For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
For thy waste {H2723} and thy desolate places {H8074}, and the land {H776} of thy destruction {H2035}, shall even now be too narrow {H3334} by reason of the inhabitants {H3427}, and they that swallowed thee up {H1104} shall be far away {H7368}.
For your desolate places and ruins and your devastated land will be too cramped for those living in it; your devourers will be far away.
For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.
For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land that hath been destroyed, surely now shalt thou be too strait for the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
-
Zechariah 10:10
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and [place] shall not be found for them. -
Isaiah 54:1
¶ Sing, O barren, thou [that] didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou [that] didst not travail with child: for more [are] the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. -
Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; -
Jeremiah 30:18
¶ Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. -
Jeremiah 30:19
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. -
Psalms 56:1
¶ To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. -
Psalms 56:2
Mine enemies would daily swallow [me] up: for [they be] many that fight against me, O thou most High.
Commentary on Isaiah 49:19 (KJV)
Isaiah 49:19 is a powerful prophecy of divine restoration and abundance for Israel, particularly for Jerusalem (often symbolized as Zion). This verse speaks directly to a people experiencing immense suffering and desolation, offering a vision of radical transformation.
Context
This verse is part of the "Book of Comfort" within Isaiah (chapters 40-66), which provides hope and promises of restoration to the Israelites during and after their Babylonian exile. Following the devastation of Jerusalem and the land of Judah, God, through the prophet Isaiah, reassures His people that their suffering is not permanent and that His covenant promises remain steadfast. The preceding verses in Chapter 49 emphasize God's unwavering remembrance of Zion, even when she felt forgotten, echoing the sentiment of Isaiah 49:15 where God declares He cannot forget His children.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "waste" or "desolate places" is ḥorvot (חָרְבוֹת), which strongly conveys a sense of utter ruin and devastation, often referring to destroyed cities. The imagery of the land being "too narrow" (צַר - tzar) for the inhabitants is a powerful paradox: from extreme emptiness to overflowing capacity. This emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's restorative work.
Practical Application
Isaiah 49:19 offers profound hope and encouragement for believers today. Just as God promised to restore a desolate Israel, He can bring restoration to our own "waste and desolate places"—areas of our lives marked by past failures, hurts, or spiritual barrenness. This verse reminds us: