Isaiah 49 · Verse 5

Isaiah 49:5

And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
Isaiah 49:5, King James Version

Isaiah 49:5 in other translations

BSBAnd 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—
WEBNow the LORD, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, says to bring Jacob again to him, and to gather Israel to him, for I am honorable in the LORD’s eyes, and my God has become my strength.
ASVAnd now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength);
YLTAnd now, said Jehovah, who is forming me from the belly for a servant to Him, To bring back Jacob unto Him, (Though Israel is not gathered, Yet I am honoured in the eyes of Jehovah, And my God hath been my strength.)
DARBYAnd now, saith Jehovah, that formed me from the womb to be his servant, that I should bring Jacob again to him; (though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorified in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God shall be my strength;)
BBEAnd now, says the Lord, who made me his servant when I was still in my mother's body, so that I might make Jacob come back to him, and so that Israel might come together to him: and I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, and my God became my strength.
WebsterAnd now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

What does Isaiah 49:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. The reason why He was confident that His work would be accepted and rewarded, namely, because He is "glorious in the eyes of Jehovah," &c. to bring Jacob again to him--(Mt 15:24; Ac 3:26). Though Israel be not gathered--metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (Mt 23:37). Instead of the text "not," the Keri has the similar Hebrew word, "to Him," which the parallelism favors: "And that Israel may be gathered to Him." yet--rather, parenthetically. "For I am glorious, &c., and My God is My strength." Then (Is 49:6) resuming the words from the beginning of Is 49:5, "He saith" (I repeat), &c. Horsley explains, "Notwithstanding the incredulity of the Jews, Messiah shall be glorified in the conversion of the Gentiles," reading as English Version: but if the Keri be read, "Israel shall at one time or other be gathered, notwithstanding their incredulity during Messiah's sojourn on earth."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 And now, saith the Lord "And now, thus saith Jehovah" - The word כה coh, before אמר amar, is dropped out of the text: it is supplied by eight MSS. (two ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, two of De Rossi's, and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Though Israel be not gathered "And that Israel unto him might be gathered" - Five MSS. (two ancient) confirm the Keri, or marginal correction of the Masoretes, לו lo, unto him, instead of לא lo, not, in the text; and so read Aquila; and the Chaldee, Septuagint, and Arabic omit the negative. But the Septuagint, MSS. Pachom, and 1. D. 2 express also the Keri לו lo by προς αυτον, to him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 49:1-6

The unbelief and rejection of the Jews. (Is. 49:1-6) Gracious promise to the Gentiles. (Is. 49:7-12) God's love to the church. (Is. 49:13-17) Its increase. (Is. 49:18-23) And deliverance. (Is. 49:24-26) Verses 1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience; but all these…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 49:1-6 →

Isaiah 49:5 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.

וְעַתָּ֣ה\׀ve.'a.Tahand nowH6258
אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe saysH559
יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
יֹצְרִ֤יyo.tze.Ri[who] formed meH3335
מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙mi.Be.tenfrom [the] wombH990
לְעֶ֣בֶדle.'E.ved<into> a servantH5650
ל֔וֹloof him
לְשׁוֹבֵ֤בle.sho.Vevto bring backH7725
יַֽעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoJacobH3290
אֵלָ֔יו'e.Lavto himH413
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'Eland IsraelH3478
ל֣וֹloto him
יֵאָסֵ֑ףye.'a.Sefit will be gatheredH622
וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ve.'e.ka.Vedand I may be honoredH3513
בְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.Neiin [the] eyes ofH5869
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וֵאלֹהַ֖יve.lo.Haiand God myH430
הָיָ֥הha.Yahhe has beenH1961
עֻזִּֽי\׃'u.Zistrength myH5797

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

Cross references for Isaiah 49:5

  • John 3:35

    The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

  • Matthew 17:5

    While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

  • Romans 15:8

    Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

  • 1 Peter 3:22

    Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

  • Matthew 28:18

    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

  • Matthew 15:24

    But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

  • Isaiah 43:4

    Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

  • Isaiah 52:13

    Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

  • Isaiah 12:2

    Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

  • Psalms 110:1-3

    A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16

    Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

  • John 5:20-27

    For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that formed.
1
to bring.
56:8; Mt 15:24; Ac 10:36; Ro 15:8
Though, etc. or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and Imay, etc. Israel.
Mt 21:37-41; 23:37; Lu 19:42; 1Th 2:15,16
yet.
Ps 110:1-3; Mt 3:17; 11:27; 17:5; 28:18; Joh 3:35; 5:20-27
Eph 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22

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

Context

  • Isaiah 49:4

    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.

  • Isaiah 49:5

    And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

  • Isaiah 49:6

    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.

Read all of Isaiah 49

Isaiah 49:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ahora pues, dice Jehová, el que me formó desde el vientre por su siervo, para que convierta á él á Jacob. Bien que Israel no se juntará, con todo, estimado seré en los ojos de Jehová, y el Dios mío será mi fortaleza.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et maintenant, dit l’ Éternel, qui m’a formé dès le ventre pour lui être serviteur afin de lui ramener Jacob…; quoique Israël ne soit pas rassemblé, je serai glorifié aux yeux de l’ Éternel, et mon Dieu sera ma force…
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und nun spricht Jehova, der mich von Mutterleibe an zu seinem Knechte gebildet hat, um Jakob zu ihm zurückzubringen, und Israel ist nicht gesammelt worden; aber ich bin geehrt in den Augen Jehovas, und mein Gott ist meine Stärke geworden-
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et nunc dicit Dominus, formans me ex utero servum sibi, ut reducam Jacob ad eum, et Israël non congregabitur; et glorificatus sum in oculis Domini, et Deus meus factus est fortitudo mea.