Isaiah 49:6

Salvation Witness and mission Jesus Christ

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.”

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—

He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

⁷ Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

⁸ This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,

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 says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
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.
WEB: Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
ASV: yea, he saith, It is too light a 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.
DARBY: and he saith, It is a small thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I have even given thee for a light of the nations, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
BLB: and He said: “It is a light thing that You should be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; and I will give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

ÅB: han sier: Det er for lite at du er min tjener til å gjenreise Jakobs stammer og føre den frelste rest av Israel tilbake; så vil jeg da gjøre deg til hedningenes lys, for at min frelse må nå til jordens ende.
OTB: han sier: “Det er for lite for deg å være min tjener til å gjenreise Jakobs stammer og bringe tilbake de bevarte av Israel. Jeg vil også gjøre deg til et lys for nasjonene, for at min frelse skal nå til jordens ender.”
B1930: han sier: Det er for lite at du er min tjener til å gjenreise Jakobs stammer og føre den frelste rest av Israel tilbake; så vil jeg da gjøre dig til hedningenes lys, forat min frelse må nå til jordens ende.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Acts 13:47
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
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Isaiah 42:6
“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
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Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
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Psalms 98:2–3
The LORD has proclaimed His salvation and revealed His righteousness to the nations.
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Isaiah 52:10
The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
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Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
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Luke 24:46–47
And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
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Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
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