Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
What does Isaiah 49:16 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
Read with
Keep this verse inside Isaiah 49:13-17 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands - This is another argument in answer to the complaint of Zion in Isaiah 49:14 . There have been various interpretations of this passage. Grotius supposes that it refers to a custom of placing some mark or sign on the hand, or on one of the fingers when they wished to remember anything, and appeals to Exodus 13:9 . Lowth supposes that it is an allusion to some practice common among the Jews at that time, of making marks on their hands or arms by means of punctures in the skin with some sign or representation of the city or temple, to show their zeal and affection for it.
Key words
- Behold
-
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,.
- graven
-
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,.
- palms
-
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,.
Context in Isaiah 49
Show chapter context
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.
Related topics
Explore by topic
Passages that speak to human value, being made in God's image, being known and loved by God, and finding identity in Christ.
A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.
Bible verses about suffering and trials
Key passages on grief, endurance, lament, divine mystery, and the Christian claim that suffering is neither final nor meaningless.
Bible verses about justice and mercy
Key texts on public righteousness, neighbor-love, social ethics, compassion, and the prophetic refusal to separate worship from justice.
Key passages on God's unmerited favour, the grace of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and how grace transforms the way believers live.
Glossary
- Jerusalem Place
-
Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.