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Text -- Isaiah 49:5 (NET)

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Context
49:5 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
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Israel a citizen of Israel.,a member of the nation of Israel
 · Jacob the second so of a pair of twins born to Isaac and Rebeccaa; ancestor of the 12 tribes of Israel,the nation of Israel,a person, male,son of Isaac; Israel the man and nation


Dictionary Themes and Topics: SERVANT OF JEHOVAH; SERVANT OF THE LORD; SERVANT OF YAHWEH | Jesus, The Christ | Israel | Isaiah, The Book of | Isaiah | ISAIAH, 1-7 | INSPIRATION, 8-18 | HONORABLE | Gentiles | GOD, 2 | CHOOSE; CHOSEN | ATONEMENT | ACCOMMODATION | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable , Guzik

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Isa 49:5 - -- To convert the apostate Israelites to God.

To convert the apostate Israelites to God.

Wesley: Isa 49:5 - -- Not brought home to God by my ministry.

Not brought home to God by my ministry.

Wesley: Isa 49:5 - -- God will not despise me for the unsuccessfulness of my labours, but will honour and glorify me.

God will not despise me for the unsuccessfulness of my labours, but will honour and glorify me.

Wesley: Isa 49:5 - -- To support and strengthen me under this and all other discouragements.

To support and strengthen me under this and all other discouragements.

JFB: Isa 49:5 - -- 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.

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.

JFB: Isa 49:5 - -- (Mat 15:24; Act 3:26).

JFB: Isa 49:5 - -- Metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (Mat 23:37). Instead of the text "not," the Keri ...

Metaphor from a scattered flock which the shepherd gathers together again; or a hen and her chickens (Mat 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."

JFB: Isa 49:5 - -- Rather, parenthetically. "For I am glorious, &c., and My God is My strength." Then (Isa 49:6) resuming the words from the beginning of Isa 49:5, "He s...

Rather, parenthetically. "For I am glorious, &c., and My God is My strength." Then (Isa 49:6) resuming the words from the beginning of Isa 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."

Clarke: Isa 49:5 - -- 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 eigh...

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.

Calvin: Isa 49:5 - -- 5.And now saith Jehovah By this verse he confirms the former statement, and yields more abundant consolation, by repeating that calling; and the test...

5.And now saith Jehovah By this verse he confirms the former statement, and yields more abundant consolation, by repeating that calling; and the testimony of conscience, which ought to be regarded by us as a fortress; for there is nothing that gives us greater distress and anxiety, than to entertain doubts by whose authority, or by whose direction everything is undertaken by us. For this reason Isaiah reminds us of the certainty of our calling.

Who formed me from the womb to be his servant In the first place, godly teachers, along with Christ who is their Prince, say that they have been “formed” by a divine hand; because God always enriches and adorns with necessary gifts those whom he calls to the office of teaching, who derive from the one fountain of the Spirit all the gifts in which they excel. Thus “the Father hath sealed” (Joh 6:27) his Only-begotten Son, and next prepares others, according to their degree, to be fit for discharging their office. At the same time, he points out the end of the calling; for to this end have Apostles and teachers of the Church been appointed, to gather the Lord’s scattered flock, that under Christ we may all be united in the same body. (Eph 4:11.) In the world there is miserable dispersion, but in Christ there is ἀνακεφαλαίωσις “a gathering together” of all, (Eph 1:10,) as the Apostle speaks; for there can be no other bond of union. As to the word “create,” or “form,” it is to no purpose that some men speculate about it as relating to Christ’s human existence, which was created; for it is clearer than noon-day, that the “forming” must be viewed as relating to office.

And though Israel be not gathered The Jews read these words as a question: “Shall I not bring back Jacob? and shall Israel not be gathered?” and supply the particle ה ( ha). But that reading is excessively unnatural, and the Jews do not consider what was the Prophet’s meaning, but, so far as lies in their power, corrupt the text, in order to conceal the disgrace of their nation. Some explain it, “Shall not be lost,” or, “Shall not perish;” for the verb אספ (asaph) sometimes denotes what we commonly call ( trousser ) to truss. Those things which are intended to be preserved are “gathered,” and likewise those things which are intended to be consumed; and accordingly, when we mean that any person has been removed out of the world, we frequently use the vulgar phrase, “he is trussed,” 2 or, “he is despatched.”

Yet I shall be glorious To suppose the meaning to be, “I have been sent, that Israel may not perish,” would not be unsuitable; but I choose rather to follow a different interpretation, namely, “Though Israel be not gathered, yet I shall be glorious;” for it is probable that opposite things are contrasted with each other in this passage. If ministers have been set apart, for the salvation of men, it is glorious to them when many are brought to salvation; and when the contrary happens, it tends to their shame and disgrace. Paul calls those whom he had gained to Christ “his glory and crown.” (Phi 4:1; 1Th 2:19.) On the other hand, when men perish, we receive from it nothing but shame and disgrace; for God appears to curse our labors, and not to deign to bestow on us the high honor of advancing his kingdom by our agency. But the Prophet declares that those who have served Christ shall nevertheless be glorious; for he speaks both of the head and of the members, as we have formerly remarked. Although therefore Israel refuse to be “gathered,” yet the ministry of Christ shall retain its glory unimpaired; for it will be ascribed to the baseness and wickedness of men, that they have not been “gathered.”

In like manner, although the preachers of the Gospel be “the savor of death unto death” to the reprobate, yet Paul declares that they have a sweet and delightful odor before God, who determines that wicked men shall thus be rendered the more inexcusable. God is indeed doubly glorified if success corresponds to their wishes; but when the ministers of the word have left nothing undone, though they have good reason to lament that their labor is unprofitable, still they must not repent of having pleased God, whose approbation is here contrasted with the perverse judgments of the whole world. As if the Prophet had said, “Though men vehemently slander and load them with many reproaches, yet this ought to be calmly and patiently endured by them; because God judges differently, and bestows a crown of honor on their patience, which wicked men insolently slander.

And my God shall be my strength When he says that it is enough that “God is their strength,” the meaning corresponds to what goes before, that they ought not to be terrified by the multitude or power of their enemies, seeing that they are persuaded that their “strength” lies in God.

TSK: Isa 49:5 - -- that formed : Isa 49:1 to bring : Isa 56:8; Mat 15:24; Act 10:36; Rom 15:8 Though : etc. or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may, etc Israel...

that formed : Isa 49:1

to bring : Isa 56:8; Mat 15:24; Act 10:36; Rom 15:8

Though : etc. or, That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may, etc

Israel : Mat 21:37-41, Mat 23:37; Luk 19:42; 1Th 2:15, 1Th 2:16

yet : Psa 110:1-3; Mat 3:17, Mat 11:27, Mat 17:5, Mat 28:18; Joh 3:35, Joh 5:20-27; Eph 1:20-22; 1Pe 3:22

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Isa 49:5 - -- And now, saith the Lord that formed me - This verse contains the reason why he cherished the hope that his work would not be unaccepted. The re...

And now, saith the Lord that formed me - This verse contains the reason why he cherished the hope that his work would not be unaccepted. The reason is, that Yahweh had said to him that he should be glorious in his eyes, and that he would be his strength. He stood so high in his favor, and he had such assurances of that favor, that he could confidently commit himself to his care.

That formed thee from the womb - Who appointed me before I was born to the office of a servant to accomplish important purposes (see the notes at Isa 49:1).

To bring Jacob again to him - To recover the Jewish people again to the pure worship of Yahweh. To them the Messiah was first to be sent, and when they rejected him, he was to proffer the same salvation to the Gentiles (see Isa 49:6; compare Mat 21:33-43). Accordingly the Saviour spent his life in preaching to the Jews, and in endeavoring to bring them back to God, and for this purpose he regarded himself as sent (Mat 15:24; see Act 3:26).

Though Israel be not gathered - This metaphor is taken from a scattered flock which a shepherd endeavors to gather, or collect to himself. There is great variety in the interpretation of this expression. The margin reads it, ‘ That Israel may be gathered to him, and I may’ be glorious. So Lowth, ‘ That Israel unto him may be gathered.’ So Noyes, ‘ To gather Israel to him.’ Jerome renders it, ‘ Israel shall not be gathered.’ The Septuagint renders it, ‘ To gather Jacob unto him, and Israel.’ The Syriac, ‘ That I may gather Jacob unto him, and assemble Israel.’ This variety has arisen front the different readings in the Hebrew text. The reading in the text is לא lo' ("not"); but instead of this the marginal reading, or the Qere’ of the Masoretes is, לו lô , "to him."‘ Five manuscripts (two ancient),’ says Lowth, ‘ confirm the Qere’ , or marginal construction of the Masoretes; and so read Aquila, and the Chaldee, Septuagint, and Arabic.’ Gesenius and Rosenmuller adopt this, and suppose that לא lo' is only a different form of writing לו lô . Grotius and Hengstenberg render it as it is in our version. It is impossible to determine the true reading; and the only guide is the context, and the views which shall be entertained of the design of the passage. To me it seems that the parallelism demands that we should adopt the reading of the Keri, the Septuagint, the Chaldee, and the Syriac, and which has been adopted by Lowth. According to this, it means that he had been appointed to gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and gave his life to it. Other parts of this statement Isa 49:4-6 show, that by them he was rejected, and that then salvation was sent to other parts of the world. Luther renders it, ‘ That Israel be not carried away.’

Yet shall I be - Or, "and"( ו ve ) I shall be glorious. The sense is, that as the result of this appointment he would be in some way glorious in the sight of Yahweh. Though he would be rejected by the nation, yet he would be honored by God. He would not only approve his character and work, but would secure his being honored among people by making him the light of the Gentiles (compare Isa 43:4).

And my God shall be my strength - He might be rejected by the people, but in God he would find an unfailing source of support and consolation. It is not needful to say, that this applies most accurately to the cbaracter of the Redeemer as exhibited in the New Testament.

Poole: Isa 49:5 - -- To bring Jacob again to him to convert the wicked and apostate Israelites unto God. Though Israel be not gathered not brought home to God by my min...

To bring Jacob again to him to convert the wicked and apostate Israelites unto God.

Though Israel be not gathered not brought home to God by my ministry. This word implies that the Israelites were divided and scattered from God, and divided among themselves, as they were in a high degree when Christ came into the world, and turned every one to his own way, as is said, Isa 53:6 , and therefore needed to be gathered. Either it is a metaphor from wandering sheep, Which the good shepherd diligently seeketh, and bringeth home to the fold; or it is an allusion to the state of the Israelites, who either now were, or shortly were to be, dispersed into several parts of the world, from whence God had promised to gather them, and bring them into their own land, and unto his temple, Isa 43:5,6 , and elsewhere. The sense is, Though Israel, God’ s own and only people, reject me, which will be an occasion of great wonder and scandal.

Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord God will not despise me for the unsuccessfulness of my labours, but will honour and glorify me, both with himself and in the face of the world, in crowning my endeavours with glorious success among other people.

My God shall be my strength to support and strengthen me under this and all other discouragements and difficulties in the discharge of mine office.

Haydock: Isa 49:5 - -- Will not. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., "to be gathered." (Haydock) --- The original text, independent of the Masorets, may have the sense of the Vulga...

Will not. Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., "to be gathered." (Haydock) ---

The original text, independent of the Masorets, may have the sense of the Vulgate. Yet there are other proofs of the synagogue's rejection. (Calmet) ---

Protestants, "though Israel be not gathered, yet," &c. Marginal note, or "that Israel may be gathered, and I may," &c. (Haydock)

Gill: Isa 49:5 - -- And now, saith the Lord,.... Jehovah the Father, in confirmation of the call, office, and work of Christ, which he hath declared, Isa 49:1, that fo...

And now, saith the Lord,.... Jehovah the Father, in confirmation of the call, office, and work of Christ, which he hath declared, Isa 49:1,

that formed me from the womb to be his servant; who preordained him to this service before the world began, and prepared him for it from the womb of his mother Mary, by filling him with grace and wisdom and with the Spirit without measure; anointing him with the oil of gladness above his fellows, and so fitting him as man and Mediator for the preaching of the Gospel, and every other service he called him:

to bring Jacob again, to him; the lost sheep of the house of Israel, God's elect among the Jews, which were as straying sheep; or all his chosen people, whether Jews or Gentiles, which were scattered abroad, and were afar off from God, whom Christ was to bring back again, and bring nigh unto God, and did:

though Israel be not gathered: in general, only a remnant, according to the election of grace, the greater part refusing to be gathered ministerially by him; and the rulers not suffering the common people to attend on his ministry. Mat 23:37. It may be observed that there is a marginal reading of the Hebrew, different from the written text; instead of לא, "not" it is לו, "to him"; and may be rendered thus, "and Israel shall be gathered unto him"; and then the sense entirely agrees with the preceding clause, with which the words are connected, and not with the following, as the accent "athnach" shows, thus; the Lord appointed and formed me to be his servant to bring back Jacob, and that Israel might be gathered to him; as all the Israel of God, all the elect of God were by the sufferings and death of Christ; see Eph 1:10. The marginal reading, and the writing, may be both retained, as in some other places, thus, "and shall not Israel be gathered to him?" since he has formed me to bring back Jacob to him? verily he shall. The marginal reading is followed by the Targum, and the passage paraphrased thus,

"to return the house of Jacob to his service, and Israel shall be brought nigh, to his fear.''

And so it is by Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Kimchi, and by the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, and by Aquila: "yet shall I be glorious" in the eyes of the Lord; or "I shall be glorious", &c.; as he was at his baptism and transfiguration on the mount; by the wonderful things done in heaven and on earth at the time of his death, at his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to heaven, and exaltation at the right hand of God, far above all principalities and powers, angels, authorities, and powers, being subject to him; and by the ministration of the Gospel in the Gentile world, and particularly when he shall reign gloriously in the latter day, and in the New Jerusalem church state:

and my God shall be my strength; to keep up his spirits under all discouragements; to protect him from his enemies; to support him in his work as man; to carry him through it, and enable him completely to perform it, as he promised he would, and as he did, Isa 49:8.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 49:5 Heb “and my God is [perhaps, “having been”] my strength.” The disjunctive structure (vav [ו] + subject + verb) is interp...

Geneva Bible: Isa 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, ( g ) yet shall ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Isa 49:1-26 - --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...

MHCC: Isa 49:1-6 - --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...

Matthew Henry: Isa 49:1-6 - -- Here, I. An auditory is summoned together and attention demanded. The sermon in the foregoing chapter was directed to the house of Jacob and the peo...

Keil-Delitzsch: Isa 49:5-6 - -- The expression "and now"( ועתּה ), which follows, evidently indicates a fresh turn in the official life of the person speaking here. At the same...

Constable: Isa 40:1--55:13 - --IV. Israel's calling in the world chs. 40--55 This part of Isaiah picks up a theme from chapters 1-39 and develo...

Constable: Isa 49:1--55:13 - --B. God's atonement for Israel chs. 49-55 In the previous section (chs. 40-48), Isaiah revealed that God ...

Constable: Isa 49:1--52:13 - --1. Anticipation of salvation 49:1-52:12 This first segment focuses on the anticipation of salvat...

Constable: Isa 49:1-13 - --Comfort through the Servant 49:1-13 Isaiah began this pericope by clarifying the calling...

Constable: Isa 49:1-7 - --The Servant's calling 49:1-7 "The first [biographical Servant] Song was a word from the Lord to the world about his Servant: Your plight is known, my ...

Guzik: Isa 49:1-26 - --Isaiah 49 - The Messiah's Mission This chapter is full of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the words quoted could not possibly have their complete fulfillme...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Isaiah (Book Introduction) ISAIAH, son of Amoz (not Amos); contemporary of Jonah, Amos, Hosea, in Israel, but younger than they; and of Micah, in Judah. His call to a higher deg...

JFB: Isaiah (Outline) PARABLE OF JEHOVAH'S VINEYARD. (Isa. 5:1-30) SIX DISTINCT WOES AGAINST CRIMES. (Isa. 5:8-23) (Lev 25:13; Mic 2:2). The jubilee restoration of posses...

TSK: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah has, with singular propriety, been denominated the Evangelical Prophet, on account of the number and variety of his prophecies concerning the a...

TSK: Isaiah 49 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Isa 49:1, Christ being sent to the Jews, complains of them; Isa 49:5, He is sent to the Gentiles with gracious promises; Isa 49:13, God...

Poole: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE ARGUMENT THE teachers of the ancient church were of two sorts: 1. Ordinary, the priests and Levites. 2. Extraordinary, the prophets. These we...

Poole: Isaiah 49 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 49 Christ, being sent to the Jews, complaineth of them, Isa 49:1-4 . He is sent to the Gentiles with.gracious promises, Isa 49:5-12 . God&#...

MHCC: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He has been well called the evangelical prophet, on account of his numerous and...

MHCC: Isaiah 49 (Chapter Introduction) (Isa 49:1-6) The unbelief and rejection of the Jews. (Isa 49:7-12) Gracious promise to the Gentiles. (Isa 49:13-17) God's love to the church. (Isa ...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah (Book Introduction) An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of The Book of the Prophet Isaiah Prophet is a title that sounds very great to those that understand it, t...

Matthew Henry: Isaiah 49 (Chapter Introduction) Glorious things had been spoken in the previous chapters concerning the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon; but lest any should think, when it ...

Constable: Isaiah (Book Introduction) Introduction Title and writer The title of this book of the Bible, as is true of the o...

Constable: Isaiah (Outline) Outline I. Introduction chs. 1-5 A. Israel's condition and God's solution ch. 1 ...

Constable: Isaiah Isaiah Bibliography Alexander, Joseph Addison. Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah. 1846, 1847. Revised ed. ...

Haydock: Isaiah (Book Introduction) THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS. INTRODUCTION. This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, (Ecclesiasticus xlviii. 25.) the great prophet; from t...

Gill: Isaiah (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH This book is called, in the New Testament, sometimes "the Book of the Words of the Prophet Esaias", Luk 3:4 sometimes only t...

Gill: Isaiah 49 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 49 This is a prophecy concerning Christ, and redemption by him; and of the enlargement of the church in the latter day, by t...

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