Isaiah 49:21
New International Version
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who bore me these? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. Who brought these up? I was left all alone, but these—where have they come from?’”

New Living Translation
Then you will think to yourself, ‘Who has given me all these descendants? For most of my children were killed, and the rest were carried away into exile. I was left here all alone. Where did all these people come from? Who bore these children? Who raised them for me?’”

English Standard Version
Then you will say in your heart: ‘Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away, but who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; from where have these come?’”

Berean Standard Bible
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’ ”

King James Bible
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

New King James Version
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have lost my children and am desolate, A captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; But these, where were they?’ ”

New American Standard Bible
“Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has fathered these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And cannot conceive, and I am an exile, and a wanderer? And who has raised these? Behold, I was left alone; Where are these from?’”

NASB 1995
“Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come?’”

NASB 1977
“Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children, And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come?’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has borne these for me? Indeed, I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer. And who has reared these? Behold, I remained alone; From where did these come?’”

Amplified Bible
“Then [Zion], you will say in your heart, ‘Who has borne me these children, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Indeed, I was left alone; From where then did these children come?’”

Christian Standard Bible
Then you will say within yourself, ‘Who fathered these for me? I was deprived of my children and unable to conceive, exiled and wandering — but who brought them up? See, I was left by myself — but these, where did they come from? ’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then you will say within yourself, Who fathered these for me? I was deprived of my children and unable to conceive, exiled and wandering— but who brought them up? See, I was left by myself— but these, where did they come from?’”

American Standard Version
Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?

Contemporary English Version
and Jerusalem will ask, "Am I really their mother? How could I have given birth when I was still mourning in a foreign land? Who raised these children? Where have they come from?"

English Revised Version
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then you will ask yourself, "Who has fathered these [children] for me? I was childless and unable to have children. I was exiled and rejected. Who raised these [children for me]? I was left alone. Where have they come from?"

Good News Translation
Then you will say to yourself, 'Who bore all these children for me? I lost my children and could have no more. I was exiled and driven away--who brought these children up? I was left all alone--where did these children come from?'"

International Standard Version
Then you'll ask in your heart, 'Who bore these children for me, although I was childless and barren, and an exile and cast aside? Who brought these up? Look! For my part I was left all alone; but as for these, where have they come from?'

Majority Standard Bible
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

NET Bible
Then you will think to yourself, 'Who bore these children for me? I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Who raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these children come from?'"

New Heart English Bible
Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought up these? Look, I was left alone; these, where were they?'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten these for me, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?

World English Bible
Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children and am alone, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought these up? Behold, I was left alone. Where were these?’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you have said in your heart: Who has begotten these for me? And I [am] bereaved and barren, "" A captive, and turned aside, "" And who has nourished these? Behold, I was left by myself, these—where [are] they from?”

Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast said in thy heart: 'Who hath begotten for me -- these? And I bereaved and gloomy, A captive, and turned aside, And these -- who hath nourished? Lo, I -- I was left by myself, these -- whence are they?

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou saidst in thy heart, Who begat these to me, and I being bereaved and barren, an exile, and departing? and who caused these to grow? Behold, I was left alone; they, where were they?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt say in thy heart: Who hath begotten these? I was barren and brought not forth, led away, and captive: and who hath brought up these? I was destitute and alone: and these, where were they?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you will say in your heart: “Who has conceived them? I was barren and unable to give birth. I was taken away and held captive. And so, who has raised them? I was destitute and alone. And so, where have they been?”

New American Bible
You shall ask yourself: “Who has borne me these, when I was bereft and barren? Exiled and repudiated, who has reared them? I was left all alone; where then do these come from?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then you will say in your heart, “Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away— so who has reared these? I was left all alone— where then have these come from?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then you shall say in your heart, Who has borne me these? For, behold, I have been bereaved and barren, a captive, and wandering to and fro. And who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; and these children, where have they been?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall say in your heart: “Who bore these to me? Behold, I am bereaved and alone, exposed and troubled! Who raised these up? Behold, if I am left alone, where are they?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then shalt thou say in thy heart: 'Who hath begotten me these, Seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, An exile, and wandering to and fro? And who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; These, where were they?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt say in thine heart, Who has begotten me these? whereas I was childless, and a widow; but who has brought up these for me? and I was left alone; but whence came these to me?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
You are My Servant
20Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’ 21Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’” 22This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.…

Cross References
Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 60:4
Lift up your eyes and look around: They all gather and come to you; your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried on the arm.

Isaiah 60:8-9
Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their shelters? / Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

Isaiah 66:8
Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

Isaiah 62:4-5
No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. / For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:12
And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.

Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”

Isaiah 45:24
Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.

Isaiah 51:18-20
Among all the sons she bore, there is no one to guide her; among all the sons she brought up, there is no one to take her hand. / These pairs have befallen you: devastation and destruction, famine and sword. Who will grieve for you? Who can comfort you? / Your sons have fainted; they lie at the head of every street, like an antelope in a net. They are full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God.

Isaiah 56:8
Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

Jeremiah 3:18
In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.

Jeremiah 31:8
Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly!

Ezekiel 36:37-38
This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock. / Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Zechariah 8:7-8
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. / I will bring them back to dwell in Jerusalem, where they will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”

Romans 9:25-26
As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,” / and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall you say in your heart, Who has begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

seeing

Jeremiah 31:15-17
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not…

Romans 11:11-17,24
I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy…

Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

am desolate

Isaiah 3:26
And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Isaiah 51:17-20
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out…

Isaiah 52:2
Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

Jump to Previous
Able Alone Barren Begotten Bereaved Bore Borne Captive Care Children Conceived Desolate Driven Exile Exiled Forth Fro Gloomy Heart Lost Nourished Others Reared Rejected Removing Solitary Turned Wanderer Wandering Whence Who
Jump to Next
Able Alone Barren Begotten Bereaved Bore Borne Captive Care Children Conceived Desolate Driven Exile Exiled Forth Fro Gloomy Heart Lost Nourished Others Reared Rejected Removing Solitary Turned Wanderer Wandering Whence Who
Isaiah 49
1. Christ being sent to the Jews, complains of them
5. He is sent to the Gentiles with gracious promises
13. God's love is perpetual to his church
18. The ample restoration of the church
24. The powerful deliverance out of captivity














Then you will say in your heart
This phrase indicates a moment of introspection and realization. In Hebrew, the heart (לֵב, "lev") is often seen as the center of thought and emotion, not just feeling. This suggests a deep, internal dialogue, a moment of revelation where the speaker is coming to terms with a surprising and miraculous change in circumstances. Historically, this reflects the period of Israel's restoration, a time when the nation would reflect on its unexpected growth and blessings after a period of desolation.

Who has begotten these for me
The word "begotten" (יָלַד, "yalad") in Hebrew implies birth or bringing forth. This is a rhetorical question expressing astonishment at the sudden appearance of children or descendants. In the context of Israel, it symbolizes the unexpected growth and return of the people after exile. Spiritually, it can be seen as God's miraculous intervention, bringing life and prosperity where there was once none.

since I was bereaved and barren
The terms "bereaved" (שָׁכֹל, "shakol") and "barren" (עֲקָרָה, "akarah") convey a state of loss and inability to produce life. Historically, Israel felt bereft of hope and future during the Babylonian exile. Theologically, this reflects the human condition without God's intervention—empty and without the ability to bring forth spiritual fruit. The transformation from barrenness to fruitfulness is a testament to God's power and faithfulness.

exiled and rejected
"Exiled" (גָּלָה, "galah") and "rejected" (זָנַח, "zanach") describe the state of being cast out and abandoned. For Israel, this was a literal experience during the Babylonian captivity. Spiritually, it represents separation from God due to sin. The return from exile and the acceptance by God signify redemption and restoration, themes central to the prophetic message of hope and renewal.

Who has reared them?
The act of rearing (גָּדַל, "gadal") implies nurturing and raising up. This question underscores the surprise at the growth and maturity of the people who were once thought lost. It points to God's providential care and the nurturing of His people even in times of apparent abandonment. This reflects the divine promise of restoration and the fulfillment of God's covenant.

I was left all alone
This phrase captures the feeling of utter desolation and isolation. In the historical context, it reflects the state of Jerusalem and the Jewish people during the exile. Spiritually, it can be seen as the soul's condition without God—isolated and without hope. The transformation from loneliness to a thriving community is a powerful image of God's redemptive work.

so where have they come from?
This final question emphasizes the miraculous nature of the situation. The unexpected return and growth of the people is a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to bring about His purposes against all odds. It invites believers to trust in God's plans, even when circumstances seem impossible. This rhetorical question serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

(21) Who hath begotten me these . . .?--Better, who hath borne . . .? The widowed daughter of Zion cannot believe that these crowding children are her own, and asks, Who then is their mother? She, the widowed one, the prisoner, dragged hither and thither, could not claim them.

Verse 21. - Who hath begotten me these? The Jewish Church is astounded at the influx of the Gentiles, and asks, "Where did they come from? Who has made them my children? Who has trained them?" That they are not her natural children she is sure, since she knows that she has been for a long time "bereaved and unfruitful" (Cheyne) - a captive, and a "wanderer" (Kay). It is certain that the Jewish Church did not at first altogether welcome the incoming of the Gentiles (Acts 11:1-3; Acts 15:1-11; Galatians 2:11-14, etc.). But the guidance of the Holy Spirit surmounted the difficulty (Acts 15:28).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then you will say
וְאָמַ֣רְתְּ (wə·’ā·mart)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

in your heart,
בִּלְבָבֵ֗ךְ (bil·ḇā·ḇêḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

‘Who
מִ֤י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

has begotten
יָֽלַד־ (yā·laḏ-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

these for me?
אֵ֔לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

I
וַאֲנִ֥י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was bereaved
שְׁכוּלָ֖ה (šə·ḵū·lāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7921: To miscarry, suffer abortion, to bereave

and barren;
וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה (wə·ḡal·mū·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1565: Sterile, desolate

I was exiled
גֹּלָ֣ה ׀ (gō·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles

and rejected.
וְסוּרָ֗ה (wə·sū·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 5493: To turn aside

So who
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

has reared them?
גִדֵּ֔ל (ḡid·dêl)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

Look,
הֵ֤ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was left
נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי (niš·’ar·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

all alone,
לְבַדִּ֔י (lə·ḇad·dî)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

so
אֵ֖לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

where
אֵיפֹ֥ה (’ê·p̄ōh)
Interrogative
Strong's 375: What place?, when?, how?

did they come from?’”
הֵֽם׃ (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 49:21 Then you will say in your heart (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 49:20
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