Isaiah 49:4

I replied, “My work has been useless; I have used my strength, but I have accomplished nothing worthwhile; everything that I have done has been ◄in vain/useless►. However, Yahweh can honor me as he pleases; my God is the one who will reward me as I deserve.”

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

In Context

3He said to me, “You will serve my Israeli people, and you will cause people to honor me.”

5Yahweh formed me when I was in my mother’s womb in order that I would serve him; he appointed me to bring the people of Israel back to himself [DOU]. Yahweh has honored me, and he is the one who has caused me to be strong.

Read all of Isaiah 49

Cross References

Leviticus 26:20You will uselessly work very hard to plant seeds, because crops will not grow in the hard soil in your fields, and fruit will not grow on your trees.

Psalms 22:22But you have saved me, so I will declare to my fellow Israelis how great you [MTY] are. I will praise you among the group of your people gathered together to worship you.

Isaiah 40:10Yahweh your God will be coming with power; he will rule powerfully [MTY]. And when he comes, he will bring with him the people whom he has freed [MET] from being slaves in Babylonia.

Isaiah 53:12So Yahweh will consider him to be one of the truly great people; he will be like a king who divides up among his soldiers the ◄spoils/things they took from their enemies after defeating them► [MET], because he will sacrifice himself and die. Even though people will consider him to be a sinner, he will remove the guilt of many people, and he will intercede/pray that those who have done things that are wrong will be forgiven.

Isaiah 65:2It is as though I have continually held out my arms to show that I am ready to help my people who rebel against me, and who continually do the evil things that they want to do.

Ezekiel 3:19But if you warn the wicked people and they do not turn from all their wicked behavior [DOU], they will die because of their sins, but you will have saved yourself from my punishing you.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 49:2-7

Encouragement to the Gentiles. ( b. c. 706.) 1 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. 2 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; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. 4 Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and… Read the whole commentary →

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