Isaiah 49:21 “Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was…”

Isaiah 49:21

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

World English Bible

Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children and am alone, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought these up? Behold, I was left alone. Where were these?’”

American Standard Version

Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten mee these, seeing I am baren and desolate, a captiue and a wanderer to and from? and who hath nourished them? beholde, I was left alone: whence are these?

Darby Translation

And thou shalt say in thy heart, Who hath borne me these, seeing I had lost my children and was desolate, an exile, and driven about? and who hath brought up these? behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?

Young's Literal Translation

And thou hast said in thy heart: 'Who hath begotten for me — these? And I bereaved and gloomy, A captive, and turned aside, And these — who hath nourished? Lo, I — I was left by myself, these — whence [are] they?

Bible in Basic English

Then you will say in your heart, Who has given me all these children? when my children had been taken from me, and I was no longer able to have others, who took care of these? when I was by myself, where then were these?

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Cross references

“seeing”

Jeremiah 31:15–17 Romans 11:11–17 Romans 11:24 Galatians 3:29 Galatians 4:26–29

Jeremiah 31:15–17 · BSB

This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Romans 11:11–17 · BSB

I ask then, did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Certainly not! However, because of their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

Romans 11:24 · BSB

For if you were cut from a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into one that is cultivated, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

Galatians 3:29 · BSB

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 4:26–29 · BSB

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

“am desolate”

Isaiah 3:26 Isaiah 51:17–20 Isaiah 52:2 Isaiah 54:3–8 Isaiah 60:15 Isaiah 62:4

Isaiah 3:26 · BSB

And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.

Isaiah 51:17–20 · BSB

Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs— the cup that makes men stagger.

Isaiah 52:2 · BSB

Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 54:3–8 · BSB

For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities.

Isaiah 60:15 · BSB

Whereas you have been forsaken and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting pride, a joy from age to age.

Isaiah 62:4 · BSB

No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.

Also

Isaiah 1:8 Isaiah 5:13

Isaiah 1:8 · BSB

And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city besieged.

Isaiah 5:13 · BSB

Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

20Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’

22This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

Read Isaiah 49