Isaiah 49:2
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.
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.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”
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
- 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.
- KJV
- And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
- WEB
- He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. He has made me a polished shaft. He has kept me close in his quiver.
- ASV
- and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:
- DARBY
- And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hath concealed me under the shadow of his hand, and he hath made me a polished shaft: in his quiver hath he hidden me.
- BLB
- And He set my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden me; and He set me as a polished arrow; in His quiver He has concealed me.
- ÅB
- Han har gjort min munn til et skarpt sverd og skjult meg i sin hånds skygge; han har gjort meg til en blank pil og gjemt meg i sitt kogger.
- OTB
- Han gjorde min munn lik et skarpt sverd, i skyggen av sin hånd skjulte han meg; han gjorde meg til en polert pil og gjemte meg i sitt kogger.
- B1930
- Han har gjort min munn til et skarpt sverd og skjult mig i sin hånds skygge; han har gjort mig til en blank pil og gjemt mig i sitt kogger.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Read in contextRevelation 1:16
He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Read in contextIsaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
Read in contextRevelation 2:12
To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
Read in contextIsaiah 51:16
I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
Read in contextIsaiah 11:4
but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
Read in contextJeremiah 1:18
Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
Read in contextPsalms 91:1
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Read in context