Isaiah 49:25-26

Context

49:25 Indeed,” says the Lord,

“captives will be taken from a warrior;

spoils will be rescued from a conqueror.

I will oppose your adversary

and I will rescue your children.

49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh;

they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine.¹

Then all humankind² will recognize that

I am the Lord, your deliverer,

your protector,³ the powerful ruler of Jacob.”⁴

[49:26] ¹sn Verse 26a depicts siege warfare and bloody defeat. The besieged enemy will be so starved they will their own flesh. The bloodstained bodies lying on the blood-soaked battle site will look as if they collapsed in drunkenness.

[49:26] ²tn Heb “flesh” (so KJV, NASB).

[49:26] ³tn Heb “your redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[49:26] ⁴tn Heb “the powerful [one] of Jacob.” See 1:24.