The Meaning of Isaiah 49:25 Explained

Isaiah 49:25

KJV: But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

YLT: For thus said Jehovah: Even the captive of the mighty is taken, And the prey of the terrible is delivered, And with thy striver I strive, and thy sons I save.

Darby: For thus saith Jehovah: Even the captive of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; and I will strive with him that striveth with thee, and I will save thy children.

ASV: But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But thus saith  the LORD,  Even the captives  of the mighty  shall be taken away,  and the prey  of the terrible  shall be delivered:  for I will contend  with him that contendeth  with thee, and I will save  thy children. 

What does Isaiah 49:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh replied that He would indeed save the Israelites" descendants from their tyrannical captors even though that would be humanly impossible. He is stronger than they.

Context Summary

Isaiah 49:14-26 - The Lord Cannot Forget His Own
These assurances were given to the chosen race on the eve of their return from Babylon. They were timid and reluctant to quit the familiar scenes of their captivity; they dreaded the dangers and privations of their way home, and questioned whether the great empire of their captors would ever let them go or allow their city to rise from its ruins. Therefore the Lord's voice takes on a tone of unusual persuasiveness. Let us ponder His assurances of compassion and comfort, Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 49:15-16.
He will lead us with a shepherd's care, Isaiah 49:10. He will make obstacles subserve His purpose, Isaiah 49:11. His love is more than motherhood, Isaiah 49:15. He treasures the remembrance of His own, Isaiah 49:16. Zion thinks herself cast away as a derelict, Isaiah 49:14, but such is not the case. Even her broken walls are ever before God, with a view to their rebuilding, Isaiah 49:19, etc. God's love is stronger than our strongest enemies, Isaiah 49:25, etc. Let us hide in it, standing above the fears that compose the cloudland of our soul, in the upper peaks of a strong faith. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 49

1  Christ being sent to the Jews, complains of them
5  He is sent to the Gentiles with gracious promises
13  God's love is perpetual to his church
18  The ample restoration of the church
24  The powerful deliverance out of captivity

What do the individual words in Isaiah 49:25 mean?

but thus says Yahweh Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible be delivered for with him who contends with you I will contend and your children will save
כִּי־ כֹ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה גַּם־ שְׁבִ֤י גִבּוֹר֙ יֻקָּ֔ח וּמַלְק֥וֹחַ עָרִ֖יץ יִמָּלֵ֑ט וְאֶת־ יְרִיבֵךְ֙ אָנֹכִ֣י אָרִ֔יב וְאֶת־ בָּנַ֖יִךְ אוֹשִֽׁיעַ

כֹ֣ה ׀  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
גַּם־  Even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
שְׁבִ֤י  the  captives 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁבִי 
Sense: captivity, captives.
גִבּוֹר֙  of  the  mighty 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
יֻקָּ֔ח  shall  be  taken  away 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
וּמַלְק֥וֹחַ  and  the  prey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַלְקֹוחַ 
Sense: booty, prey.
עָרִ֖יץ  of  the  terrible 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָרִיץ  
Sense: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty.
יִמָּלֵ֑ט  be  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.
יְרִיבֵךְ֙  with  him  who  contends  with  you 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: יָרִיב  
Sense: contender, opponent, adversary.
אָרִ֔יב  will  contend 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רִיב  
Sense: to strive, contend.
בָּנַ֖יִךְ  your  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אוֹשִֽׁיעַ  will  save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.