Isaiah 49:2
1 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.
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;
3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work 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 quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Read in contextRevelation 1:16
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Read in contextIsaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
Read in contextRevelation 2:12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Read in contextIsaiah 51:16
And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
Read in contextIsaiah 11:4
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
Read in contextJeremiah 1:18
For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
Read in contextPsalms 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Read in context