BibleWord.ai› Bible› Isaiah› Chapter 49› Verse 18

Isaiah 49:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 49:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.
Isaiah 49:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 49

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.
16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
17Thy children make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.
18Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.
19For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land that hath been destroyed, surely now shalt thou be too strait for the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
20The children of thy bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell.
21Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?
← Isaiah 49:17Isaiah 49:19 →
← Full Chapter 49 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold, &c.] Look east, west, north, and south, and behold the flocking converts from all parts; see on (<234912>Isaiah 49:12). The words are spoken to the church, and for her comfort; and so the Targum, “lift up thine eyes round about, O Jerusalem, and see all the children of the people of thy captivity:” all these gather themselves together, and come to thee; though of different nations, and come from different quarters, yet coalesce together, make one body, and join themselves with the church, in which they centre, and are incorporated: as I live, saith the Lord; this is the form of an oath, sometimes used by the Lord, to denote the importance and…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As Zion is often compared to a bride (Isa 54:5), so the accession of converts is like bridal ornaments ("jewels," Isa 62:3; Mal 3:17). Her literal children are, however, more immediately meant, as the context refers to their restoration; and only secondarily to her spiritual children by conversion to Christ. Israel shall be the means of the final complete conversion of the nations (Mic 5:7; Rom 11:12, Rom 11:15). as a bride--namely, binds on her ornaments.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lift up thine eyes round about - That is, see the multitudes that shall be converted to thee; see thy ruined city rise again in its former beauty; see the Gentiles come and yield themselves to the worship of the true God; see kings and princes approach and do thee homage. All these gather themselves - That is, from a far country, from the north, the west, and the south, Isaiah 49:12. As I live, saith the Lord - The customary form of an oath when Yahweh swears It is a solemn assurance that the event shall as certainly occur as he has an existence (see the note at Isaiah 45:23; compare Jeremiah 22:24; Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 14:16, Ezekiel 14:18, Ezekiel 14:20; Ezekiel 16:48). Thou shalt surely…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“These - Gentiles. Thy church shall not only be restored, but vastly enlarged and adorned by the accession of the Gentiles. Isaiah 49:19”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“49:18 like jewels or bridal ornaments: As a wedding calls for festivity and public display, so God’s restoration of Israel would be an open act for all to see (see also 61:10).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lift up: Isa 60:4; Gen 13:14; Mat 13:41, Mat 13:42; Rev 22:15 all these: Isa 49:12, Isa 49:22, Isa 43:5, Isa 43:6, Isa 54:1-3, Isa 60:5-11, Isa 66:12, Isa 66:13, Isa 66:20; Jer 31:8; Gal 3:28, Gal 3:29 As I live: Isa 54:9; Gen 22:16; Heb 6:13-18 thou shalt: Isa 61:10; Pro 17:6 as a bride: Jer 2:32; Rev 21:2 doeth: Bp. Lowth adds from the LXX, "her jewels. Isaiah 49:19”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Isaiah 49 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification