Isaiah 49:9
That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
Original Language Analysis
לַֽאֲסוּרִים֙
to the prisoners
H631
לַֽאֲסוּרִים֙
to the prisoners
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
2 of 12
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
צֵ֔אוּ
Go forth
H3318
צֵ֔אוּ
Go forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
3 of 12
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בַּחֹ֖שֶׁךְ
to them that are in darkness
H2822
בַּחֹ֖שֶׁךְ
to them that are in darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
5 of 12
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
הִגָּל֑וּ
Shew
H1540
הִגָּל֑וּ
Shew
Strong's:
H1540
Word #:
6 of 12
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דְּרָכִ֣ים
in the ways
H1870
דְּרָכִ֣ים
in the ways
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
8 of 12
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
יִרְע֔וּ
yourselves They shall feed
H7462
יִרְע֔וּ
yourselves They shall feed
Strong's:
H7462
Word #:
9 of 12
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
וּבְכָל
H3605
וּבְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Isaiah 42:7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.Isaiah 42:16And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.Isaiah 61:1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;Isaiah 41:18I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.Isaiah 9:2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.Luke 4:18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Historical Context
Immediate fulfillment came through Cyrus's decree freeing exiles, but ultimate fulfillment is spiritual release from sin's bondage. Jesus' ministry consistently freed those imprisoned by demonic, physical, and spiritual oppression.
Questions for Reflection
- From what prisons (sin, fear, addiction, shame) has Christ's word freed you?
- How can you participate in Christ's mission of releasing others from spiritual imprisonment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The commission to 'say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves' describes the gospel's liberating power. Prisoners cannot free themselves; the Servant's authoritative word releases them. The promise 'they shall feed in the ways' depicts abundant provision - not mere survival but thriving. This anticipates Jesus' proclamation of 'liberty to the captives' (Luke 4:18) and 'I am the door' imagery (John 10:9).