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Isaiah 49:21

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Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where [had] they [been]?

Then shalt thou say {H559} in thine heart {H3824}, Who hath begotten {H3205} me these, seeing I have lost my children {H7921}, and am desolate {H1565}, a captive {H1540}, and removing to and fro {H5493}? and who hath brought up {H1431} these? Behold, I was left {H7604} alone; these, where {H375} had they been?

Then you will ask yourself, "Who fathered these for me? I've been mourning my children, alone, as an exile, wandering to and fro; so who has raised these? I was left alone, so where have these come from?"

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?

Commentary

Isaiah 49:21 captures the profound astonishment of Zion, personified as a desolate mother, at the miraculous return and proliferation of her children. This verse is a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness to His covenant people, promising abundant restoration after a period of severe judgment and dispersion.

Context

This verse is part of Isaiah 49, a pivotal chapter in the book of Isaiah, often referred to as the second of the "Servant Songs." While the chapter begins by detailing the mission of the Servant of the Lord (often understood as the Messiah, Jesus Christ), it transitions to God's promise of the restoration of Israel and the ingathering of the Gentiles. The preceding verses (Isaiah 49:18-20) already speak of Zion's future abundance, where her borders will be too small for the multitude of her returning children. Verse 21 expresses the mother's bewildered joy, having believed herself utterly barren and abandoned due to the Babylonian exile and subsequent scattering. It highlights the dramatic contrast between her perceived desolation and God's abundant provision.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration: The central theme is God's power to restore what was lost. Israel, once scattered and seemingly childless, experiences a miraculous return and growth, demonstrating God's ability to bring life out of desolation.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Covenant: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment (exile), God remains true to His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This verse underscores His unwavering commitment to His people, ensuring their future and growth (see Jeremiah 31:3 for God's everlasting love).
  • Astonishment and Wonder: The mother's questions – "Who hath begotten me these?" and "where [had] they [been]?" – convey profound amazement. This portrays the restoration as something beyond human expectation or ability, a work solely of divine grace.
  • Ingathering of the Dispersed: The "children" primarily refer to the Jewish people returning from exile, but also prophetically allude to the spiritual ingathering of both Jews and Gentiles into God's family, fulfilling the universal scope of God's salvation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "desolate" (galmud) suggests barrenness, solitude, and isolation, emphasizing the depth of Zion's perceived loss. The phrase "removing to and fro" (sarah ve-golah) depicts the instability and wandering characteristic of exile and captivity, further highlighting her vulnerable state before God's intervention.

Practical Application

Isaiah 49:21 offers immense encouragement for believers today:

  • Hope in Despair: When we feel desolate, abandoned, or that we have "lost" something precious (whether it's hope, relationships, or opportunities), this verse reminds us that God can bring forth unexpected life and abundance. Our perceived barrenness is not a limit for God's power.
  • God's Surprising Providence: It teaches us to expect the unexpected from God. His ways are often far beyond our understanding, and His plans for restoration can manifest in surprising and overwhelming ways, just as Zion was astonished by her returning children.
  • Faith in God's Promises: This passage reinforces the truth that God is faithful to His promises. If He promised restoration to His people Israel despite their exile, He will also fulfill His promises to individual believers and the church, even through challenging times. This echoes the promise of God completing the good work He began in us.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 54:3 (2 votes)

    For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

  • Isaiah 54:8 (2 votes)

    In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

  • Romans 11:11 (2 votes)

    I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but [rather] through their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

  • Romans 11:17 (2 votes)

    And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

  • Isaiah 51:17 (2 votes)

    ¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out.

  • Isaiah 51:20 (2 votes)

    Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.

  • Isaiah 60:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through [thee], I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.