): Signifies a unique identity, recognition, and relationship with God. It's not a generic calling, but a personal appointment.
words-group analysis: "Listen to me, you islands; pay attention, you peoples from far away." This opening is a powerful call to universal attention, indicating that the message concerning the servant is of cosmic significance, reaching beyond the immediate audience of Israel to encompass all nations.
Isaiah 49 1 Bonus section
The concept of "islands" as representative of the Gentiles is a common poetic expression in ancient Near Eastern literature. The emphasis on God's calling and naming from the womb aligns with a pattern in Scripture where key figures, like Jeremiah, were known and set apart by God before their physical existence. This verse anticipates the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's salvific plan, a theme fully realized in the New Testament through the ministry of Jesus Christ and the apostles, making the gospel accessible to all nations. The verse also serves as a direct refutation of any claims that God's favor is exclusively limited to Israel.
Isaiah 49 1 Commentary
This opening verse introduces the global dimension of the servant's ministry. God's plan extends to the furthest reaches of the earth, including the Gentile nations represented by "islands" and "peoples from far away." The servant is not an accidental figure but is divinely chosen and identified even before his birth. This foreknowledge and naming by God underscore his specific purpose and authority in God's redemptive plan, establishing him as a central figure for salvation intended for all humanity. The urgency conveyed by "listen" and "pay attention" highlights the importance of this divine revelation for those who will ultimately benefit from the servant's work.