Isaiah 48:12

12 Jacob and Israel (Jacob, yea, Israel), whom I call(ed), hear thou me; I myself, I am the first, and I am the last.

Isaiah 48:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 48:12

Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called
Called before out of Egypt, and now out of Babylon, and who had the name of God called upon them, and who called upon the name of the Lord; so such who are called with a holy calling, according to the purpose and grace of God, by the Spirit and grace of Christ, unto fellowship with him, to partake of his grace here, and glory hereafter, are styled "the called of Jesus Christ", ( Romans 1:6 ) and who seems to be the person here speaking, as appears from the following clause: and it may be observed, that Jacob and Israel are described here in a different manner from what they are in the beginning of the chapter, since the Lord had declared his designs of grace towards them, and that he had chosen them, and would save them for his name's sake: which they had reason to believe he could and would do, from the account which he gives of himself: and they are called upon to hearken to him, as follows, I am he, I am the first, and I also am the last;
the everlasting I AM, the immutable Jehovah, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first cause and last end of all things; phrases expressive of the self-existence, supremacy, eternity, and immutability of Christ, ( Revelation 1:8 Revelation 1:17 ) , and what is it that such a sovereign, eternal and unchangeable Being cannot do?

Isaiah 48:12 In-Context

10 Lo! I have sodden thee, but not as silver; I chose thee in the chimney of poverty. (Lo! I have tested thee, but not like silver; I chose thee in the furnace of affliction.)
11 I shall do for me, that I be not blasphemed (I shall do it for my own sake, so that I be not blasphemed), and I shall not give my glory to another.
12 Jacob and Israel (Jacob, yea, Israel), whom I call(ed), hear thou me; I myself, I am the first, and I am the last.
13 And mine hand founded the earth, and my right hand meted (the) heavens; I shall call them, and they shall stand (up) together (and when I call them, they stand up at once).
14 All ye be gathered together, and hear; who of them told [out] these things? The Lord loved him, he shall do his will in Babylon, and his arm in Chaldees (and his arm, or his power, shall be upon the Chaldeans).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.