KJV ORIGINAL
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Listen to me, distant islands and nations far away! The LORD called me before I was born; He spoke my name while I was still in my mother's womb.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is declaring that God chose and called him for a special purpose even before he was born.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of the second 'Servant Song' in Isaiah, written during Israel's exile in Babylon (6th century BC). The prophet Isaiah is speaking as God's servant, called to bring hope to the exiled Jewish people and to be a light to all nations. Many scholars see this as both referring to Isaiah's own calling and prophetically pointing to the future Messiah.
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