Isaiah 41:27 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The first shall say, &c. Hebrew, ראשׁון לציון, literally, first, or the first to Zion; which words some interpret thus: I, who am the first, (Isaiah 41:4,) do and will foretel to my people things to come. Behold, behold them I represent things future (namely, the rise of Cyrus, and the deliverance of my people from Babylon by him) as if they were present, and to be beheld with men's bodily eyes. Behold the wonderful works which God hath wrought for you: or, Behold my people returning to their ancient habitations. Bishop Lowth, who observes, “The verse is somewhat obscure by the transposition of the parts of the sentence,” translates it thus: I first to Zion, (gave the word,) Behold, they are here; And to Jerusalem I give the messenger of good tidings. The sense of which he says is, “I first, by my prophets, give notice of these events, saying, Behold, they are at hand! I give to Jerusalem,” &c.