The Meaning of Isaiah 65:1 Explained

Isaiah 65:1

KJV: I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

YLT: I have been inquired of by those who asked not, I have been found by those who sought Me not, I have said, 'Behold Me, behold Me,' Unto a nation not calling in My name.

Darby: I am sought out of them that inquired not for me, I am found of them that sought me not; I have said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

ASV: I am inquired of by them that asked not for me ; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I am sought  of [them that] asked  not  [for me]; I am found  of [them that] sought  me not:  I said,  Behold me, behold me, unto a nation  [that] was not called  by my name. 

What does Isaiah 65:1 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God replied that He had been gracious in allowing a nation to call on Him-and to obtain responses from Him-since that nation did not normally pray to Him. The Apostle Paul applied this verse to the Gentiles, people to whom God had responded before they called (cf. Romans 10:20). This was the "nation" that Isaiah had in view when he originally gave this prophecy.
"To pray in God"s name means to submit to him and to pray in terms of his revealed character and will." [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:1-12 - A Seed Rescued From Destruction
The prophet now enumerates the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People, and call in the Gentiles to occupy the place and perform the mission which they had despised and forfeited. Paul makes memorable reference to this passage. See Romans 10:20-21. Their gardens were scenes of debauchery; their altars were covered by polluting engravings; they practiced necromancy in the graveyards, and ate swine's flesh, Isaiah 65:3-4. Fortune and destiny were their chosen deities, Isaiah 65:11, r.v. While professing greater holiness than others, the land was filled with abominations.
But the Lord ever discriminates between the righteous and the wicked. Did He not spare Noah and Lot and Caleb? There has always been a faithful remnant, and these become the seed germs of a new nation. Ponder Isaiah 65:8-10. Then ask that your life may be like the new young grapes of the vineyard, on which the blessing of God rests! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:1 mean?

I was sought by not [those who] did ask [for Me] I was found by not [those who] did seek Me I said Here I am here I am to a nation not [that] was called by My name
נִדְרַ֙שְׁתִּי֙ לְל֣וֹא שָׁאָ֔לוּ נִמְצֵ֖אתִי לְלֹ֣א בִקְשֻׁ֑נִי אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ הִנֵּ֣נִי הִנֵּ֔נִי אֶל־ גּ֖וֹי לֹֽא־ קֹרָ֥א בִשְׁמִֽי

נִדְרַ֙שְׁתִּי֙  I  was  sought 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
לְל֣וֹא  by  not 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָׁאָ֔לוּ  [those  who]  did  ask  [for  Me] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
נִמְצֵ֖אתִי  I  was  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
לְלֹ֣א  by  not 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
בִקְשֻׁ֑נִי  [those  who]  did  seek  Me 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הִנֵּ֣נִי  Here  I  am 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
הִנֵּ֔נִי  here  I  am 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
גּ֖וֹי  a  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
קֹרָ֥א  [that]  was  called 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
בִשְׁמִֽי  by  My  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.