Isaiah 49:8

Authorized King James Version

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Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Original Language Analysis

כֹּ֣ה׀ H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 1 of 18
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֣ר Thus saith H559
אָמַ֣ר Thus saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 2 of 18
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֗ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֗ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 3 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּעֵ֤ת time H6256
בְּעֵ֤ת time
Strong's: H6256
Word #: 4 of 18
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
רָצוֹן֙ In an acceptable H7522
רָצוֹן֙ In an acceptable
Strong's: H7522
Word #: 5 of 18
delight (especially as shown)
עֲנִיתִ֔יךָ have I heard H6030
עֲנִיתִ֔יךָ have I heard
Strong's: H6030
Word #: 6 of 18
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
וּבְי֥וֹם thee and in a day H3117
וּבְי֥וֹם thee and in a day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 7 of 18
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יְשׁוּעָ֖ה of salvation H3444
יְשׁוּעָ֖ה of salvation
Strong's: H3444
Word #: 8 of 18
something saved, i.e., (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
עֲזַרְתִּ֑יךָ have I helped H5826
עֲזַרְתִּ֑יךָ have I helped
Strong's: H5826
Word #: 9 of 18
to surround, i.e., protect or aid
וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ thee and I will preserve H5341
וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ thee and I will preserve
Strong's: H5341
Word #: 10 of 18
to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֙ thee and give H5414
וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֙ thee and give
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 11 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לִבְרִ֣ית thee for a covenant H1285
לִבְרִ֣ית thee for a covenant
Strong's: H1285
Word #: 12 of 18
a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)
עָ֔ם of the people H5971
עָ֔ם of the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 13 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
לְהָקִ֣ים to establish H6965
לְהָקִ֣ים to establish
Strong's: H6965
Word #: 14 of 18
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אֶ֔רֶץ the earth H776
אֶ֔רֶץ the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 15 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לְהַנְחִ֖יל to cause to inherit H5157
לְהַנְחִ֖יל to cause to inherit
Strong's: H5157
Word #: 16 of 18
to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate
נְחָל֥וֹת heritages H5159
נְחָל֥וֹת heritages
Strong's: H5159
Word #: 17 of 18
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃ the desolate H8074
שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃ the desolate
Strong's: H8074
Word #: 18 of 18
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)

Cross References

2 Corinthians 6:2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)Isaiah 42:6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;Psalms 69:13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.Isaiah 61:4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.Hebrews 12:24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.Isaiah 51:16And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Isaiah 58:12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.Isaiah 44:26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:Isaiah 26:3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Analysis & Commentary

God's promise 'in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee' establishes divine timing as crucial - not when we demand but when God deems 'acceptable.' Paul quotes this in 2 Corinthians 6:2 ('now is the accepted time...now is the day of salvation'), applying the Servant's experience to gospel proclamation. The Servant mediates covenant renewal: 'give thee for a covenant of the people.'

Historical Context

The 'acceptable time' for Christ was the crucifixion moment - not when triumphal-entry crowds wanted Him crowned, but when Father ordained sin-bearing. This teaches that God's timing, though mysterious, is always perfect for redemptive purposes.

Questions for Reflection

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