Isaías 49:2

The Servant is described as one prepared in secret for his great work. He compares himself to a weapon fashioned by Jehovah for His own use, but kept in reserve till the fulness of time. As the ideal prophet, he speaks of his mouth, the organ of prophetic utterance (see Jeremias 1:9; Isaías 6:7), as made like a sharp swordin virtue of the "word" which Jehovah puts in it (ch.

Isaías 51:16; cf. Hebreos 4:12).

in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me (ch. Isaías 51:16). The metaphor perhaps denotes protection rather than secrecy.

a polished arrow] see Jeremias 51:16.

There is nothing in the verse inconsistent with the idea that the speaker is Israel personified. The fundamental thought, translated into modern language, would be that prophecy is the highest expression of the genius of Israel; and the idealised nation is naturally identified with what is best and most characteristic in its history, and invested with the character of the ideal prophet. And again, Jehovah's hiding of His Servant may express the truth that Israel had been providentially preserved through long ages for the sake of the spiritual endowments which made it the mouthpiece of revelation. The further idea that the real mission of Israel was concealed both from the world and from the nation itself is no doubt true, but is perhaps hardly contained in the figure.