Isaiah 49:15

KJV

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Can a woman {H802} forget {H7911} her sucking child {H5764}, that she should not have compassion {H7355} on the son {H1121} of her womb {H990}? yea, they may forget {H7911}, yet will I not forget {H7911} thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

Can a woman forget her child at the breast, not show pity on the child from her womb? Even if these were to forget, I would not forget you.

Berean Standard Bible

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you!

American Standard Version

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 49:15 powerfully asserts God's unwavering faithfulness and boundless compassion for His people, Israel, even amidst their profound despair and feelings of abandonment. Through a compelling rhetorical question, the Lord juxtaposes the most fundamental and universally recognized bond of human affection—that of a mother for her nursing infant—with His own divine commitment. He declares that while such an extraordinary human connection might conceivably falter, His covenantal remembrance and merciful love for His chosen ones will never cease, offering a profound bedrock of comfort and affirming His immutable character and eternal dedication to His promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This profound declaration is situated within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a pivotal section of Isaiah's prophecy primarily directed towards the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Following chapters that detail Israel's sin and the impending judgment, this segment shifts dramatically to messages of hope, restoration, and the glorious future of God's people. Specifically, Isaiah 49 continues the theme of Israel's restoration and the pivotal role of the Servant of the Lord. The verses immediately preceding this passage [Isaiah 49:13-14](/isaiah/49-13-14 "Isaiah 49:13-14 - Israel's Lament and God's Assurance") capture Israel's lament, "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me." Isaiah 49:15 serves as a direct, tender, and definitive divine rebuttal to this cry of despair, providing a foundational assurance that sets the stage for further promises of rebuilding, ingathering, and the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 49:15 is the Babylonian exile (586-538 BC), a period of immense national trauma, displacement, and spiritual crisis for the people of Judah. Stripped of their land, temple, and king, the exiles felt profoundly forsaken by their God, questioning His power, presence, and covenant faithfulness. They perceived their suffering as evidence of divine forgetfulness or indifference. In this context of deep spiritual despondency, the prophet Isaiah delivers words of profound solace and divine reassurance. The image of a mother and her "sucking child" (a nursing infant) was, and remains, a universal archetype of instinctive, profound, and protective love. In ancient Near Eastern societies, where infant mortality was high and a mother's constant, vigilant care was paramount for survival, this bond symbolized the pinnacle of natural affection, unwavering devotion, and absolute necessity for the child's existence.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 49:15 powerfully reinforces several overarching themes found throughout the Book of Isaiah, particularly within the "Book of Comfort." The most prominent is **God's Unfailing Love and Compassion**, portrayed as infinitely superior to even the strongest human affection. This theme directly counters Israel's despair, assuring them that God's love is not contingent on their performance but flows from His very nature, an everlasting love that draws His people with kindness [Jeremiah 31:3](/jeremiah/31-3 "Jeremiah 31:3 - God's Everlasting Love"). Another crucial theme is **Divine Faithfulness vs. Human Frailty**. The verse highlights the stark contrast between the rare but conceivable possibility of human forgetfulness and God's absolute inability to forget or abandon His chosen people, underscoring His immutable character, for He does not change [Malachi 3:6](/malachi/3-6 "Malachi 3:6 - God Does Not Change"). Finally, the verse offers profound **Comfort and Assurance** to a people feeling desolate, affirming that God sees their suffering, hears their cries, and holds them in eternal remembrance, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. This echoes the divine promise of presence and strength found in passages like [Isaiah 41:10](/isaiah/41-10 "Isaiah 41:10 - God's Promise of Help and Presence"), where God assures His people not to fear, for He is with them.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woman (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** From H802, this term refers to a female, often used in the sense of a wife or, as here, a mother. The specific choice of "woman" in the context of motherhood highlights the unique and intense bond of maternal affection, setting up the most powerful human analogy for God's love.
* **Sucking child (Hebrew, _ʻûwl'_):** From H5764, this word specifically denotes a babe or infant still nursing. This implies extreme vulnerability, utter dependence, and the most intimate physical and emotional bond with its mother. The image evokes a creature entirely reliant on its caregiver for survival, making the idea of a mother forgetting such a child almost unthinkable.
* **Compassion (Hebrew, _râcham'_):** From H7355, a primitive root meaning "to fondle," and by implication, "to love," especially "to compassionate." This word carries a deep, visceral sense of mercy, pity, and tender affection. It is closely related to the Hebrew word for "womb" (רֶחֶם, _rechem_, H7358), suggesting an innate, nurturing, and almost maternal quality of love. When applied to God, it speaks of His profound, gut-level empathy and care for His creation.
* **Forget (Hebrew, _shâkach'_):** From H7911, this primitive root means "to mislay" or "to be oblivious of," implying a loss of memory or attention. The rhetorical question posits the unthinkable—a mother forgetting her most vulnerable offspring. The shocking admission that "they may forget" only serves to elevate God's subsequent declaration that He will *never* forget, emphasizing the absolute certainty and unparalleled nature of His divine remembrance and faithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Can a woman forget her sucking child,"**: This initial rhetorical question establishes the premise, appealing to the most profound and instinctive human bond. It sets up an expectation of an emphatic "No!" as such an act is considered unnatural and virtually impossible. The "sucking child" emphasizes the infant's complete dependence and vulnerability, making the mother's constant care absolutely essential for its survival and well-being.
* **"that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?"**: This clause elaborates on the nature of the "forgetting," equating it with a profound lack of compassion or tender mercy. The phrase "son of her womb" further deepens the bond, highlighting the child's origin from the mother's very being (H990, _beṭen_), implying an inherent, visceral connection that should preclude any absence of care or affection.
* **"yea, they may forget,"**: This shocking and counter-intuitive concession shatters the expected "No!" It acknowledges the unthinkable possibility that even the strongest human bond, though rare and unnatural, could theoretically fail. This admission serves to heighten the subsequent contrast, making God's subsequent promise even more astounding and absolute.
* **"yet will I not forget thee."**: This is the climactic declaration, the divine answer that transcends all human limitations and frailties. Despite the hypothetical failure of even the strongest human love, God declares His absolute and immutable commitment to His people. The emphatic "I" highlights God's personal and sovereign resolve. His remembrance is not merely cognitive but implies active, covenantal care, unwavering faithfulness, and a steadfast commitment to His promises of redemption and restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 49:15 is rich in literary artistry, primarily employing a powerful **Rhetorical Question** ("Can a woman forget her sucking child...?") to engage the audience and elicit an expected answer of "No," only to then dramatically subvert it. This sets up a profound **Juxtaposition** between the fallibility of even the strongest human love and the absolute infallibility of divine love. The verse also utilizes vivid **Imagery**, painting a universally understood picture of a nursing mother and her vulnerable infant, a potent symbol of tender care, dependence, and instinctive affection. The statement "yea, they may forget" functions as a form of **Concession** or **Hyperbole**, acknowledging an extreme, almost impossible scenario in the human realm to underscore the even greater certainty and steadfastness of God's faithfulness. Finally, the verse employs **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like qualities (remembering/forgetting) to God, but then immediately transcends them, demonstrating that God's attributes operate on a divine, perfect scale far beyond human capacity or limitation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 49:15 is a cornerstone passage for understanding the depth of God's covenantal love and His unwavering faithfulness. It reveals a God whose compassion is not merely an emotion but an intrinsic aspect of His very being, a love more profound and reliable than any human affection. This divine remembrance is active and redemptive, ensuring that despite Israel's unfaithfulness or their feelings of abandonment during exile, God remains absolutely committed to His promises of restoration and salvation. The verse serves as a powerful antidote to doubt and despair, assuring believers that God's love is an eternal anchor in a world of shifting affections and broken promises. It underscores the truth that God's character is immutable, and His commitment to His people is unbreakable, providing ultimate security and hope that transcends all circumstances.

* [Psalm 27:10](/psalm/27-10 "Psalm 27:10 - God's Unfailing Care")
* [Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38-39 "Romans 8:38-39 - Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love")
* [Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - God Will Never Leave or Forsake You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world often characterized by fleeting loyalties, broken promises, and the pain of feeling forgotten or overlooked, Isaiah 49:15 offers an enduring and profound source of spiritual solace and strength. This verse invites us to rest deeply in the radical assurance that God's love for us is not only steadfast but infinitely surpasses the most powerful human bonds we can possibly imagine. When life's trials cause us to question God's presence or care—when we feel like exiles in our own circumstances, forgotten or abandoned by both God and man—this divine declaration reminds us that such feelings are not reflections of God's reality. He sees us, He remembers us, and His compassion for us is deeper than the deepest human love. This truth calls us to a deeper, unwavering trust, enabling us to face uncertainties with courage, knowing that the God who never forgets holds us in His eternal, compassionate embrace. It transforms our understanding of divine faithfulness from an abstract concept into a personal, intimate reality, inviting us to lean into His unfailing love daily, finding our security and identity in His constant remembrance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life do you most struggle with feeling forgotten or abandoned by God, or by others?**
* **How does the vivid image of a mother's love for her "sucking child" help you grasp the unparalleled depth and tenderness of God's compassion for you personally?**
* **What practical steps can you take to intentionally remind yourself of God's unfailing faithfulness and constant remembrance when doubts or feelings of despair arise?**
* **How might understanding God's unwavering love, as depicted in this verse, transform your prayers, your response to difficult circumstances, or your overall sense of security and belonging?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse mean human mothers can truly forget their children?**

Answer: The rhetorical question "Can a woman forget her sucking child?" is designed to evoke an emphatic "No!" as such an act is considered unnatural and almost impossible due to the profound, instinctive bond. However, the subsequent phrase, "yea, they may forget," acknowledges a hypothetical, extreme, and rare possibility of human fallibility. This concession serves to highlight the *absolute impossibility* of God forgetting His people. It's not a statement on the commonality of mothers forgetting their children, but rather a powerful literary device to underscore the unparalleled nature of God's faithfulness, which transcends even the strongest human affections. The point is that if there were *any* human love that could fail, God's love is still infinitely more steadfast and compassionate, like a father who pities his children [Psalm 103:13](/psalm/103-13 "Psalm 103:13 - God's Pity Like a Father's").

**How does God's "not forgetting" relate to His covenant with Israel?**

Answer: God's promise "yet will I not forget thee" is deeply rooted in His covenant relationship with Israel. To "forget" in biblical terms is not merely a loss of memory but an active abandonment, a failure to uphold one's commitments, or a cessation of care. Therefore, God's declaration that He will not forget signifies His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "Genesis 12:1-3 - The Abrahamic Covenant"). Even during the Babylonian exile, when Israel felt forgotten due to their sins and suffering, God's word assures them that His covenant faithfulness endures. He remembers His promises to restore, redeem, and bless His people, demonstrating His unchanging character and His ultimate plan for their salvation and the salvation of the world through them. His faithfulness is a cornerstone of His identity, as He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant [Deuteronomy 7:9](/deuteronomy/7-9 "Deuteronomy 7:9 - God's Faithfulness to His Covenant").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 49:15 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the verse speaks of God's unfailing love for Israel, the New Testament reveals that this divine compassion extends to all who are united with Christ, who is the true Israel of God and the embodiment of God's covenant faithfulness. Jesus, as the incarnate Son, perfectly embodies the Father's unwavering love and remembrance. He is the Good Shepherd who "knows His sheep" and "calls them by name," ensuring that "none of them is lost" [John 10:3](/john/10-3 "John 10:3 - The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep") and [John 10:28](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - Jesus Gives Eternal Life"). The depth of God's refusal to forget humanity in its sin and alienation is most powerfully demonstrated at the cross, where God, in Christ, provided the ultimate sacrifice for redemption, proving His love for us while we were still sinners [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated at the Cross"). Through His atonement, Jesus secures an eternal covenant, ensuring that believers are forever held in the Father's remembrance, sealed by the Holy Spirit [Ephesians 1:13-14](/ephesians/1-13-14 "Ephesians 1:13-14 - Sealed with the Holy Spirit"). Thus, the divine promise "yet will I not forget thee" becomes a personal, unbreakable assurance for every believer, grounded in the unbreakable bond forged by Christ's sacrificial love and His perpetual intercession on our behalf, for He ever lives to make intercession for us [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Perpetual Intercession").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 44:21

¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art] my servant: I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

Psalms 103:13

Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Matthew 7:11

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Jeremiah 31:20

[Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Hosea 11:1

¶ When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Malachi 3:17

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Lamentations 4:10

The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.