Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And now the LORD says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength— New Living Translation And now the LORD speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength. English Standard Version And now the LORD says, he 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— Berean Standard Bible And 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— Berean Literal Bible And now, has said YHWH, the One forming Me from the womb to be a servant for Him, to bring back Jacob to Him, so that Israel to Him might be gathered—and I am honored in the eyes of YHWH, and My God is My strength— King James Bible 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. New King James Version “And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength), New American Standard Bible And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), NASB 1995 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), NASB 1977 And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, in order that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength), Legacy Standard Bible So now says Yahweh, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To return Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am glorified in the sight of Yahweh, And My God is My strength), Amplified Bible And now says 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 is My strength— Berean Annotated Bible And now says the LORD {YHWH}, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob (he grasps the heel) back to Him, that Israel (he wrestles with God) might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God {Elohay} is My strength— Christian Standard Bible And now, says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him so that Israel might be gathered to him; for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is my strength — Holman Christian Standard Bible And now, says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel might be gathered to Him; for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is my strength— American Standard Version And 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); Contemporary English Version Even before I was born, the LORD God chose me to serve him and to lead back the people of Israel. So the LORD has honored me and made me strong. English Revised Version And now saith the LORD 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 honourable in the eyes of the LORD, and my God is become my strength:) GOD'S WORD® Translation The LORD formed me in the womb to be his servant in order to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to him. (The LORD honors me, and my God has become my strength.) Good News Translation Before I was born, the LORD appointed me; he made me his servant to bring back his people, to bring back the scattered people of Israel. The LORD gives me honor; he is the source of my strength. International Standard Version "And now, says the LORD, who formed you from the womb as his servant to bring Jacob back to him so that Israel might be gathered to him— and I am honored in the LORD's sight and my God has been my help — NET Bible So now the LORD says, the one who formed me from birth to be his servant--he did this to restore Jacob to himself, so that Israel might be gathered to him; and I will be honored in the LORD's sight, for my God is my source of strength-- New Heart English Bible Now says the LORD who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him; for I am honorable in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd 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— World English Bible Now Yahweh, 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 Yahweh’s eyes, and my God has become my strength. Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“And now,” said YHWH, who is forming Me from the belly—His Servant, "" To bring Jacob back to Him "" (Though Israel is not gathered, "" Yet I am honored in the eyes of YHWH, "" And My God has been My strength). Berean Literal Bible And now, has said YHWH, the One forming Me from the womb to be a servant for Him, to bring back Jacob to Him, so that Israel to Him might be gathered—and I am honored in the eyes of YHWH, and My God is My strength— Young's Literal Translation And 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.) Smith's Literal Translation And now, said Jehovah, forming me from the belly for servant to him to turn back Jacob to him, And Israel shall not be gathered, and I shall be honored in the eyes of Jehovah, and God was my strength. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd now saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be his servant, that I may bring back Jacob unto him, and Israel will not be gathered together: and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my God is made my strength. Catholic Public Domain Version And now, says the Lord, who formed me from the womb as his servant, so that I may bring back Jacob to him, for Israel will not be gathered together, but I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord and my God has become my strength, New American Bible For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! New Revised Standard Version And now the LORD says, who formed me in 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 sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength— Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow, thus says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel together; I am glorified in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Now, thus says LORD JEHOVAH who formed me in the womb: “I shall be to him a Servant and I shall turn Yaqob to him and Israel I shall gather.” I was glorified before LORD JEHOVAH and my God was my strength OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And now saith the LORD That formed me from the womb to be His servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, And that Israel be gathered unto Him-- For I am honourable in the eyes of the LORD, And my God is become my strength-- Brenton Septuagint Translation And now, thus saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his own servant, to gather Jacob to him and Israel. I shall be gathered and glorified before the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context You are My Servant…4But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.” 5And 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— 6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”… Cross References And now says the LORD, Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me. Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. / I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. / My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. … to bring Jacob back to Him, Isaiah 10:21-22 A remnant will return—a remnant of Jacob—to the Mighty God. / Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overflowing with righteousness. Jeremiah 31:18-20 I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. / After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ / Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. Hosea 14:1-4 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. / Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. / Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.” … that Israel might be gathered to Him— Deuteronomy 30:3-4 then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you. / Even if you have been banished to the farthest horizon, He will gather you and return you from there. Jeremiah 23:3 Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply. Ezekiel 11:17 Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’ for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory means nothing. The One who glorifies Me is My Father, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. 1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained. and My God is My strength— Habakkuk 3:19 GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. Treasury of Scripture And now, said 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. that formed Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. to bring Isaiah 46:8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) though, etc. Matthew 21:37-41 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son… Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Luke 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. yet Psalm 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… Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Jump to Previous Body Eyes Formed Gather Gathered Glorious Honorable Honored Honourable Israel Jacob Mother's Servant Sight Strength Together WombJump to Next Body Eyes Formed Gather Gathered Glorious Honorable Honored Honourable Israel Jacob Mother's Servant Sight Strength Together WombIsaiah 49 1. Christ being sent to the Jews, complains of them5. 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 And now says the LORD This phrase introduces a divine declaration, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. The use of "LORD" in all caps typically represents the Hebrew name Yahweh, the covenant name of God, highlighting His eternal and unchanging nature. This sets the stage for a message of significant importance, as it comes directly from God Himself. 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 Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is the speaker and the one who commissions the Servant. 2. The Servant A prophetic figure, often understood as the Messiah, who is called to restore Israel. 3. Jacob Represents the nation of Israel, whom the Servant is tasked to bring back to God. 4. Israel The people of God, who are to be gathered back to the LORD through the Servant's mission. 5. The Womb Symbolizes God's foreknowledge and purpose, indicating that the Servant's mission was ordained before birth. Teaching Points Divine Purpose and CallingGod has a specific purpose for each of us, just as He did for the Servant. We are called to seek and fulfill our God-given mission. Restoration and Reconciliation The Servant's mission to bring Jacob back to God highlights the importance of reconciliation. We are called to be agents of restoration in our communities. Strength in God The Servant acknowledges that God is his strength. In our own lives, we must rely on God's strength rather than our own abilities. Honor in God's Sight True honor comes from fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. We should seek to be honored in God's sight rather than seeking worldly recognition. Preordained Mission Just as the Servant was formed for a purpose from the womb, we too are created with intentionality. Understanding this can give us confidence and direction. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 49:5?2. How does Isaiah 49:5 reveal God's purpose for His servant's mission? 3. What does "formed me from the womb" indicate about God's sovereignty? 4. How can we align our lives with God's purpose as in Isaiah 49:5? 5. How does Isaiah 49:5 connect with Jesus' mission in the New Testament? 6. What steps can you take to serve God faithfully, as shown in Isaiah 49:5? 7. How does Isaiah 49:5 reflect God's purpose for Israel and its fulfillment in history? 8. What is the significance of being "formed from the womb" in Isaiah 49:5? 9. How does Isaiah 49:5 relate to the concept of divine calling and purpose? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 49? 11. What fate awaits Edom according to biblical prophecies? 12. In Isaiah 49:3, the servant is called “Israel,” but elsewhere seems a single individual—does this create an internal inconsistency? 13. How do we interpret the phrase “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) without contradicting Old Testament references to Israel’s unique covenant? 14. Isaiah 49:8 depicts a grand restoration--how does this align with historical records of Israel's exiles and returns that appear less triumphant? What Does Isaiah 49:5 Mean And now says the LORD• The verse opens with the unambiguous voice of God, underscoring that what follows is not human speculation but divine proclamation (cf. Isaiah 48:12; Isaiah 45:22-23). • When the LORD speaks, His words stand forever—“The grass withers, the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). • The hinge word “now” signals a decisive moment in God’s unfolding plan, picking up the momentum from earlier servant songs (Isaiah 42:1-9; 49:1-4). who formed Me from the womb • The Servant’s calling is neither accidental nor late-breaking; it was woven into His very conception (cf. Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16). • “But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4) echoes this prenatal commissioning. • God’s sovereign design guarantees the Servant’s success; what He forms, He finishes. to be His Servant • “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One in whom My soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1) links all the servant songs into one portrait. • The title “Servant” speaks of complete obedience (Philippians 2:7-8), sacrificial mission (Matthew 20:28), and covenant mediation (Isaiah 42:6). • Far from demeaning, this role elevates: the greatest in God’s kingdom is the one who serves (Mark 10:43-45). to bring Jacob back to Him • The Servant’s first assignment is covenant restoration: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). • Israel’s exile and spiritual drift are not final; God still calls His ancient people home (Jeremiah 50:4-5; Romans 11:25-27). • This underscores God’s faithfulness to Abrahamic promises despite human failure. that Israel might be gathered to Him • More than return from Babylon, this points to a comprehensive regathering (Ezekiel 37:21-22; Isaiah 11:12). • Jesus foretold a future ingathering: “He will send out His angels… and they will gather His elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:31). • The gathering theme anticipates both national restoration and eschatological fulfillment when Messiah reigns in Zion. for I am honored in the sight of the LORD • Though rejected by many, the Servant enjoys divine honor: “See, My Servant will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13). • God publicly vindicated Christ through resurrection and exaltation (Acts 2:32-36; Philippians 2:9-11). • The Servant’s honor guarantees that every promise tied to Him will stand. and My God is My strength • The Servant relies wholly on divine empowerment: “The LORD God helps Me; therefore I have not been disgraced” (Isaiah 50:7). • “The Son can do nothing by Himself” (John 5:19) shows this dependence fully expressed in Jesus’ earthly ministry. • Believers share this pattern—“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). summary Isaiah 49:5 reveals a divinely formed Servant whose lifelong mission is to restore Israel. God Himself commissions, empowers, and honors this Servant, guaranteeing Israel’s ultimate gathering and highlighting the Servant’s utter reliance on divine strength. The verse points unmistakably to Christ, who fulfills the prophetic blueprint with perfect obedience, brings covenantal promises to fruition, and invites all who trust Him to share in the sure hope of final restoration. (5) Though Israel be not gathered.--Better, and that Israel be gathered to Him. The negative, as in Isaiah 9:3, comes from an error of transcription; for "yet" read and. The Servant falls back upon the greatness of the work committed to him, that of restoring Israel, and is certain that sooner or later it will be accomplished. Comp. the argument of Romans 9-11Verse 5. - And now, saith the Lord, etc.; rather, and now the Lord hath said - he that formed me from the womb to be a Servant to him, that I might bring back Jacob to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him; for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God is become my Strength - he hath said - It is a light thing, etc. The whole of ver. 5, after the words, "and now the Lord hath said," is parenthetic. (On the service which our Lord continually rendered, while on earth, to the Father, see Luke 2:49; Luke 4:43; John 4:34; John 6:38; John 17:4.) The Revelation of St. John shows that in heaven he is still engaged in carrying out his Father's behests. Though Israel be not gathered. This reading, as Mr. Cheyne remarks, "entirely spoils the symmetry of the verse." The practice of writing fresh copies of the Scripture from dictation is answerable for the double reading of לֹא and לו both here and in other places. Yet shall I be glorious. The "Servant" would receive glory even by such a partial conversion of the Jews as took place through his ministry. It is never to be forgotten that all the original twelve apostles were Jews, that Matthias was a Jew, that Paul and Barnabas were Jews, and that the original Church was a Church of Jews (Acts 2:41-47). All that was truly spiritual in Judaism flowed into the Church of Christ, as into its natural home, and the Jewish element in the Church, if not numerically great, was yet the predominant and formative element.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And nowוְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ (wə·‘at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time says אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say the LORD, יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH who formed me יֹצְרִ֤י (yō·ṣə·rî) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine from the womb מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙ (mib·be·ṭen) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything to be His Servant, לְעֶ֣בֶד (lə·‘e·ḇeḏ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant to bring Jacob יַֽעֲקֹב֙ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc back לְשׁוֹבֵ֤ב (lə·šō·w·ḇêḇ) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to Him, אֵלָ֔יו (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to that Israel וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (wə·yiś·rā·’êl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc might be gathered to Him— יֵאָסֵ֑ף (yê·’ā·sêp̄) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove for I am honored וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ (wə·’ek·kā·ḇêḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome in the sight בְּעֵינֵ֣י (bə·‘ê·nê) Preposition-b | Noun - cdc Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain of the LORD, יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3069: YHWH and my God וֵאלֹהַ֖י (wê·lō·hay) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative is הָיָ֥ה (hā·yāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be my strength— עֻזִּֽי׃ (‘uz·zî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 5797: Strength, might Links Isaiah 49:5 NIVIsaiah 49:5 NLT Isaiah 49:5 ESV Isaiah 49:5 NASB Isaiah 49:5 KJV Isaiah 49:5 BibleApps.com Isaiah 49:5 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 49:5 Chinese Bible Isaiah 49:5 French Bible Isaiah 49:5 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 49:5 Now says Yahweh who formed me (Isa Isi Is) |
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