Isaiah 49

“Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of…” Naming Listen keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, mouth, polished. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Naming Israel and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the…” Naming Gentiles and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the LORD , the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD , In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his…” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Naming Zion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include continually, graven, hands. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith…” Naming Lift keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD , Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But thus saith the LORD , Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.