Isaiah 49:5

And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the Servant immediately after the Servant declares his labor felt vain in Isaiah 49:4. The divine speaker interrupts the Servant’s assessment to redefine the mission’s origin and scope.

The words — יֹצְרִ֤/י (yo.tze.R/i) translates to “formed me,” and לְ/עֶ֣בֶד (le./'E.ved) means “into a servant,” establishing the Servant’s identity as divinely crafted for a specific task from conception.

The thread — This pattern of divine appointment and bestowed authority recurs in the New Testament where the Father publicly affirms the Son in Matthew 17:5, declares the Father’s love and transfer of all things to the Son in John 3:35, and announces the Son’s receipt of all authority in Matthew 28:18.

Why it lands — The text forces a reader to abandon human metrics of success when measuring divine work. It requires accepting that purpose and strength originate from God’s declaration, not from visible results.

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

וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ve./'a.Tahand/ now אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh יֹצְרִ֤יyo.tze.R/i[who] formed/ me מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙mi./Be.tenfrom/ [the] womb לְעֶ֣בֶדle./'E.ved<into>/ a servantל֔וֹl/oof/ himלְשׁוֹבֵ֤בle./sho.Vevto/ bring back יַֽעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoJacob אֵלָ֔יו'e.La/vto/ him וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve./Yis.ra.'Eland/ Israelל֣וֹl/oto/ himיֵאָסֵ֑ףye.'a.Sefit will be gathered וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ve./'e.ka.Vedand/ I may be honored בְּעֵינֵ֣יbe./'ei.Neiin/ [the] eyes of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וֵאלֹהַ֖יve./lo.Ha/iand/ God/ my הָיָ֥הha.Yahhe has been עֻזִּֽי׃'u.Z/istrength/ my

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 17:5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Psalms 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Isaiah 11:12 He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; He will collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 43:4 Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.