1
Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples far away!
The LORD has called me from the womb,
from my mother’s body he has named me.
2
He has made my mouth like a sharp sword
and has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
He has made me a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3
He said to me:
“You are my servant, Israel,
and through you I will display my glory.”
4
But I said:
“I have labored in vain,
and spent my strength for nothing and emptiness;
yet my right is with the LORD,
and my reward with my God.”
5
And now the word of the LORD,
who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him —
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength —, says he:
6
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to bring back the preserved ones of Israel.
I will also make you a light to the nations,
so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
7
Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One,
to the one despised by men,
to the one abhorred by the nations,
to the servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise, and they shall bow down,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
because of the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
8
Thus says the LORD:
“In a time of favor I will answer you,
and in a day of salvation I will help you;
I have formed you and given you,
as a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to apportion the desolate inheritances,
9
to say to the prisoners: Come out!
to those who are in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the roads they shall feed like sheep,
and on every bare hill there shall be pasture for them.
10
They shall not hunger or thirst;
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for their Compassionate One will lead them
and will guide them beside springs of water.
11
I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12
See, these come from far away,
some from the north and from the west,
and some from the land of Sinim.”
13
Sing for joy, O heavens,
rejoice, O earth,
and break forth into singing, O mountains!
For the LORD comforts his people
and has compassion on his afflicted ones.
14
Zion says:
“The LORD has forsaken me
and my Lord has forgotten me.”
15
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
so that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even if she should forget,
I will not forget you.
16
See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands;
your walls are continually before Me.
17
Your builders come in haste,
but those who tear you down and lay you waste leave you.
18
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, declares the LORD,
surely you shall put them all on as an ornament,
and bind them on like a bride.
19
For your waste places and your desolate ruins
and your devastated land,
surely now you will be too cramped for your inhabitants,
and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
20
The children of whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears:
“The place is too cramped for me;
make room for me, that I may dwell there!”
21
Then you will say in your heart:
“Who has borne these for me?
I was bereaved and barren,
carried away into exile and put aside;
but these, who has brought them up?
Behold, I was left alone;
from where then have these come?”
22
Thus says the Lord GOD:
“Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations
and set up My banner for the peoples;
then they will bring your sons in their arms,
and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.
23
Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am the LORD,
and those who wait for Me shall not be put to shame.”
24
Can prey be taken back from the mighty,
or captives of the strong be rescued?
25
Surely, thus says the LORD:
“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken back,
and the prey of the strong shall be rescued,
for I Myself will contend with those who contend with you,
and I Myself will save your children.
26
I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,
and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with new wine;
then all flesh shall know
that I, the LORD, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
🌍🕊️👶 Summary of Isaiah 49 – The Servant of the Lord: A Light to the Nations
Isaiah 49 introduces the figure of the “Servant of the Lord” who is sent not only to restore Israel, but also to become a light to the nations. This is a messianic prophecy pointing directly to Jesus Christ. Though this servant feels his work is in vain, God comforts him and promises great glory. The chapter also shows how God never forgets His people, even when they feel abandoned.
📌 1. The Calling of the Servant from the Womb (verses 1–6)
“The Lord called me from the womb…”
- The Servant of the Lord is anointed with His word — “a sharp sword” and “a hidden arrow”
- His task is not only to restore Israel, but also to be a light to the nations
- The Lord says:
“It is too small a thing if you are only My servant to raise up Jacob…”
🎯 This is a strong prophecy about Jesus Christ, the true Servant and the Light of the world.
📌 2. From Rejection to Exaltation (verses 7–13)
“Despised by people… but kings will rise up and honor him.”
- The Servant of the Lord, once rejected, will be honored by the nations
- The Lord makes a covenant and restores the desolate land
- Those in prison will be set free, and the people will be fed along the way
- Heaven and earth are called to rejoice over the comfort of the Lord
🎯 The Lord turns rejection into glory — His plan cannot be thwarted by man.
📌 3. “Can a Mother Forget Her Baby?” (verses 14–21)
“Zion says: The Lord has forsaken me…”
- The people of God feel abandoned, but the Lord answers gently and with love:
“Though a mother may forget her baby… I will not forget you.”
- Their names are engraved on the palms of God’s hands
- The children of Zion will return from captivity in abundance
🎯 The Lord is more faithful than a mother. His love cannot be canceled by circumstances.
📌 4. The Lord Defends His People (verses 22–26)
“I will lift up My hand to the nations…”
- The Lord declares that the nations will help rebuild Israel
- Those who oppress His people will receive repayment
- The Lord Himself says:
“I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
🎯 God’s justice will surely be fulfilled. He defends and restores His people.
📖 Main Teaching
- The Servant of the Lord is Jesus, a light for Israel and for the whole world
- Rejection is not the end — God raises up and glorifies the One He has sent
- God never forgets His people, even when they feel abandoned
- Restoration and hope come from God’s love and justice
- The nations will see and take part in God’s saving work
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“A light to reveal God’s will to the nations…”
➡️ Directly quoting Isaiah 49:6 — the prophecy fulfilled in Jesus.
“I am the light of the world…”
➡️ Jesus Himself declares that He is a light for the nations.
“I will never leave you…”
➡️ In line with God’s promise in Isaiah 49:15–16 — our names are written on His hand.
“A great multitude from every nation…”
➡️ The fulfillment of the promise that salvation is not only for Israel, but for the world.
🎯 In Jesus, we see the face of God’s love that never forgets.
🕊️ “The Lord called me from the womb…” – Isaiah 49:1
🕊️ “It is too small a thing that you should be only my servant…” – Isaiah 49:6
🕊️ “Can a woman forget her nursing child…? I will not forget you.” – Isaiah 49:15
🕊️ “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” – Isaiah 49:16
🕊️ “I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer.” – Isaiah 49:26
