Isaiah 49:1
Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
2 He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
3 He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
- 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.
- WEB
- Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: the LORD has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother, he has mentioned my name.
- ASV
- Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name:
- DARBY
- Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples from afar. Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
- BLB
- Listen, O islands, to me, and pay attention, O peoples from afar! YHWH has called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother He has brought to mind my name.
- ÅB
- Hør på meg, dere øyer, og gi akt, dere folk fra det fjerne! Herren har kalt meg fra mors liv av, han har nevnt mitt navn fra min mors skjød.
- OTB
- Hør på meg, dere øyer; gi akt, dere fjerne folk: Herren kalte meg fra mors liv; fra min mors kropp nevnte han mitt navn.
- B1930
- Hør på mig, I øer, og gi akt, I folk fra det fjerne! Herren har kalt mig fra mors liv av, han har nevnt mitt navn fra min mors skjød.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Read in contextGalatians 1:15
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
Read in contextIsaiah 44:2
This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
Read in contextIsaiah 49:5
And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him— for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—
Read in contextLuke 1:31
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
Read in contextZephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
Read in contextLuke 2:10–11
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
Read in context1 Peter 1:20
He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
Read in context