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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Isaiah 49:4

Then said I — Lord, thou sayest thou wilt be glorified by my ministry; but I find it otherwise. In vain — Without any considerable fruit of my word and works among the Israelites. My judgment — My right, the reward which by his promise, and my purchase, is my right.

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See also Isaiah 49:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN I SAID - I the Messiah. In the previous verses he speaks of his appointment to the office of Messiah, and of his dignity. The design here is to prepare the way for the announcement of the fact th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. THE SERVANT OF JEHOVAH, HIS SUFFERING AND HIS GLORY (49-57) CHAPTER 49 The Servant of Jehovah and His Mission 1. _The servant speaks of himself (Isaiah 49:1)_ 2. _He complains of failure (Isaiah...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE PREPARATION OF YAHWEH'S SERVANT, AND ITS PURPOSE (the second Servant Song). The Servant of Yahweh speaks, bidding the far lands hearken; for them he has a glorious message, which is, however, not...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    I SAID, or thought: i.e. said to Myself. STRENGTH. strength (to endure). Hebrew. _koah._ Not the same word as in Isaiah 49:5. FOR NOUGHT. Hebrew. _tohu_. See note on Isaiah 24:10, "confusion". JUDG...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Servant's address to the nations. The passage forms the natural sequel to ch. Isaiah 42:1-4, and adds some fresh features to the portrait there presented. (1) The Servant, speaking now in his own...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Isaiah 49:1-13. The Servant of Jehovah: His Fidelity amidst Discouragements, and the ultimate Success of His Mission The beginning of ch. 49 seems to mark a distinct advance in the development of the...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Although cast down for a moment by his want of success, he does not yield to despondency (cf. Isaiah 42:4), but leaves his cause in the hands of God. _Then I said_ R.V. BUT I SAID (with a certain emp...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEN I SAID, &C.— These words contain the complaint of the Son of God, concerning the small fruit of his mission to the Jews, and the small hope of establishing and successfully propagating his kingdo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. PROGRAM OF THE LORD'S SERVANT, Chapter S 49 - 53 1. RESCUE, CHAPTER 49 a. DESPISED SERVANT TEXT: Isaiah 49:1-6 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath call...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. THEN I SAID. "I" - Messiah. LABOURED IN V...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    49:4 laboured (a-7) The Hebrew word implies exhausting labour. nought (b-16) As ch. 40.17,23. judgment (c-22) Or 'right.' work (d-28) Or 'wages.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISAIAH: GOD CONTROLS THE NATIONS GOD’S SPECIAL SERVANT ISAIAH CHAPTER S 49 TO 57 _NORMAN HILLYER_ CHAPTER 49 ‘MY SPECIAL SERVANT’ In the Book of Isaiah, the meaning of ‘my (that is, the *Lord’s...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    When God originally called Isaiah to speak for him, he had warned Isaiah about people’s reaction. People would not listen to Isaiah (see Isaiah 6:9-12). But Isaiah wisely realised that his own duty wa...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THEN I SAID. — The accents of disappointment sound strangely on coming from the lips of the true Servant; but the prophet had learnt by his own experience that this formed part of the discipline of ev...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ אֲנִ֤י אָמַ֨רְתִּי֙ לְ רִ֣יק יָגַ֔עְתִּי ל

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XIX PROPHET AND MARTYR Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 50:4 THE second great passage upon the Servant of the Lord is Isaiah 49:1, and the third is...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XVI THE SERVANT OF THE LORD Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 42:18; Isaiah 43:5;...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXI DOUBTS IN THE WAY Isaiah 49:1 - Isaiah 52:12 Chapter S 49-53 are, as we have seen, a series of more or less closely joined passages, in which the prophet, having already made the politic...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES” Isaiah 48:17-22; Isaiah 49:1-13 The first division of this second part of Isaiah closes at Isaiah 48:22, with the phrase _there is no peace to the wicked_. The second divisi...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    We now commence the section in which the Prince of Peace is most clearly seen. He is revealed first as sustained through suffering (Chapter s 49-53), and then as singing in triumph (Chapter s 54-57)....

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then I said, I have (f) laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing, and in vain: [yet] surely my judgment [is] with the LORD, and my work with my God. (f) Thus Christ in his members compl...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _God. He will reward the labours of his ministers, though the people be obstinate. The prophets and our Saviour frequently complain, chap. lxv. 2., and Mark ix. 18._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    What a striking resemblance doth this bear to the preaching of our Lord, when upon earth! Who that reads in the Gospel of the contempt poured upon the person and office of Jesus, but must be struck wi...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4._And I said, In vain have I toiled. _The Prophet here brings forward a grievous complaint in the name of the Church, yet in such a manner that, as we have formerly remarked, we must begin with the H...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Messiah is brought in, for it is He who delivers. But it is a question apart, so to say. The subject of Christ, and of the people's guilt with respect to Him, begins with chapter 49, which, with t...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN I SAID,.... The Messiah said, by way of objection, in a view of what treatment he should meet with, or when entered on his work, and which he found by experience, what follows: I HAVE LABOURED I...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 4. Then said I: I have laboured in v...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Then I said_ By way of objection; _I have laboured in vain_ Lord, thou sayest thou wilt be glorified by my ministry; but I find it otherwise. _I have spent my strength for naught_ Without any conside...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then I said, the Messiah speaking here in His role of true human being, in the weakness which beset Him in Gethsemane, I HAVE LABORED IN VAIN, I HAVE SPENT MY STRENGTH FOR NAUGHT AND IN VAIN, being op...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE TESTIMONY OF JEHOVAH'S SERVANT...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    MY WORK: Or, my reward...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 The great Author of redemption shows the authority for his work. The sword of his word slays the lusts of his people, and all at enmity with them. His sharp arrows wound the conscience; but all t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THEN I SAID, by way of objection. Lord, thou sayest thou wilt be glorified by my ministry; but I find it otherwise. _I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought_, without any consider...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Isaiah 49:4 said H559 (H8804) labored H3021 (H8804) vain H7385 spent H3615 (H8765) strength H3581 nothing...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE WORDS OF THE SERVANT (ISAIAH 49:1). Isaiah 49:1 ‘Listen to me, O coastlands/isles, And hear you peoples from afar, Yahweh has called me from the womb, From the inner parts of my mother he has...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Isaiah 49:4 There are two principal causes of the discouragement of the Christian. The first is the greatness of the task which God sets before him; the second is his inability to accomplish it. I. W...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Isaiah 49:1. _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. And he hath made my mouth...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Isaiah 49:1. _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. And he hath made my mouth...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    In this chapter, we have not merely Isaiah speaking concerning the Christ of God; but it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who here speaks concerning himself. Isaiah 49:1. _Listen, O isles, unto...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Israel's coming Redeemer. Preservation and restoration of Israel and judgment on oppressors. CHARACTERS: God, Christ. CONCLUSION: God, of old, promised a Redeemer to His people who would al...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Isaiah 49:1. _Listen, oh isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people from far._ The Hebrews reckoned among the isles, not only those of Greece, but the gentile nations generally, who are represented as wai...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then I said, I have laboured in vain_ CHRIST IN PROPHECY These prophetic sayings go to Christ, not outside of and separate from man’s struggle, but in and through it. As all true Christians are liv...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And said unto me, Thou art My servant_ THE SERVICE OF MAN THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S HIGHEST GLORY How numerous are God’s servants! All things in heaven and upon earth, all worlds, all elements, an...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Listen, O isles, unto Me_ A FORECAST OF THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION In the previous Chapter s we find very glorious things spoken of the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. But in this chapter we seem...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    ON THE POSSIBILITY OF UNDERVALUING INFLUENCE [1495] [1495] For many fine words of encouragement for Christian workers, see my _Dictionary of Poetical Illustrations_ (usually referred to as P. D.), 10...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    OUR SAVIOUR AND THE WORK OF OUR SALVATION Isaiah 49:1. _Listen, O isles, unto me, &c._ It is to the Gentiles, to _us_, that Christ here speaks concerning Himself and the work of salvation (Isaiah 49...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    SECTION III. THE MISSION OF THE SERVANT OF THE LORD (CH. 49-53). EXPOSITION The connection of the present section is especially with Isaiah 42:1, where the mission of the Servant of Jehovah was f

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter 49, we have a fabulous prophecy of Jesus Christ in the first seven verses as God speaks of the Redeemer that He is sending. Listen, O coasts, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far;...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Corinthians 12:15; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Ezekiel 3:19; Galatians 4:11;...

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