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.
Messiah, as the ideal Israel (Isaiah 49:3), states the object of His mission, His want of success for a time, yet His certainty of ultimate success.
Listen, O isles, unto me. Messiah is here regarded as having been rejected by the Jews (Isaiah 49:4-5), and as now turning to the Gentiles, to whom the Father hath given Him 'for a light and salvation.' "Isles" mean all regions beyond sea.
The Lord hath called me from the womb - (Isaiah 44:2; Luke 1:31; John 10:36.)
From the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name - His name "Jesus" (i:e., God-Saviour) was designated by God before His birth (Matthew 1:21).