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Isaiah 49 Summary

The Servant's Mission to Gentiles

The Lord's servant speaks of being called from the womb, with His mouth made a sharp sword and hidden in the shadow of the Lord's hand as a polished shaft. The servant is Israel, in whom the Lord will be glorified. Though the servant labored in vain, spending strength for nought, he trusts his judgment is with the Lord. God formed the servant from the womb to be His servant to bring Jacob again and restore the preserved of Israel, and will give Him as a light to the Gentiles that He may be salvation unto the end of the earth. Those who despise Him and whom nations abhor shall bow before Him when kings and princes see and worship. The Lord promises in an acceptable time to hear and help the servant, giving Him for a covenant of the people to cause them to inherit desolate heritages. The servant shall set prisoners free and lead them in pastures with no hunger, thirst, or heat, with mountains becoming a way and highways exalted.

Key themes

Servant called from wombLight to GentilesPrisoners liberatedRestoration promisedCovenant of people

Key verses

Isaiah 49:1-3

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

Isaiah 49:5-6

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. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Isaiah 49:7-8

Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Isaiah 49:25-26

But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

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