Isaiah 49:5 kjv
And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
Isaiah 49:5 nkjv
"And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength),
Isaiah 49:5 niv
And now the LORD says? he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength?
Isaiah 49:5 esv
And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him ? for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength ?
Isaiah 49:5 nlt
And now the LORD speaks ?
the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The LORD has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.
Isaiah 49 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 49:1 | Listen to me, O islands, and heed me, O distant peoples! The LORD called me from the womb; from the body of my mother he named me. | Called from the womb to be a servant |
| Isa 49:3 | He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified." | Identity as servant and glory in Israel |
| Isa 44:24 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself | God as the originator and sustainer |
| Jer 1:5 | Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. | Divine foreknowledge and appointment |
| Gal 1:15-16 | But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone | Paul's calling and consecration before birth |
| Matt 12:18 | "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will declare justice to the nations. | Messianic fulfillment of the servant's role |
| John 17:4-5 | I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I have had with you before the world existed. | Christ's glorification and divine work |
| Phil 2:5-9 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. | Christ's humility and exaltation |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his powerful word. | Christ as the radiance of God's glory |
| Ps 111:9 | He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! | God's redemption and covenant |
| Isa 59:20 | "And a redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression," declares the LORD. | The Redeemer's coming |
| Jer 31:7 | For thus says the LORD: "Sing of Jacob with gladness, and with the voice of nations shout for joy; tell it, proclaim it, and say, 'Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel!' | Prophecy of saving Israel's remnant |
| Hos 11:1 | When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. | God's love for Israel as a son |
| John 10:29 | My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. | Security of believers in God's hand |
| Acts 20:32 | And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance that is among all those who are sanctified. | Committing to God's grace and inheritance |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. | Christ as our source of salvation |
| Eph 3:18-19 | may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. | Experiencing the fullness of God's love |
| Col 1:27 | To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ in us, the hope of glory |
| Ps 71:6 | Upon you I have leaned from before I was born; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. | Leaning on God from birth |
| Ps 139:13-16 | For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. | God's intimate knowledge and formation in the womb |
Isaiah 49 verses
Isaiah 49 5 Meaning
The Lord formed me from the womb to be His servant, to bring back Jacob to Him and to gather Israel to Him, for I am regarded as glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength.
Isaiah 49 5 Context
Isaiah chapter 49 continues the prophecy of the Servant of the Lord, identified with Israel and more specifically pointing to a future Messiah. This particular verse encapsulates the identity and mission of this Servant. Historically, the audience was the people of Israel, facing exile and in need of a message of hope and restoration. The chapter serves as a direct response to the people's feeling of abandonment by God, asserting God's enduring love and His plan for their redemption. The Servant's mission is to restore them, highlighting God's sovereign plan from the very beginning of the Servant's existence.
Isaiah 49 5 Word Analysis
"The LORD": Refers to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
"formed me": From Hebrew "yatzar" (יָצַר), meaning to fashion, mold, or shape, emphasizing deliberate creation. This word is often used in reference to God shaping humanity or vessels.
"from the womb": Refers to the very beginning of existence, indicating a pre-natal calling and commissioning. This emphasizes God's sovereign election and plan before birth.
"to be": Indicates purpose and destiny.
"his servant": The role of a servant ("avad" - עֶבֶד) signifies one who is dedicated to and obedient to a master, often carrying connotations of service, loyalty, and sometimes suffering.
"that I should bring Jacob again to him": "Jacob" here represents the entirety of the people of Israel, both the scattered and those in exile. "Bring again" ("shuv" - שׁוּב) implies restoration, repentance, and return.
"and Israel be gathered to him": Similar to "Jacob," "Israel" here encompasses the entire nation. "Gathered" ("qavotz" - קָבַץ) signifies reunification and assembling, especially from dispersion. This points to national restoration.
"for I am": Emphasizes the reason and authority for the mission.
"magnified": From Hebrew "gadal" (גָּדַל), meaning to be great, to grow great, or to be held in honor and esteem.
"in the eyes of the LORD": In the sight of, or in relation to God's perspective.
"and my God": A personal affirmation of relationship.
"is": Existence and presence.
"my strength": From Hebrew "ma'oz" (מָעוֹז), signifying a stronghold, refuge, or source of power and might. It denotes divine enablement.
Grouped Analysis:
- "The LORD formed me from the womb to be his servant": This phrase underscores God's proactive, foundational involvement in bringing the Servant into existence with a specific divine purpose. It's not an accident but a deliberate, from-the-beginning commissioning for service.
- "that I should bring Jacob again to him and Israel be gathered to him": This highlights the primary mission – the restoration and reunification of the nation of Israel under God's direct care and authority. It's a call for return and ingathering from spiritual or physical separation.
- "for I am magnified in the eyes of the LORD, and my God is my strength": This part provides the assurance and foundation for the mission. The Servant is honored by God, and His divine power is the source of enablement, guaranteeing success despite potential difficulties.
Isaiah 49 5 Bonus Section
The concept of being "formed from the womb" (Hebrew: yatzar me-rechem) speaks powerfully to divine election and foreknowledge. Just as God knew Jeremiah before he was born (Jer 1:5), this verse extends this profound truth to the ultimate Servant. This phrasing anticipates the Incarnation, where Jesus Christ, the true Servant of the Lord, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. His entire existence and mission were ordained by the Father from eternity. The glory mentioned is not self-aggrandizement but the manifestation of God's attributes and presence through His chosen Servant, fulfilling what was foreshadowed when God declared of Israel, "You are my servant... in whom I will be glorified" (Isa 49:3). The ultimate "gathering" of Israel and the nations points to the work of Christ in building His Church, which is composed of both Jewish and Gentile believers, united in Him. His being "magnified" and finding His "strength" in God is precisely how Christ lived and ministered, always pointing to the Father and drawing power from Him (John 5:30, John 14:10).
Isaiah 49 5 Commentary
This verse establishes the perfect identity and divine authority of the Servant of the Lord. God Himself is the One who forms and equips this Servant from conception for a specific, glorious purpose: the reunification and spiritual restoration of Israel. This Servant is not acting on His own power but is empowered by God, who also holds Him in high regard and honors Him. This divine appointment and empowerment assures the eventual success of His mission to gather and restore the people of God, indicating that God's plan for His people will ultimately triumph, overcoming all obstacles and dispersions.