Isaiah 49:2

2 He made my words as sharp as a sword. 1 With his own hand he protected me. He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use.

Isaiah 49:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 49:2

And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword
Or,

``he hath put his words in my mouth as a sharp sword,''
as the Targum; namely, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and is sharper than a twoedged sword, and is said to come out of the mouth of Christ, ( Ephesians 6:17 ) ( Hebrews 4:12 ) ( Revelation 1:16 ) , with which he pierces into and cuts the hearts of men, and lays open all their sin and unrighteousness, and cuts down the worst and best in men, and slays all his enemies; so his mouth was as a sharp sword in the days of his flesh, to inveigh against the sins and to refute the errors of the Scribes and Pharisees; as it will be, in the latter day, to smite the nations of the earth, ( Revelation 19:15 Revelation 19:21 ) : "in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me"; in his counsels and purposes of old, and in his providence;
``in the shadow of his power hath he protected me,''
as the Targum; thus he hid, and protected him from Herod's cruelty in his infancy; and from the rage and malice of the Scribes and Pharisees, who sought often to lay hands on him, and take away his life before his time. The Jews talk very much of the Messiah's being hid under the throne of glory. Aben Ezra's remark, that the phrase, "he hath hid me", answers to the scabbard of a sword, before mentioned, is not amiss: and made me a polished shaft;
or, "choice arrow" F19; which being polished at the point, or well oiled, and shining, pierces the deeper, So the doctrines of Christ, the words of his mouth, are compared to bright and sharp arrows, which make cutting work, and give great pain where they come; as they sometimes do like arrows, swiftly, suddenly, and with great force and power, ( Psalms 45:5 ) . Kimchi observes, that he speaks of a sharp sword with respect to the Jews that were near, where a sword could reach them; and of a polished shaft or arrow with respect to the Gentiles afar off, which must be cast after them: in his quiver hath he hid me,
meaning his secret purposes, and his powerful protection, as before; which he compares to a quiver, a case in which arrows are put, because mention had been made of a polished shaft or arrow before.
FOOTNOTES:

F19 (rwrb Ux) (belov eklekton) Sept. "sagittam electam", V. L. "telum electum", Cocceius; "sagittam nitidam vel electam", Vitringa.

Isaiah 49:2 In-Context

1 Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before I was born, the Lord chose me and appointed me to be his servant.
2 He made my words as sharp as a sword. With his own hand he protected me. He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use.
3 He said to me, "Israel, you are my servant; because of you, people will praise me."
4 I said, "I have worked, but how hopeless it is! I have used up my strength, but have accomplished nothing." Yet I can trust the Lord to defend my cause; he will reward me for what I do.
5 Before I was born, the Lord appointed me; he made me his servant to bring back his people, to bring back the scattered people of Israel. The Lord gives me honor; he is the source of my strength.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 49.2Hebrews 4.12;Revelation 1.16.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. With his own hand . . . me; [or] He kept me hidden in his hand.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.