The Meaning of Isaiah 44:2 Explained

Isaiah 44:2

KJV: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

YLT: Thus said Jehovah, thy Maker, and thy Former, From the womb He doth help thee; Fear not, my servant Jacob, And Jeshurun, whom I have fixed on.

Darby: thus saith Jehovah, that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who helpeth thee, Fear not, Jacob, my servant, and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD  that made  thee, and formed  thee from the womb,  [which] will help  thee; Fear  not, O Jacob,  my servant;  and thou, Jesurun,  whom I have chosen. 

What does Isaiah 44:2 Mean?

Study Notes

Jesurun
i.e. upright. Symbolical name of Israel. Deuteronomy 32:15 ; Deuteronomy 33:5 ; Deuteronomy 33:26

Verse Meaning

Yahweh, the covenant God who formed Israel into a nation, would help her. Therefore His chosen servant should not fear (cf. Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 43:1) even though Israel had fallen far short of God"s desires for her. The endearing name "Jeshurun" means "upright one" (cf. Deuteronomy 32:15; Deuteronomy 33:5; Deuteronomy 33:26). Even though Israel had stumbled badly, she was still upright because God had held her up. "Jacob" (deceiver) may represent what Israel was in the past and "Jeshurun" (upright) what she would be in the future.

Context Summary

Isaiah 44:1-11 - "besides Me There Is No God"
What gracious promises are given throughout Scripture, not only to God's children, but to their seed! Here the thirsty soul, longing for love, sympathy, God, is promised an abundant supply. See John 4:13-14; Revelation 22:17. But notice the extreme beauty of the further response, which shall be made by the young followers of our Lord:
One shall say, I am the Lord's, Isaiah 44:5. What ecstasy such a declaration causes to a parent's heart! Young friends, do not be satisfied till you have confessed Christ. Say, I am the Lord's. Another shall write on his hand, unto the Lord; that is, he shall dedicate his hand to do God's work in the world. Oh, to write a similar declaration on every member of our body! Another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord; that is, shall write these words on a blank sheet of paper, and his own name beneath them.
Again we have the conflict with the idols of the heathen, Isaiah 44:6-11. But what chance have their votaries when confronted by the glad and assured testimony of those who have seen the King in His beauty! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 44

1  God comforts the church with his promises
7  The vanity of idols
9  And folly of idol makers
21  He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 44:2 mean?

Thus says Yahweh who made you and formed you from the womb [who] will help you not fear My servant Jacob and you Jeshurun I have chosen whom
כֹּה־ אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ מִבֶּ֖טֶן יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ אַל־ תִּירָא֙ עַבְדִּ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וִישֻׁר֖וּן בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ

כֹּה־  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֨ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עֹשֶׂ֛ךָ  who  made  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥  and  formed  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵר 
Sense: to form, fashion, frame.
מִבֶּ֖טֶן  from  the  womb 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ  [who]  will  help  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: עָזַר  
Sense: to help, succour, support.
תִּירָא֙  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
עַבְדִּ֣י  My  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
וִישֻׁר֖וּן  and  you  Jeshurun 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשֻׁרוּן  
Sense: a symbolic name for Israel describing her ideal character.
בָּחַ֥רְתִּי  I  have  chosen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
בֽוֹ  whom 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular