Isaiah 49:6 kjv
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6 nkjv
Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "
Isaiah 49:6 niv
he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6 esv
he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Isaiah 49:6 nlt
He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.
I will make you a light to the Gentiles,
and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Isaiah 49 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 49:6 | ...I will give you as a light to the Gentiles... | Core Prophecy |
| Psalm 98:3 | ...He has remembered His mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. | Salvation to the ends of the earth |
| Isaiah 42:6 | ...I will give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles... | Parallel Prophecy (Light) |
| Isaiah 60:3 | The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. | Gentiles drawn to the light |
| Acts 13:47 | For so the Lord has commanded us: 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you may be salvation to the ends of the earth.' | New Testament Fulfillment (Paul) |
| Luke 2:32 | ...A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.' | Nunc Dimittis (Simeon) |
| John 1:9 | That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. | Universal Light |
| John 8:12 | Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.' | Jesus as the Light |
| John 9:5 | As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. | Jesus' earthly ministry |
| Romans 2:14 | For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things contained in the law, these, although they do not have the law, are a law to themselves... | Gentiles obeying divine will |
| Romans 11:12 | Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! | Gentiles benefiting from Israel's history |
| Romans 11:25 | For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brethren, lest you be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. | Fullness of Gentiles |
| Ephesians 3:6 | that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. | Gentiles as fellow heirs |
| Acts 26:23 | ...whether Christ should suffer, the first should rise from the dead, and should show light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.' | Resurrection's Light |
| Isaiah 52:10 | The LORD has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. | Universal Salvation Proclaimed |
| Mark 16:15 | And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.' | Great Commission |
| Revelation 7:9 | After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands... | Multitude from all nations |
| Acts 1:8 | But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Witness to the ends of the earth |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ |
| Romans 10:14 | How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? | Preaching the Gospel |
Isaiah 49 verses
Isaiah 49 6 Meaning
Isaiah 49:6 declares that the Servant of the Lord, though despised and abhorred by nations, is destined to be a light to the Gentiles, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth. This verse points to a divine commission for the Servant to extend His redemptive work beyond the chosen people of Israel to all humanity.
Isaiah 49 6 Context
Isaiah chapter 49 continues the prophecy of the Servant songs, focusing on the identity and mission of a chosen servant. This specific verse, the second half of Isaiah 49:6, arrives after the Servant laments His seemingly fruitless labor and declares His righteousness is with the Lord. The immediate context is the Servant's unique calling to restore Israel, but His mission is clearly established as extending far beyond that. The chapter builds upon the previous descriptions of the Servant, highlighting His suffering and eventual vindication, and here emphasizes His universal role. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with a Jewish audience in exile, offering a glimmer of hope for restoration that eventually encompassed gentile inclusion.
Isaiah 49 6 Word Analysis
- Indeed (KJV/NKJV): While not explicitly in the Hebrew text of the latter part of the verse, this word functions as an emphatic particle, acknowledging the preceding statements and introducing a further declaration of purpose.
- I have made you ( וּנְתַתִּיךָ unetattîḵā): "And I have given you." This highlights God’s sovereign action in appointing the Servant to this specific role and status. It's not a self-appointment but a divine endowment.
- as ( לְ lə): A preposition often indicating purpose, result, or designation. Here it signifies the appointed role.
- a light ( אוֹר ôr): Light signifies guidance, truth, revelation, hope, life, and salvation. It is inherently revelatory and life-giving.
- to the Gentiles ( לְגֹיִם ləḡôyîm): "To the nations" or "to the Gentiles." This is a pivotal phrase, signifying a mission that transcends the covenant people of Israel and extends to all non-Israelite peoples.
- that you ( לִהְיוֹת lihyôṯ): "To be" or "that you may be." This phrase indicates the intended outcome or purpose of being a light.
- may be ( לִֽהְי֖וֹת lihyôṯ): A continuous infinitive, suggesting an ongoing state or purpose.
- salvation ( יְשׁוּעָה yəšû‘â): Deliverance, salvation, help. It refers to God's saving action and the resulting state of well-being.
- to the ends of the earth ( לְקְצֵ֣ה ləqəṣê): Literally "to the extremity/remnant/end of the earth." This emphasizes the universal scope and reach of the Servant's salvific mission.
Group Analysis:
- "Light to the Gentiles" signifies the revelatory and redemptive function of the Servant extended to all humanity, not just Israel.
- "Salvation to the ends of the earth" emphasizes the comprehensive and global scope of the Servant's work, promising deliverance to every part of the world.
Isaiah 49 6 Bonus Section
The concept of "light" in Isaiah carries significant theological weight. It is associated with God's presence, truth, guidance, and deliverance (Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 9:2). In this context, the Servant embodies God’s presence and truth to the nations who historically lived in spiritual darkness. The phrase "ends of the earth" speaks to the totality of humanity, implying that no geographical or cultural boundary will limit the reach of the Servant's salvific mission. The prophetic continuity shows how this theme of universal inclusion, beginning with Israel, is a core redemptive thread woven throughout Scripture. This aspect of inclusivity challenged contemporary exclusivist views and points to a God who desires all to come to knowledge of Him.
Isaiah 49 6 Commentary
This verse powerfully reveals the universal scope of God's plan of salvation through His Servant. The Servant, though likely seen as Israel's national deliverer, is explicitly commissioned to bring light and salvation not only to His own people but also to the Gentile nations. This prophetic declaration looks forward to a time when God's saving grace will be accessible to all peoples, breaking down ethnic and religious barriers. It foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is declared "the light of the world" and whose gospel is to be preached to all nations, offering salvation to everyone who believes. The Suffering Servant's redemptive work is thus a cosmic event, touching the farthest corners of the earth.