Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
What does Isaiah 49:15 mean?
Let there be universal joy, for God will have mercy upon the afflicted, because of his compassion; upon his afflicted, because of his covenant.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Isaiah 49:13-17 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child? - The design of this verse is apparent. It is to show that the love which God has for his people is stronger than that which is produced by the most tender ties created by any natural relation. The love of a mother for her infant child is the strongest attachment in nature. The question here implies that it was unusual for a mother to be unmindful of that tie, and to forsake the child that she should nourish and love.
Key words
- woman
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Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?.
- forget
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Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?.
- sucking
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Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?.
Context in Isaiah 49
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Isaiah 49 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as comfort and the servant songs. Isaiah is one of Scripture’s grandest prophetic books, moving from holy judgment to consolation, servant imagery, and new-creation hope. Read this chapter with the wider themes of holiness, judgment, and remnant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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