Isaiah 41 · Verse 27

Isaiah 41:27

The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
Isaiah 41:27, King James Version

Isaiah 41:27 in other translations

BSBI was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
WEBI am the first to say to Zion, ‘Behold, look at them;’ and I will give one who brings good news to Jerusalem.
ASVI am the first that saith unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
YLTFirst to Zion, Behold, behold them, And to Jerusalem one proclaiming tidings I give,
DARBYThe first, I said to Zion, Behold, behold them! and to Jerusalem, I will give one that bringeth glad tidings.
BBEI was the first to give word of it to Zion, and I gave the good news to Jerusalem.
WebsterThe first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

What does Isaiah 41:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. Rather, "I first will give to Zion and to Jerusalem the messenger of good tidings, Behold, behold them!" The clause, "Behold ... them" (the wished-for event is now present) is inserted in the middle of the sentence as a detached exclamation, by an elegant transposition, the language being framed abruptly, as one would speak in putting vividly as it were, before the eyes of others, some joyous event which he had just learned [Ludovicus De Dieu] (compare Is 40:9). None of the idols had foretold these events. Jehovah was the "first" to do so (see Is 41:4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them "I first to Zion gave the word, Behold they are here" - This verse is somewhat obscure by the transposition of the parts of the sentence, and the peculiar manner in which it is divided into two parallel lines. The verb at the end of the sentence belongs to both parts; and the phrase, Behold, they are here! is parallel to the messenger of glad tidings; and stands like it, as the accusative case to the verb. The following paraphrase will explain the form and the sense of it. "I first, by my prophets, give notice of these events, saying, Behold, they are at hand! and I give to Jerusalem a messenger of glad tidings."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 41:21-29

There needs no more to show the folly of sin, than to bring to notice the reasons given in defence of it. There is nothing in idols worthy of regard. They are less than nothing, and worse than nothing. Let the advocates of other doctrines than that of salvation through Christ, bring their arguments. Can they tell of a cure for human depravity? Jehovah has power which cannot be withstood; this he will make appear…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 41:21-29 →

Isaiah 41:27 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

רִאשׁ֥וֹןri.Shona first [one]H7223
לְצִיּ֖וֹןle.tzi.Yonto ZionH6726
הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehhere!H2009
הִנָּ֑םhi.Namhere [are] theyH2005
וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֖םve.li.ru.sha.Limand to JerusalemH3389
מְבַשֵּׂ֥רme.va.Sera bearer of newsH1319
אֶתֵּֽן\׃'e.TenI gaveH5414

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 41:27

  • Isaiah 40:9

    O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

  • Isaiah 52:7

    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

  • Isaiah 44:28

    That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

  • Nahum 1:15

    Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

  • Isaiah 48:3

    I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

  • Isaiah 43:10

    Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

  • Isaiah 41:4

    Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.

  • Isaiah 44:6

    Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

  • Isaiah 48:12

    Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

  • Ezra 1:1-2

    Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

  • Romans 10:15

    And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

  • Revelation 2:8

    And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
first.
4; 43:10; 44:6; 48:12; Re 2:8
I will give.
40:9; 44:28; 52:7; Ezr 1:1,2; Na 1:15; Lu 2:10,11; Ro 10:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 41:26

    Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

  • Isaiah 41:27

    The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

  • Isaiah 41:28

    For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Read all of Isaiah 41

Isaiah 41:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo soy el primero que he enseñado estas cosas á Sión, y á Jerusalem daré un portador de alegres nuevas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Le premier, j’ai dit à Sion: Voici, les voici! et à Jérusalem: Je donnerai un messager de bonnes nouvelles!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als Erster habe ich zu Zion gesagt: Siehe, siehe, da ist es! Und Jerusalem will ich einen Freudenboten geben!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Primus ad Sion dicet: Ecce adsunt, et Jerusalem evangelistam dabo.