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Translation
King James Version
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, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And now, saith H559 the LORD H3068 that formed H3335 me from the womb H990 to be his servant H5650, to bring H7725 Jacob H3290 again H7725 to him, Though Israel H3478 be not gathered H622, yet shall I be glorious H3513 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD H3068, and my God H430 shall be my strength H5797.
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Complete Jewish Bible
So now ADONAI says - he formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Ya'akov back to him, to have Isra'el gathered to him, so that I will be honored in the sight of ADONAI, my God having become my strength
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Berean Standard Bible
And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him— for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—
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American Standard Version
And now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength);
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World English Bible Messianic
Now says the LORD who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him (for I am honorable in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength);
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Geneva Bible (1599)
And now sayeth the Lord, that formed me from the wombe to be his seruaunt, that I may bring Iaakob againe to him (though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I bee glorious in the eyes of the Lord: and my God shall be my strength)
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Young's Literal Translation
And now, said Jehovah, who is forming me from the belly for a servant to Him, To bring back Jacob unto Him, (Though Israel is not gathered, Yet I am honoured in the eyes of Jehovah, And my God hath been my strength.)
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Isaiah 49:5 presents a profound declaration from the Servant of the Lord, affirming his divine appointment and unwavering commitment to his pre-ordained mission. Despite the potential failure of his immediate task to gather Israel, the Servant expresses absolute confidence that his worth and ultimate success are defined by God's estimation, not human response, and that his strength for this arduous undertaking comes solely from the Lord. This verse encapsulates the Servant's unique identity, his challenging mandate, and his profound reliance on divine power and approval.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is a pivotal part of the second of Isaiah's four "Servant Songs" (Isaiah 49:1-13). Following the Servant's self-introduction and affirmation of his divine calling from birth (Isaiah 49:1-4), verse 5 deepens the understanding of his specific mission and the source of his strength. The preceding verses establish the Servant's identity as one chosen and shaped by God, even expressing a sense that his labor has been in vain (Isaiah 49:4). This verse directly addresses that potential frustration, revealing that the Servant's glory is not contingent on the success of his mission to Israel but on God's approval. It sets the stage for the expansion of the Servant's mission to the Gentiles in Isaiah 49:6, demonstrating the universal scope of God's redemptive plan that extends beyond Israel.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: Isaiah prophesied during a tumultuous period for Judah, encompassing the Assyrian threat and looking forward to the Babylonian exile and eventual return. The nation of Israel, often referred to as "Jacob" and "Israel" in this verse, had a long history of spiritual wandering and rebellion, leading to their dispersion. The concept of a "servant" (Hebrew: ʻebed) was multifaceted in ancient Israel, often referring to the nation of Israel itself, a faithful remnant, or a specific individual chosen by God for a special task, such as a prophet or king. In this context, the idea of a divinely appointed Servant who would restore the scattered people and bring them back to God would have resonated deeply with a people longing for national and spiritual renewal, even as their own faithfulness was often lacking. The cultural understanding of honor and shame would also make the Servant's declaration of being "glorious in the eyes of the LORD" particularly powerful, emphasizing divine validation over human perception and potential societal rejection.
  • Key Themes: Isaiah 49:5 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Isaiah. The theme of Divine Calling and Purpose is paramount, as the Servant's formation "from the womb" underscores a pre-ordained, sovereign design for his life and mission. This highlights God's intentionality in choosing and equipping His agents, a theme echoed in the call of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5. The theme of Restoration of Israel is central, with the explicit goal "to bring Jacob again to him," reflecting God's enduring covenant faithfulness to His people, even in their brokenness and dispersion. Crucially, the verse introduces the theme of Success Defined by God's Approval, not human results. The phrase "Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD" provides a radical redefinition of success, focusing on faithfulness to divine commission rather than immediate, visible outcomes. This anticipates the Servant's potential rejection, yet his ultimate vindication. Finally, the declaration "my God shall be my strength" emphasizes Divine Empowerment and Dependence, a recurring motif throughout Isaiah, where God alone is the source of true power and sustenance for His chosen ones, as seen in passages like Isaiah 40:29-31.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • formed (Hebrew, yâtsar', H3335): This word signifies the act of "moulding into a form," akin to a potter shaping clay. Figuratively, it implies a deliberate determination or resolution. In the context of Isaiah 49:5, it powerfully emphasizes God's intentional, sovereign, and precise act of creating and shaping the Servant for a specific purpose from his very conception. It speaks to a divine craftsmanship and a pre-ordained destiny, highlighting the Servant's unique and non-accidental existence, set apart for a divine mission.
  • servant (Hebrew, ʻebed', H5650): This term denotes one who serves, a bondman, or a minister. It carries profound connotations of obedience, submission, and dedication to a master's will. Here, it defines the Servant's primary identity and role as one wholly devoted to fulfilling God's purposes, embodying humility, singular focus on his divine commission, and complete availability to the Lord's will.
  • glorious (Hebrew, kâbad', H3513): This root primarily means "to be heavy," and in a positive sense, "to be numerous, rich, or honorable." Causatively, it means "to make weighty," "to glorify," or "to honor." When the Servant declares he "shall be glorious," it means he will be honored, highly esteemed, and recognized as weighty or significant in God's eyes. This is a declaration of divine vindication and approval, asserting that God's assessment of the Servant's faithfulness is paramount, irrespective of human reception or perceived failure.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb [to be] his servant": This opening clause establishes the divine origin and purpose of the Servant. The phrase "formed me from the womb" underscores a pre-natal, deliberate, and sovereign act of creation by Yahweh (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh) for the specific, consecrated role of "his servant" (H5650, ʻebed). This highlights the Servant's unique status as one chosen and equipped by God from the very beginning of his existence, setting him apart for a divine mission that transcends human initiative or merit.
  • "to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered": This section precisely defines the Servant's primary mission: to restore the scattered and spiritually wayward people of Israel (represented by "Jacob" H3290 and "Israel" H3478) back into a right relationship with their God. The subsequent "Though Israel be not gathered" introduces a crucial tension or potential paradox. It acknowledges the possibility, even the likelihood, that the Servant's efforts to gather Israel might not meet with complete or immediate success, hinting at resistance or rejection from the very people he is sent to serve. This anticipates a mission that will encounter significant obstacles.
  • "yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength": This final clause provides the profound resolution to the tension. Despite the potential for apparent failure in his mission to Israel, the Servant asserts that his true glory (H3513, kâbad) and honor will be found in the "eyes" (H5869, ʻayin) of the LORD (H3068, Yᵉhôvâh). This signifies divine approval and vindication, where God's assessment of the Servant's faithfulness is paramount, overriding any human judgment or lack of visible success. Furthermore, the Servant declares his absolute reliance on God (H430, ʼĕlôhîym) as his ultimate "strength" (H5797, ʻôz), indicating that his power and ability to persevere come entirely from the divine source, not from his own capacity or the responsiveness of his audience.

Literary Devices

Isaiah 49:5 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. Personification is evident as the Servant speaks in the first person, expressing his inner thoughts, mission, and reliance on God. This gives the prophecy a deeply personal and relatable tone, allowing the reader to connect with the Servant's perspective. The verse also utilizes Contrast effectively: the potential failure of Israel to be gathered ("Though Israel be not gathered") is juxtaposed with the Servant's certain glorification ("yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD"). This highlights the divine standard of success over human metrics and emphasizes God's unwavering validation of His faithful Servant. Furthermore, there is a clear Declaration of Divine Commissioning, where the Servant's identity and purpose are explicitly stated as originating from God ("formed me from the womb to be his servant"), underscoring the sovereign nature of his calling. Finally, the phrase "my God shall be my strength" functions as a powerful Metaphor, portraying God not just as a source of strength but as strength itself, emphasizing the Servant's complete and utter dependence on the divine for his endurance and effectiveness in fulfilling his arduous mission.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Isaiah 49:5 is a cornerstone for understanding the nature of divine calling and the definition of true success in God's kingdom. It teaches that faithfulness to God's commission, even in the face of apparent fruitlessness or rejection, is what truly matters in God's eyes. The Servant's reliance on God for strength underscores the biblical principle that divine tasks require divine enablement, and that human weakness can be a conduit for God's power. This verse also profoundly shapes the understanding of the Messiah's role, foreshadowing a mission that would encounter resistance yet ultimately be divinely vindicated and glorified. It speaks to God's unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan, even when His chosen people fall short, and His ability to raise up a faithful Servant to accomplish His purposes, demonstrating that God's plan will prevail regardless of human response.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Isaiah 49:5 offers profound encouragement and a vital reorientation for believers today. Like the Servant, we are called and shaped by God for His purposes, not by accident but by divine design. This verse reminds us that our primary calling is to be faithful to the mission God has given us, whether it's in our families, workplaces, or ministries. It challenges the common human tendency to measure success by visible outcomes, popularity, or immediate results. Instead, it directs our gaze to God's assessment, reminding us that His "well done" is the ultimate validation. When we face discouragement, rejection, or the feeling that our efforts are in vain, this passage calls us to remember that our glory and strength come from God alone. Our worth is not tied to human reception but to divine approval and the unwavering power of the One who called us. We are to lean fully on God's strength, especially when our own feels insufficient, trusting that He will sustain us and bring His purposes to fruition, even if the path is difficult or the immediate fruit is not apparent. It encourages perseverance in obedience, knowing that our ultimate reward and honor come from the Lord Himself.

Questions for Reflection

  • How do I typically define success in my life and ministry, and how might Isaiah 49:5 challenge that definition?
  • In what areas of my life or service do I feel a lack of strength, and how can I more fully rely on God as my strength in those areas?
  • What does it mean for me to be "formed from the womb" by God for His purposes, and how does that understanding impact my sense of identity and mission?
  • How can I cultivate a greater awareness of God's eyes upon me, seeking His approval above the approval of others or the visible results of my efforts?

FAQ

Who is the "Servant" in Isaiah 49:5, and how does this verse describe his mission?

Answer: The "Servant" in Isaiah 49:5 is a complex figure, understood in different layers within the book of Isaiah. While initially referring to the nation of Israel (e.g., Isaiah 41:8), the Servant Songs, especially from Isaiah 42 onwards, progressively narrow the focus to an ideal, righteous individual who perfectly fulfills God's will where Israel failed. This individual is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. His mission, as described in this verse, is primarily "to bring Jacob again to him," meaning to restore the scattered and spiritually wayward people of Israel back to God. However, the verse also anticipates that this mission to Israel might not be fully successful ("Though Israel be not gathered"), yet the Servant's glory and strength will come from God regardless, emphasizing divine vindication over human reception.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Isaiah 49:5 finds its most profound and complete fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate Servant of the Lord, "formed from the womb" by God for His redemptive purposes, as prophesied in passages like Luke 1:31-33. Jesus' primary earthly ministry was indeed "to bring Jacob again to him," focusing on the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Despite His perfect life and miraculous works, many in Israel "were not gathered" to Him; He was ultimately rejected by the religious authorities and crucified (John 1:11). Yet, precisely in this apparent failure, Jesus was "glorious in the eyes of the LORD." His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension were the Father's ultimate vindication and glorification of His faithful Servant (John 17:5; Philippians 2:9-11). Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently relied on His Father as His strength, demonstrating perfect dependence and obedience, even to the point of death on the cross (John 5:19). Thus, Isaiah 49:5 perfectly encapsulates Christ's divine commission, His challenging yet faithful mission to Israel, His ultimate glorification despite rejection, and His complete reliance on God the Father, serving as a model for all who follow Him.

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Commentary on Isaiah 49 verses 1–6

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

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 people of Israel, Isa 49:1, Isa 49:12. But this is directed to the isles (that is, the Gentiles, for they are called the isles of the Gentiles, Gen 10:5) and to the people from far, that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and afar off. Let these listen (Isa 49:1) as to a thing at a distance, which yet they are to hear with desire and attention. Note, 1. The tidings of a Redeemer are sent to the Gentiles, and to those that lie most remote; and they are concerned to listen to them. 2. The Gentiles listened to the gospel when the Jews were deaf to it.

II. The great author and publisher of the redemption produces his authority from heaven for the work he had undertaken. 1. God had appointed him and set him apart for it: The Lord has called me from the womb to this office and made mention of my name, nominated me to be the Saviour. By an angel he called him Jesus - a Saviour, who should save his people from their sins, Mat 1:21. Nay, from the womb of the divine counsels, before all worlds, he was called to this service, and help was laid upon him; and he came at the call, for he said, Lo, I come, with an eye to what was written of him in the volume of the book. This was said of some of the prophets, as types of him, Jer 1:5. Paul was separated to the apostleship from his mother's womb, Gal 1:15. 2. God had fitted and qualified him for the service to which he designed him. He made his mouth like a sharp sword, and made him like a polished shaft, or a bright arrow, furnished him with every thing necessary to fight God's battles against the powers of darkness, to conquer Satan, and bring back God's revolted subjects to their allegiance, by his word: that is the two-edged sword (Heb 4:12) which comes out of his mouth, Rev 19:15. The convictions of the word are the arrows that shall be sharp in the hearts of sinners, Psa 45:5. 3. God had preferred him to the service for which he had reserved him: He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand and in his quiver, which denotes, (1.) Concealment. The gospel of Christ, and the calling in of the Gentiles by it, were long hidden from ages and generations, hidden in God (Eph 3:5, Rom 16:25), hidden in the shadow of the ceremonial law and the Old Testament types. (2.) Protection. The house of David was the particular care of the divine Providence, because that blessing was in it. Christ in his infancy was sheltered from the rage of Herod. 4. God had owned him, had said unto him, "Thou art my servant, whom I have employed and will prosper; thou art Israel, in effect, the prince with God, that hast wrestled and prevailed; and in thee I will be glorified." The people of God are Israel, and they are all gathered together, summed up, as it were, in Christ, the great representative of all Israel, as the high priest who had the names of all the tribes on his breastplate; and in him God is and will be glorified; so he said by a voice from heaven, Joh 12:27, Joh 12:28. Some read the words in two clauses: Thou art my servant (so Christ is, Isa 42:1); it is Israel in whom I will be glorified by thee; it is the spiritual Israel, the elect, in the salvation of whom by Jesus Christ God will be glorified, and his free grace for ever admired.

III. He is assured of the good success of his undertaking; for whom God calls he will prosper. And as to this,

1.He objects the discouragement he had met with at his first setting out (Isa 49:4): "Then I said, with a sad heart, I have laboured in vain; those that were ignorant, and careless, and strangers to God, are so still: I have called, and they have refused; I have stretched out my hands to a gainsaying people." This was Isaiah's complaint, but it was no more than he was told to expect, Isa 6:9. The same was a temptation to Jeremiah to resolve he would labour no more, Jer 20:9. It is the complaint of many a faithful minister, that has not loitered, but laboured, not spared, but spent, his strength, and himself with it, and yet, as to many, it is all in vain and for nought; they will not be prevailed with to repent and believe. But here it seems to point at the obstinacy of the Jews, among whom Christ went in person preaching the gospel of the kingdom, laboured and spent his strength, and yet the rulers and the body of the nation rejected him and his doctrine; so very few were brought in, when one would think none should have stood out, that he might well say, "I have laboured in vain, preached so many sermons, wrought so many miracles, in vain." Let not the ministers think it strange that they are slighted when the Master himself was.

2.He comforts himself under this discouragement with this consideration, that it was the cause of God in which he was engaged and the call of God that engaged him in it: Yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, who is the Judge of all, and my work with my God, whose servant I am. His comfort is, and it may be the comfort of all faithful ministers, when they see little success of their labours, (1.) That, however it be, it is a righteous cause that they are pleading. They are with God, and for God; they are on his side, and workers together with him. They like not their judgment, the rule they go by, nor their work, the business they are employed in, ever the worse for this. The unbelief of men gives them no cause to suspect the truth of their doctrine, Rom 3:3. (2.) That their management of this cause, and their prosecution of this work, were known to God, and they could appeal to him concerning their sincerity, and that it was not through any neglect of theirs that they laboured in vain. "He knows the way that I take; my judgment is with the Lord, to determine whether I have not delivered my soul and left the blood of those that perish on their own heads." (3.) Though the labour be in vain as to those that are laboured with, yet not as to the labourer himself, if he be faithful: his judgment is with the Lord, who will justify him and bear him out, though men condemn him and run him down; and his work (the reward of his work) is with his God, who will take care he shall be no loser, no, not by his lost labour. (4.) Though the judgment be not yet brought forth unto victory, nor the work to perfection, yet both are with the Lord, to carry them on and give them success, according to his purpose, in his own way and time.

3.He receives from God a further answer to this objection, Isa 49:5, Isa 49:6. He knew very well that God had set him on work, had formed him from the womb to be his servant, had not only called him so early to it (Isa 49:1), but begun so early to fit him for it and dispose him to it. Those whom God designs to employ as his servants he is fashioning and preparing to be so long before, when perhaps neither themselves nor others are aware of it. It is he that forms the spirit of man within him. Christ was to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, that had treacherously departed from him. The seed of Jacob therefore, according to the flesh, must first be dealt with, and means used to bring them back. Christ, and the word of salvation by him, are sent to them first; nay, Christ comes in person to them only, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But what if Jacob will not be brought back to God and Israel will not be gathered? So it proved; but this is a satisfaction in that case, (1.) Christ will be glorious in the eyes of the Lord; and those are truly glorious that are so in God's eyes. Though few of the Jewish nation were converted by Christ's preaching and miracles, and many of them loaded him with ignominy and disgrace, yet God put honour upon him, and made him glorious, at his baptism, and in his transfiguration, spoke to him from heaven, sent angels to minister to him, made even his shameful death glorious by the many prodigies that attended it, much more his resurrection. In his sufferings God was his strength, so that though he met with all the discouragement imaginable, by the contempts of a people whom he had done so much to oblige, yet he did not fail nor was discouraged. An angel was sent from heaven to strengthen him, Luk 22:43. Faithful ministers, though they see not the fruit of their labours, shall yet be accepted of God, and in that they shall be truly glorious, for his favour is our honour; and they shall be assisted to proceed and persevere in their labours notwithstanding. This weakens their hands, but their God will be their strength. (2.) The gospel shall be glorious in the eyes of the world; though it be not so in the eyes of the Jews, yet it shall be entertained by the nations, Isa 49:6. The Messiah seemed as if he had been primarily designed to bring Jacob back, Isa 49:5. But he is here told that it is comparatively but a small matter; a higher orb of honour than that, and a larger sphere of usefulness, are designed him: "It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob to the dignity and dominion they expect by the Messiah, and to restore the preserved of Israel, and make them a flourishing church and state as formerly" (nay, considering what a little handful of people they are, it would be but a small matter, in comparison, for the Messiah to be the Saviour of them only); "and therefore I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles (many great and mighty nations by the gospel of Christ shall be brought to the knowledge and worship of the true God), that thou mayest be my salvation, the author of that salvation which I have designed for lost man, and this to the end of the earth, to nations at the greatest distance." Hence Simeon learned to call Christ a light to lighten the Gentiles (Luk 2:32), and St. Paul's exposition of this text is what we ought to abide by, and it serves for a key to the context, Act 13:47. Therefore, says he, we turn to the Gentiles, to preach the gospel to them, because so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles. In this the Redeemer was truly glorious, though Israel was not gathered; the setting up of his kingdom in the Gentile world was more his honour than if he had raised up all the tribes of Jacob. This promise is in part fulfilled already, and will have a further accomplishment, if that time be yet to come which the apostle speaks of, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in. Observe, God calls it his salvation, which some think intimates how well pleased he was with it, how he gloried in it, and (if I may so say) how much his heart was upon it. They further observe that Christ is given for a light to all those to whom he is given for salvation. It is in darkness that men perish. Christ enlightens men's eyes, and so makes them holy and happy.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–6. Public domain.
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Athanasius of AlexandriaAD 373
DEFENSE OF THE NICENCENE DEFINITION 3:9
In respect of nature, [Christ] differs in nothing from us, though he precedes us in time, so long as we all consist and are created by the same hand.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Chapter 49—Verse 1 onwards) Listen, O islands, and pay attention, O peoples from afar: The Lord called me from the womb; from the body of my mother he remembered my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword; in the shadow of his hand he protected me. He made me like a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me: You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. And I said: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my reward is with my God. LXX: Hear me, O islands, and pay attention, O nations. After a long time, I will stand, says the Lord. From the womb, He called me, and from my mother's womb, He pronounced my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, and He hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me like a chosen arrow and concealed me in His quiver. And He said to me: You are my servant, Israel, and in you I will be glorified. And I said, I have labored in vain and have spent my strength for nothing. Therefore, my judgment is before the Lord, and my work is before my God. I know that both these things and the things beneath, which we are about to discuss, pertain to the knowledge or understanding of one chapter, and all should be understood from the person of Christ. But I did not want to burden the reader's mind by presenting everything at once, nor did I want to confuse the magnitude of what can be said in parts. Therefore, I have provided both editions: so that what seems obscure in one may be revealed by the reading of the other. Therefore, after calling the remnant of Israel and rejecting the unbelieving people, of whom it was said: 'There is no peace for the wicked,' says the Lord (Isaiah 48:22), he turns to the Churches gathered from the nations and speaks to them under the name of islands. These, being exposed to the attacks of the persecutors, are like the waves of the sea, and are battered on all sides by a raging storm, rather than being moved. And lest anyone think that our interpretation is forced and does not apply to the Gentiles, but to the synagogues of the Jewish people, it follows: 'And listen, O peoples from far away, that is, from the ends of the earth.' Just as the Seventy translated, it will stand for a long time, that is, not in this time in which they are being said; but after many times have passed. The Lord, He says, called me from the womb, and He remembered my name from my mother's womb. Which now, in the meantime, seems obscure to those who hear it, but afterwards it will become known to all nations, when Gabriel said to Joseph about the birth from the Virgin: 'And you shall call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people' (Matt. 1:21). He has also made His mouth like a sharp sword, in order to kill the wicked with the breath of His mouth. Regarding this sword, he himself speaks in the Gospel: I have not come to bring peace upon the earth, but a sword, separating the wicked from the good: For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law (Matthew 10:34-35). And in shadow, he says, his hand protected me, so that the lowliness of flesh would be covered by the power of divinity, as the Angel announced to the Virgin: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:35). He has set me like an arrow chosen, in his quiver he has hidden me. When he says 'an arrow chosen', he shows that God has many arrows, but not chosen ones: which arrows are the Prophets and Apostles, who run throughout the whole world. Of whom it is also sung in another place: Your arrows are sharp, O mighty one; the peoples fall beneath you (Psalm 45:6); and again: Your arrows are sharp, with coals of desolation (Psalm 119:41). But Christ, out of many arrows and many sons, is the chosen arrow, and He is the Only Begotten Son: whom He has hidden in His quiver, that is, in a human body, so that the fullness of divinity might dwell bodily in Him. And rare indeed is the faith of believers, to whom it is also said above (Chap. XLV, 15): You are a hidden God, and we did not know. With this arrow, and as a wounded bride, the Song of Songs speaks and says: I am wounded with love. And he said to me: You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified (Cant. IV, 9). A servant, because although he was in the form of God, he chose to take on the form of a servant (Philippians II), and Israel, because he was born from the seed of the Jews. And what can be understood about no other servant is joined together: In you I will be glorified (or I will be glorified). For he himself says in the Gospel, Father, glorify your name (John XII, 28). He who speaks in the psalm to the Son: Arise, my glory, and arise, psaltery and harp (Ps. LVI, 9), that is, the chorus of all virtues. But when I said these things to my Father, I responded to him: How have you been glorified in me, Father, because I have labored in vain, and I have not been able to bring back a great part of the Jewish people to you? But all these things are said in order to show the free will of man. For it is God's job to call and our job to believe; and if we do not believe immediately, it does not mean that God is impossible; but he leaves his power to our free will so that the righteous will receive the reward of their will. Because, therefore, they did not want to believe in you through me, my judgment is before you, that I have done all that I should have done for them, saying in the Gospel: I have glorified you on earth, having completed the work which you gave me to do (John 17:4); and again: I have made your name known to men. And my work or labor and my suffering (for this is what πόνος signifies) are before your eyes. For he wept over Jerusalem in the Gospel (Luke 19), and in a certain manner, in Psalm, he says that he suffered in vain on account of the multitude of unbelievers: What profit is there in my blood, when I descend into corruption? (Psalm 29:10). And hanging on the cross, he speaks according to the Hebrew: Far from my salvation are the words of my lamentations (Ps. 21:1). (Verse 5, 6 and following) And now says the Lord, who formed me as his servant from the womb, to bring Jacob back to him, and Israel will not be gathered: and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength. And he said: It is not enough for you to be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the remnants of Israel. Behold, I have given you (Vulg. Behold I have given you) as a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth. LXX: And now thus says the Lord who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to gather Jacob to him and Israel: I will gather and be glorified before the Lord, and my God will be my strength. And he said to me: It is a great thing for you to be called my servant, and to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to convert the dispersion of Israel. Behold, I have set you as a testament to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, that you may be salvation to the end of the earth. While I was speaking, I labored in vain, without cause, and in vain I consumed my strength: because the Jews refused to believe, and my judgment is with the Lord; and my work, which I accomplished with His help, is with the Lord. The Lord answered me, who formed me from the womb to be His servant. From the moment he was formed in the womb, it was shown that he would be called His servant. He also says in the psalm: You are my God from my mother's womb (Psalm 22:10). What then did the Lord say to him? That he should bring Jacob back to him who had strayed, who, having forsaken the Creator, served idols. Hence he himself speaks to his disciples: Do not go on the road of the Gentiles, and do not enter the cities of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5); and in another place: I came only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). Therefore, it was the will of the Father that the wicked vine-dressers should receive the Son who was sent, and render the fruits of the vineyard, but they killed him, saying. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours (Matth. XXI, 38); and this is what it now says: And Israel will not be gathered together, that is, will not return to the Lord. And I am greatly amazed how the common edition, by another interpretation, overturns this strongest testimony against the perfidy of the Jews, saying: I will be gathered together and glorified before the Lord: when it agrees with our interpretation of Theodotion and Symmachus. But I am not amazed concerning Aquila, who was most learned in the Hebrew language and expressed word for word, that in this place he either pretended ignorance or was deceived by the perverse exposition of the Pharisees, who wanted to interpret it as, and Israel will be gathered together to him, that is, to God. Since the Hebrew word Lo, in this place, is not written with Lamed and Vav (), which, if it were, would signify 'to him' or 'to them', but with Lamed and Aleph () which properly does not have a sound. Therefore, because Jacob has not been converted to God, nor Israel gathered together, the Son speaks to those who do not believe: I have been glorified in the eyes of the Lord. For in me, the whole world has believed, and my God has become my strength, who has comforted me in my sadness over the rejection of my people; and he said to me: It is not enough for you to serve me in raising up the tribes of Jacob, which have fallen by their own fault; and in converting the dregs or remnants of Israel. For this Hebrew word Nesure () signifies. For I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And that which is read in the Septuagint, 'I will gather and glorify before the Lord,' can be understood as meaning that the Lord is gathered with the believers. And what follows: He said to me: It is a great thing that thou shouldest be called my servant; a great thing let us ascribe to man and to a child who, in comparison with God, is small.
Cyril of AlexandriaAD 444
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 4:4.49:5-6
For a lowly appellation is given to the Word whose origin is from God, that he is called slave, that is, a household member. For such a title can sometimes indicate "son," and at other times, as we have said, "household member." In the economy of the flesh, it is appropriate to consider the Son as a slave. For he is God by nature and free as being from God the sovereign Father, yet he took the shape or form of a slave. For no one with right understanding could say that he was a slave by nature who was then able to be brought into the form of a slave. Rather, he was outside of slavery and constraint, but for the sake of a sign, in the freedom of his nature, he received the shape, that is, the form of slave.… For he was Emmanuel, and he revealed to us no less in this way his freedom which was real and by nature.… For he who was God the Word dwelled in them and among us for no other reason except so that he could save Israel and gather Jacob. For he had scattered all others who were on the earth, every inventor of wickedness, into their many-colored and multifaceted vices.
Ishodad of MervAD 850
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 49:5
“Who formed me from the womb to be his servant.” This is clearly said with reference to Zerubbabel and the people but was accomplished in Christ. And indeed, since Christ will descend from them, it is with good reason that what concerns him is represented in them as in a sign.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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