Isaiah 41:27
 Isaiah 41:27 
New International Version (©2011)
I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look, here they are!' I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.

New Living Translation (©2007)
I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look! Help is on the way!' I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.

English Standard Version (©2001)
I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!” and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Formerly I said to Zion, 'Behold, here they are.' And to Jerusalem, 'I will give a messenger of good news.'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I was the first to say to Zion: Look! Here they are! And I gave a herald of good news to Jerusalem.

International Standard Version (©2012)
First, to Zion: "There is slumber." And to Jerusalem: "I'll send a messenger with good news."

NET Bible (©2006)
I first decreed to Zion, 'Look, here's what will happen!' I sent a herald to Jerusalem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I was the first to tell Zion, 'Look, here they are.' I gave Jerusalem a messenger with the good news.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that brings good tidings.

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

American Standard Version
I am the first that saith unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The first shall say to Sion: Behold they are here, and to Jerusalem I will give an evangelist.

Darby Bible Translation
The first, I said to Zion, Behold, behold them! and to Jerusalem, I will give one that bringeth glad tidings.

English Revised Version
I first will say unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

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

World English Bible
I am the first to say to Zion, 'Behold, look at them;' and I will give one who brings good news to Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
First to Zion, Behold, behold them, And to Jerusalem one proclaiming tidings I give,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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. But the certain knowledge of the future must be only with Jehovah, who fulfils his own plans. All prophecies, except those of the Bible, have been uncertain. In the work of redemption the Lord showed himself much more than in the release of the Jews from Babylon. The good tidings the Lord will send in the gospel, is a mystery hid from ages and generations. A Deliverer is raised up for us, of nobler name and greater power than the deliverer of the captive Jews. May we be numbered among his obedient servants and faithful friends.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 27. - The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them; rather, the first has said. By "the first" must certainly be meant Jehovah - " the First, and with the last" of ver. 4. He has already announced to Zion her deliverance (see Isaiah 40:9-11; Isaiah 41:2, etc.). I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. Perhaps Isaiah himself (Grotius, Stier, Delitzsch). Perhaps some prophet of the Captivity, as Daniel, who "knew by books" when the Captivity was drawing to a close (Daniel 9:2), and may be supposed to have announced the good tidings to the other exiles.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The first shall say to Zion, behold, behold them,.... Or, "I the first say to Zion"; I who am the first and the last, Isaiah 41:4 which some ancient Jewish writers (d) observe is the name of the Messiah, and apply the passage to him; or, I am the "first" that say these things to Zion (e),

behold, behold them; behold such and such things shall come to pass, and accordingly they have come to pass; or, "behold", the promised Messiah, whom I have long spoken of, behold, he is come; see Isaiah 42:1, and behold them, his apostles and ministers, publishing the good tidings of salvation, as follows. The Targum is,

"the words of consolation which the prophets prophesied from the beginning concerning Sion, behold they come;''

they come to pass; which is such a proof of deity the idols and their worshippers cannot give:

and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings; which some interpret of Isaiah; others of Cyrus; others of Christ; and others of John the Baptist. I suppose the singular put for the plural, "one that bringeth good tidings", or, "an evangelist for evangelists"; and may be understood of Gospel teachers, whom the Lord gave to his church and people, and by means of whom he spread his Gospel, not only in Judea, but in the Gentile world, to the overthrow of Paganism.

(d) T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 5. 1. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 63. fol. 55. 3. and Vajikra Rabba, sect. 30. fol. 171. 2.((e) "ego primus sum qui dico haec Sioni", Tigurine version.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

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 Isa 40:9). None of the idols had foretold these events. Jehovah was the "first" to do so (see Isa 41:4).


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Meaningless Idols
26Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yes, there is none that shows, yes, there is none that declares, yes, there is none that hears your words. 27The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that brings good tidings. 28For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counselor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isaiah 40:9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
Isaiah 44:28 who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, "Let it be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Let its foundations be laid."'
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
Isaiah 48:3 I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Nahum 1:15 Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.