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Isaiah 49
Isaiah 49:1
Listen to me
Here "me" refers to Yahweh's servant.
you coastlands
This refers to the people who live on the coastlands. Alternate translation: "you who live on the coastlands" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 49:2
He has made my mouth like a sharp sword
Here the word "mouth" represents the words that he speaks. His words are compared to a sharp sword to emphasize that they will be effective. Alternate translation: "He has made my words as effective as a sharp sword" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
he hid me in the shadow of his hand
Yahweh protecting his servant and keeping his purpose secret is spoken of as if Yahweh's hand cast a shadow over him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
he has made me into a polished arrow; in his quiver he has hidden me
Yahweh's servant being able to carry out Yahweh's purposes effectively is spoken of as if the servant were a sharp, new arrow. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
in his quiver he has hidden me
Yahweh protecting his servant and keeping his purpose secret is spoken of as if Yahweh kept him hidden in a quiver. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
quiver
a case used to carry arrows
Isaiah 49:3
General Information:
Yahweh's servant continues speaking.
He said
"Yahweh said"
You are my servant, Israel
"You are my servant, whom I call Israel"
Isaiah 49:4
General Information:
This page has intentionally been left blank.
Isaiah 49:5
General Information:
Yahweh's servant continues speaking.
that Israel would be gathered to him
This part of the sentence means the same as the part before it. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "to bring the people of Israel back to himself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh
The eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Yahweh has honored me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 49:6
I will make you a light to the Gentiles
The servant bringing Yahweh's message to the Gentiles and helping them to understand it is spoken of as if Yahweh made the servant a light that shines among the Gentiles. See how you translated a similar phrase in Isaiah 42:6. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
to the ends of the earth
The places on the earth that are very far away are spoken of as if they were the places where the earth ends. This phrase also forms a merism and refers to everywhere in between the ends. Alternate translation: "to all the farthest places of the earth" or "to the entire earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-merism)
Isaiah 49:7
Redeemer
See how you translated this word in Isaiah 41:14.
to the one whose life is despised, hated by the nations, and a slave of rulers
Here the word "life" represents the person. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "to the one whom people despised, whom the nations hated and held as slaves" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Holy One of Israel
See how you translated this phrase in Isaiah 1:4.
Isaiah 49:8
At a time I decide to show my favor I will answer you, and in a day of salvation I will help you
These two clauses mean basically the same thing. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
I will answer you
Here "you" refers to Yahweh's servant.
in a day of salvation
The word "salvation" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "when the time comes for me to save you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
give you as a covenant for the people
Here the word "covenant" is a metonym for the one who establishes or mediates a covenant. See how you translated a similar phrase in Isaiah 42:6. Alternate translation: "make you be the mediator of a covenant with the people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
to rebuild the land
Here the word "land" represents the cities in the land that had been destroyed. Alternate translation: "to rebuild the ruined places in the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
to reassign the desolate inheritance
Yahweh speaks of the land as if it were an inheritance that the people of Israel received as a permanent possession. It is implied that the servant is to reassign the land to the people of Israel. Alternate translation: "to reassign the desolate land to the people of Israel as their inheritance" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Isaiah 49:9
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to his servant.
They will graze along the roads, and on all the bare slopes will be their pasture
Yahweh speaks of the people living freely and prosperously as if they were sheep that had plenty of pasture in which to graze. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:10
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking.
They will not
Here "they" refers to God's people.
nor will the heat or sun beat on them
Here the word "heat" describes the word "sun." The people suffering from the sun's heat is spoken of as if the heat struck them. Alternate translation: "nor will they suffer from the sun's heat" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hendiadys and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
for he who has mercy on them ... he will guide them
Yahweh speaks of himself in the third person. He speaks of protecting the people and caring for them as if he were their shepherd. Alternate translation: "I, the one who has mercy on them ... I will guide them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:11
I will make all my mountains into a road, and make my highways level
Yahweh speaks of guiding his people safely and removing obstacles from their path as if he turned mountains into roads and level highways. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:12
the land of Sinim
The location of this place is uncertain, but it may refer to a region in the southern part of Egypt. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Isaiah 49:13
Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth; break into singing, you mountains!
Isaiah turns his attention from the people of Israel and speaks to the heavens, earth, and mountains as if they were people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-apostrophe and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Isaiah 49:14
But Zion said
The word "Zion" is another name for Jerusalem. Isaiah speaks of the city as if it were a woman who complains that Yahweh has forgotten her. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her baby, nursing at her breast, so she does not have compassion on the son she has borne?
Yahweh uses a question to help his people understand that he will never forget about them or stop caring for them. Alternate translation: "A woman would not forget her nursing baby or stop caring for the son she bore." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Isaiah 49:16
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
I have inscribed your name on my palms
Yahweh speaks of his unwavering devotion to Zion as if he had written her name on the palms of his hands. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
your walls are continually before me
Yahweh speaks of always thinking about Zion as if her walls were always before him. The word "walls" is a metonym for the city. Alternate translation: "I am continually thinking about your walls" or "I am always thinking about you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 49:17
Your children are hurrying back
Yahweh speaks of the people who are returning to live in Jerusalem as if they were the city's children. Alternate translation: "Your inhabitants are hurrying back" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:18
you will surely wear them like jewelry, and you will put them on like a bride
Yahweh speaks of the inhabitants of Zion as if they were jewelry that the city wears to show her beauty and joy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
you will put them on like a bride
The last part of the phrase can be clarified from the previous line. Alternate translation: "you will put them on, like a bride wears jewelry" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Isaiah 49:19
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Though you were a waste and desolate
The words "a waste" and "desolate" mean basically the same thing and emphasize that the enemy has destroyed Zion and left it empty. Alternate translation: "Though you were completely desolate" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)
those who devoured you
The enemy destroying Zion is spoken of as if they had devoured it. Alternate translation: "those who destroyed you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:20
The children born during the time of your bereavement
Yahweh speaks of the time when the people of Jerusalem were in exile as if the city was bereaved of her children. Those who were born while the people were in exile are spoken of as the city's children. Alternate translation: "Those who will inhabit you, who were born while the people were in exile" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
The place is too cramped for us
This means that there will be so many people that the city will be too small for them all to live in it.
Isaiah 49:21
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Who has borne these children for me?
Zion speaks of the people who are returning to inhabit the city as if those people were her children. Zion's question expresses her surprise that so many children now belong to her. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
I was bereaved and barren, exiled and divorced
Zion describes herself as a woman incapable of having more children. She indicates the reasons for her great surprise. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I was bereaved and barren
"I was mourning over my dead children and unable to have more"
exiled and divorced
"I was sent away, without a husband"
Who has raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these come from?
Again, Zion uses questions to expresses her surprise. Alternate translation: "Look, I was left all alone; now all of these children that I did not raise have come to me." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Isaiah 49:22
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. He explains how she is able to have so many children. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
I will raise my hand to the nations; I will raise my signal flag to the peoples
These two clauses mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: "I will raise my hand and signal with a flag for the people of the nations to come" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders
Yahweh speaks of the people who will inhabit Jerusalem as if they were the city's children. He also speaks of the people of other nations helping the Israelites to return to Jerusalem as if they were carrying the Israelites. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:23
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursemaids
Yahweh speaks of the people who will inhabit Zion as if they were the city's children. The terms "foster fathers" and "nursemaids" refer to men and women who become responsible for the care of children. Alternate translation: "The kings and queens of other nations will provide for your inhabitants" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
they will bow down to you with their faces to the earth and lick the dust of your feet
These phrases describe gestures that people used to express complete submission to a superior.
lick the dust of your feet
Possible meanings are 1) that this is a literal expression of submission where the person licks the dust off of a superior's foot or from the ground at the superior's foot or 2) that this is an idiom that describes a person prostrating himself before a superior. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
will not be put to shame
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "will not be ashamed" or "will not be disappointed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 49:24
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Can the spoils be taken from the warrior, or captives be rescued from the fierce?
Isaiah uses a question to express the difficulty of taking anything from a mighty soldier or a very strong warrior. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "A person cannot take the spoils from a warrior or rescue captives from fierce soldiers." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
spoils
valuable items taken from the losers in a battle
Isaiah 49:25
the captives will be taken away from the warrior, and spoils will be rescued
Yahweh says that he will do what is usually impossible for people to do. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "I will take the captives from the warrior, and I will rescue the spoils" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
I will ... save your children
Yahweh speaks of the people who will inhabit Zion as if they were the city's children. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 49:26
General Information:
Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a person.
I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh
Possible meanings are 1) the oppressors will be so hungry that they will eat the flesh of their friends who have died. Alternate translation: "I will cause your oppressors to eat their own flesh" or 2) Yahweh speaks of the oppressors fighting against and destroying themselves as if they were eating themselves. Alternate translation: "I will cause your oppressors to destroy themselves, as if they were eating their own flesh" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine
Possible meanings are 1) the oppressors will be so thirsty that they drink the blood of their friends who have died. Alternate translation: "they will drink their friends' blood and be like weak people who are drunk on wine" or 2) Yahweh speaks of the oppressors fighting against and destroying themselves as if they were drinking their own blood. Alternate translation: "they will shed so much of their friends' blood that it will be as though they were getting drunk with wine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)