Isaías 49:16-26

16 He aquí, en las palmas de mis manos, te he grabado; tus muros están constantemente delante de mí.

17 Tus edificadores se apresuran; tus destructores y tus devastadores se alejarán de ti.

18 Levanta en derredor tus ojos y mira: todos ellos se reúnen, vienen a ti. Vivo yodeclara el SEÑOR que a todos ellos como joyas te los pondrás, y te ceñirás con ellos como una novia.

19 En cuanto a tus lugares desiertos y desolados y tu tierra arruinada, ahora serás ciertamente demasiado estrecha para los moradores, y tus devoradores estarán muy lejos.

20 Todavía te dirán al oído los hijos de los que fuiste privada: "El lugar es muy estrecho para mí; hazme sitio para que yo more aquí."

21 Y dirás en tu corazón: "¿Quién me ha engendrado éstos? Pues yo había sido privada de mis hijos, y era estéril, desterrada y errante. Y a éstos, ¿quién los ha criado? He aquí, yo había sido dejada sola; y éstos, ¿dónde estaban?"

22 Así dice el Señor DIOS: He aquí, levantaré hacia las naciones mi mano, y hacia los pueblos alzaré mi estandarte; traerán a tus hijos en brazos, y tus hijas a hombros serán llevadas.

23 Reyes serán tus tutores, y sus princesas, tus nodrizas. Rostro en tierra te rendirán homenaje y el polvo de tus pies lamerán. Y sabrás que yo soy el SEÑOR, y que no se avergonzarán los que esperan en mí.

24 ¿Se le podrá quitar la presa al poderoso, o rescatar al cautivo del tirano?

25 Ciertamente así dice el SEÑOR: Aun los cautivos del poderoso serán recobrados, y rescatada será la presa del tirano; con el que contienda contigo yo contenderé, y salvaré a tus hijos.

26 Haré comer a tus opresores su propia carne, y como con vino dulce, con su sangre se embriagarán; y toda carne sabrá que yo, el SEÑOR, soy tu Salvador y tu Redentor, el Poderoso de Jacob.

Isaías 49:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 49

This is a prophecy concerning Christ, and redemption by him; and of the enlargement of the church in the latter day, by the conversion of Jews and Gentiles; which the isles, and people afar off, are exhorted to listen and hearken to, delivered out by the prophet, in the person of Christ; who gives an account of his call to his office, and the time of it; of what the Lord did for him, and said unto him, Isa 49:1-3, then follows a complaint of his labouring in vain, and a correction of it, Isa 49:4 and a further declaration of his call and appointment to office, and of each of the parts of the work assigned him, with encouragement to it, Isa 49:5,6. Christ is again represented under discouraging circumstances, as despised of men, abhorred by the nation, and a servant of rulers; who is encouraged by divine promises that kings should rise up before him, and worship him; that God would be faithful to his promise to him, and yet choose him, hear and help him, at a proper time; preserve him, and give him for a covenant to the people, to the establishment of the earth, and making it habitable, Isa 49:7,8 for the release of prisoners, and feeding, leading, and guiding them, and removing all difficulties out of the way, Isa 49:9-11 when the calling of the Gentiles is foretold, which would occasion great joy in the world, Isa 49:12,13 yet the church is introduced as complaining that she was forsaken of God, Isa 49:14 which is denied, and the contrary affirmed; being dear to the Lord as a sucking child to its mother, and more so; never forgotten by him, and always under his care, Isa 49:16, and, for her comfort, she is assured that those who had destroyed and made her waste should be removed; and that she should have converts that would be an ornament to her, and these numerous, insomuch that the place of their habitation would be too strait and narrow, and which would be matter of astonishment to her, Isa 49:17-21 and, besides those that would be converted in the land of Judea, there would be great numbers in the Gentile world converted by the power of God accompanying his Gospel, set up as a standard there, kings and queens countenancing and encouraging the interest of Christ, Isa 49:22,23 and yet still it is questioned whether the church should be delivered from her oppressors, Isa 49:24 to which it is answered, that she should be delivered, and her persecutors destroyed; by which it would be known that the Lord is the Redeemer and Saviour of his people, Isa 49:25,26.