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Isaiah 49:25

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 49:25 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Isaiah 49:25 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 49

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
23And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame.
24Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered?
25But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
26And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
← Isaiah 49:24Isaiah 49:26 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But thus saith the Lord, &c.] In answer to the above objection, being mightier than the mighty, and stronger than he by whom his people are detained, being the Almighty: even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; or, “the prey of the violent ones”f990; which is an answer both as to might and right; as to might, though they are the captives of the mighty, yet they shall be taken away from them by him that is mightier than they, even the mighty God; and as to right, they are the prey of persons that have by force and violence usurped a power over them, and therefore shall be delivered; as the Lord’s people are out of the hands of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Isa 53:12; Psa 68:18; Col 2:15). contend with him, &c.-- (Isa 54:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But thus saith the Lord - The meaning of this verse is, that however difficult or impracticable this might seem to be, yet it should be done. The captives taken by the terrible and the mighty should be rescued, and should be restored to their own land. Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘The captivity of the mighty.’ That which could not have been rescued by any ordinary means. The language here refers undoubtedly to Babylon, and to the captivity of the Jews there. The prey of the terrible - Of a nation formidable, cruel, and not inclined to compassion; in the previous verse described as ‘just,’ that is, indisposed to mercy. For I will contend with him -…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For I - I the almighty God will undertake this work. Next: Isaiah Chapter 50”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“49:25 The Lord is like a warrior who will fight to protect his children, as promised to Abraham (Gen 12:3; see also Isa 54:15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Even: Isa 10:27, Isa 52:2-5; Jer 29:10, Jer 50:17-19, Jer 50:33, Jer 50:34; Zac 9:11; Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15; Jo1 3:8 captives: Heb. captivity I will contend: Isa 41:11, Isa 41:12, Isa 54:15-17; Gen 12:3; Num 23:8, Num 23:9; Jer 51:35, Jer 51:36; Zac 9:13-16; Zac 12:3-6, Zac 14:3, Zac 14:12; Rom 8:31-39; Rev 18:20 I will save: Isa 54:13; Gal 4:26 Isaiah 49:26”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification