Isaiah 49 15

Isaiah 49:15 kjv

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Isaiah 49:15 nkjv

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.

Isaiah 49:15 niv

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Isaiah 49:15 esv

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Isaiah 49:15 nlt

"Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
I would not forget you!

Isaiah 49 verses

Isaiah 49 15 meaning

This verse provides an emphatic declaration of God's unyielding love and faithful remembrance of His people, Israel. It uses the most powerful and instinctive human bond—that of a nursing mother for her child—as a rhetorical comparison. While such a profound human connection might theoretically fail, God asserts that His commitment and love for His people are absolutely unfailing and eternally steadfast. It directly counters Israel's perception of being forgotten or abandoned during their time of exile and suffering.

Isaiah 49 15 Context

Isaiah 49:15 is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a prophetic message delivered primarily to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Following a profound lament in Isaiah 49:14 where Zion, personifying Israel, cries out, "The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me," this verse directly responds to that despair. The overarching theme of this section is the restoration of Israel, asserting God's omnipotence, His unique identity, and His unfailing love despite Israel's transgressions and their present suffering. Culturally, the bond between a mother and her nursing child was understood as the strongest and most fundamental human relationship, signifying deep emotional connection, intimate care, and complete dependence. Childbirth and nursing were central to a woman's identity, and a mother's devotion was considered instinctive and unparalleled.

Isaiah 49 15 Word analysis

• "Can a woman" (הֲתִשְׁכַּח אִשָּׁה - ha-tishkach ishshah): The interrogative particle 'ha' makes this a rhetorical question expecting a "No." "Ishshah" refers to a woman in general, specifically here a mother, highlighting the universal and fundamental nature of maternal affection. It points to a deep, inherent, and virtually unquestionable bond.
• "forget" (תִּשְׁכַּח - tishkach): More than merely a lapse of memory, "forget" in Hebrew context implies abandonment, ceasing to care, or disowning. It's an active withdrawal of concern and relationship.
• "her nursing child" (עוּלָהּ / יוֹנֵק - `ulah / yoneq): The Masoretic Text uses `ulah (child), but many Septuagint and some ancient versions have yoneq (nursing child), which is often favored by scholars for its intensity. "Yoneq" specifically refers to an infant at the breast, signifying total dependence and an intimate, life-sustaining bond where separation means peril. This bond is deeply physical, emotional, and instinctual.
• "that she should not have compassion" (מֵרַחֵם - merachem): This verb "racham" comes from the root rechem, which means "womb." It describes a deep, visceral, instinctual tenderness and empathetic affection, the very kind of love that naturally arises from the experience of carrying and birthing a child. The phrase indicates that forgetting a nursing child would inherently mean ceasing to feel this most basic, "womb-like" compassion.
• "on the son of her womb" (בֶּן־בִּטְנָהּ - ben-biṭnah): This further intensifies the bond. "Son of her womb" literally denotes the child born from her own body, emphasizing the biological, unbreakable, and intensely personal connection, reiterating the intimacy and origin of this unique love.
• "Even these may forget" (גַּם־אֵלֶּה תִּשְׁכַּחְנָה - gam-ʾēlleh tishkachnah): This is the shocking concessive clause. "Gam-elleh" means "even these (the women who have this deepest love)." It acknowledges, through hyperbole, that if there were a human bond that could break, even this most fundamental and powerful one could theoretically do so, implying the utmost extremity of such a scenario. It sets up an a fortiori argument – if such an impossible thing could happen, it highlights the incomparable steadfastness of God.
• "yet I will not forget you" (וְאָנֹכִי לֹא אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ - weʾānōkhi loʾ eshkakhek): "Weʾānōkhi" uses the strong, emphatic first-person pronoun "I" ("anokhi"), underscoring God's personal and absolute commitment, standing in direct and powerful contrast to the human possibility, no matter how remote. "Loʾ eshkakhek" ("I will not forget you") is a firm, unwavering negation, declaring the impossibility of God's abandonment or withdrawal of care. The verb structure here assures certainty.

Isaiah 49 15 Bonus section

This verse is a cornerstone in understanding God's nature, particularly His rachamim (compassion/mercy) which stems from the deep, nurturing care associated with a mother's womb. It implicitly teaches that God's love is not subject to human frailty or limitations; it is absolute, unchanging, and ultimately reliable. The vivid image highlights that God's commitment to His chosen people is deeply rooted, going beyond legal covenant to a bond of inherent, nurturing affection. This divine declaration underpins the hope of redemption, assuring Israel (and by extension, the Church) that their identity as God's beloved remains secure, irrespective of their history of unfaithfulness or periods of profound suffering and apparent abandonment. It is a direct rebuke to any theological framework that might portray God as indifferent or punitive without underlying and foundational compassion.

Isaiah 49 15 Commentary

Isaiah 49:15 serves as a profound assurance of God's steadfast love for His people. It directly addresses the deep fear of abandonment expressed by exiled Israel. By evoking the unbreakable, visceral bond between a nursing mother and her child – universally recognized as the pinnacle of human compassion and unconditional love – God posits an unimaginable scenario. The rhetorical question suggests that such maternal forgetfulness is an absolute impossibility in human terms. However, immediately God transcends this powerful human analogy by declaring that even if such a betrayal of instinctual love were to occur, His commitment to Israel remains unshakeable. The "womb-love" (rachamim) which flows from His divine nature is not merely comparable to human maternal love, but infinitely greater, eternal, and infallible. It is a direct and tender answer to the cry of despair, cementing His covenant faithfulness and promise of future restoration, establishing that God's remembrance is absolute, His love active, and His care relentless. This provides solace for any believer feeling forsaken, reaffirming God's intimate, personal, and constant presence, irrespective of circumstances or perceived human failings.