Isaiah 49:15

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.

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.

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.

“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!

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.

Isaiah 49:15 presents one of the Bible's most profound assurances of God's unwavering love and faithfulness to His people. Through a powerful rhetorical question, God contrasts the strongest human bond—that of a mother for her nursing infant—with His own incomparable commitment, declaring that while human affection might conceivably fail, His divine remembrance and compassion for Israel will never cease.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse comes from the "Book of Comfort" in Isaiah (chapters 40-55), addressed to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. During this period, the people of Israel felt abandoned and forgotten by God due to their long captivity. They questioned God's presence and care, believing He had forsaken them because of their sins. In this context, God uses an image of ultimate care—a mother's bond with her "sucking child" (a vulnerable infant completely dependent on its mother)—to powerfully refute their fears and reaffirm His covenant love. The bond between a mother and her child was, and remains, a universally recognized symbol of deep, instinctive, and protective affection in ancient societies and today.

Key Themes and Messages

  • God's Unfailing Love and Compassion: The central message is the boundless and steadfast nature of God's love. It is portrayed as infinitely greater and more reliable than even the most powerful human affection. His compassion (Hebrew: racham, related to "womb") is a deep, visceral, and nurturing love.
  • Divine Faithfulness vs. Human Frailty: The verse highlights the stark contrast between human fallibility—the rare but possible instance of a mother forgetting her child—and God's absolute inability to forget or abandon His chosen ones. This underscores God's unchanging character and His commitment to His promises. For further understanding of God's unchanging nature, see Malachi 3:6.
  • Comfort and Assurance: For a people feeling forgotten and desolate, this verse offers immense comfort and assurance. It is a divine promise that God sees their suffering, hears their cries, and holds them in eternal remembrance, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. This echoes the sentiment found in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sucking child" (yoneq) vividly depicts a very young, nursing infant, emphasizing extreme dependence and vulnerability. The term for "compassion" (racham) is derived from the word for "womb" (rechem), suggesting a deep, innate, and maternal kind of love. The rhetorical question, "Can a woman forget her sucking child...?" (Hebrew: Hătishkakh), expects a resounding "No!" but then immediately follows with the shocking "yea, they may forget," only to elevate God's commitment far above this, saying, "yet will I not forget thee." This powerful juxtaposition highlights the unparalleled nature of God's faithfulness and divine remembrance.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 49:15 remains a profound source of comfort and strength. In moments of doubt, loneliness, or despair, when we might feel forgotten or abandoned by God, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of His unbreakable bond with us. It assures us that our Heavenly Father's love is more steadfast and compassionate than any human love, even the most profound. We can rest in the certainty that God remembers us, cares for us, and will never forsake us, just as He promised His ancient people. This divine assurance is a foundation for trusting God through all life's trials and uncertainties, echoing the everlasting love spoken of in Jeremiah 31:3.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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