Isaiah 49:1-6 Listen, O isles, to me; and listen, you people, from far; The LORD has called me from the womb… In the previous chapters we find very glorious things spoken of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. But in this chapter we seem to commence a new departure, to rise to a higher strain, and to launch out into broader and grander predictions. A larger audience is invoked — "Listen, O isles, unto Me." A greater than the prophet is the speaker — "The Lord hath called me from the womb," &c. And the calling of the Gentiles to a share in the blessings of the greater redemption is clearly indicated. "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth." (D. Howell, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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