Isaiah 49:1-7

Hebrew Key Terms:

• H7121 קָרָא (qara) - "called" - The Servant is called from the womb, chosen before birth
• H216 אוֹר (or) - "light" - The Servant becomes a light to the nations
• H3444 יְשׁוּעָה (yeshuah) - "salvation" - God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth through the Servant
• H7999 שָׁלוֹם (shalom) - "restore" - The Servant's mission is to restore Israel and extend salvation to nations

Context: Isaiah 49:1-7 is the second Servant Song, revealing the Servant's identity crisis and expanded mission. The Servant is called "Israel" (49:3) yet has a mission to restore Israel (49:5-6), creating a tension resolved only in one who embodies true Israel.

OT-to-OT Development:

• Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" - Jeremiah's prenatal calling prefigures the Servant called from the womb
• Isaiah 42:6: First Servant Song promised "covenant for the people, light for nations"—now expanded to explicit mission beyond Israel's restoration
• Isaiah 60:1-3: Zion told to "arise, shine, for your light has come"—develops the light-to-nations theme

Connections:

• TO (Earlier OT): Jeremiah 1:5 (called from womb); Genesis 12:3 (blessing to all nations); Exodus 19:6 (Israel as kingdom of priests)
• FROM OT (Later OT): Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (Servant's suffering for nations); Isaiah 60:1-3 (light to nations); Zechariah 8:20-23 (nations seek God)
• FROM NT:
• Luke 2:32 - Simeon quotes "light to Gentiles"
• Acts 13:47 - Paul applies to missionary calling
• Galatians 1:15 - Paul called from womb

Christological Connection: Jesus is the Servant called from the womb (Luke 1:31-35), who perfectly embodies Israel's identity and accomplishes Israel's mission. Where corporate Israel failed to be "a light to the nations," Jesus succeeds. He experiences the Servant's initial rejection ("labored in vain") during His earthly ministry when Israel rejects Him, yet is vindicated through resurrection. Simeon recognizes infant Jesus as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), quoting this passage. Paul and Barnabas apply Isaiah 49:6 to their Gentile mission (Acts 13:47), showing that Christ's salvation reaches "to the ends of the earth" through gospel proclamation.

Connection Method(s): Promise-Fulfillment; Typology (Direct, Forward-Looking) — The second Servant Song reveals the Servant's mission extends beyond restoring Israel to being "a light for the nations," directly fulfilled in Christ whose salvation reaches the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47; Luke 2:32).

Trajectory Table: 155 - Suffering Servant (Vicarious Atonement)