Bible Strands
Isaiah 49:2
He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Servant addresses distant peoples and islands, recounting how the LORD called and named him from the womb before describing his divinely prepared state. The words — The text pairs פִּי (pi, "my mouth") with חֶרֶב חַדָּה (cherev chaddah, "sharp sword") to describe the Servant's speech, and uses the verb הֶחְבִּיאָנִי (hechbi’ani, "He hid me") to mark concealment within the shadow of the hand. The thread — The sharp sword imagery from the mouth is echoed in Hebrews 4:12 regarding the word of God and Revelation 1:16 describing a sword proceeding from Christ's mouth, while Isaiah 50:4 parallels the Servant's preparation with an awakened ear and a tongue of discipleship. Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that the Servant's speech functions as a concealed yet ready divine instrument, deployed only at the appointed time for judgment and sustenance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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;
Cross-references
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Revelation 1:16 He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
- Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- Revelation 2:12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- Isaiah 11:4 but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips.
- Isaiah 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
- Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Jeremiah 1:18 Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
- Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
- Hosea 6:5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.