Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Fear not, thou worm Jacob - in a state of contempt and affliction, whom all loathe and tread on: the very expression which Messiah, on the cross, applies to Himself (Psalms 22:6), so completely are the Lord and His people identified and assimilated. 'God's people are as "worms" in humble thoughts of themselves, and in their enemies' haughty thoughts of them: worms, but not vipers, or of the serpent's seed' (Henry).
And ye men of Israel. The parallelism requires the word "men" here, to have associated with the idea of fewness or feebleness (cf. margin.) Lowth translates, 'Ye mortals (Hebrew, mªteey (H4962)) of Israel.' The Septuagint [oligostos Israeel], 'Israel altogether diminutive.' The root is maatay (H4970), to be mortal; and muwt (H4192), death. But the word is often used for men in general.
The Lord - in general.
And thy Redeemer - in particular; a still stronger reason why He should "help" them.