Isaiah 49:1-3

The call and equipment of the Servant by Jehovah. The nations of the world are addressed, because the great announcement that the speaker has to make (Isaiah 49:6) concerns them. Although Jeremiah had already been conscious of being a "prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5), the self-consciousness here attributed to the Servant is too great to be that of any private individual, whether prophet or teacher.

O isles see on ch. Isaiah 41:1. For peoplerender peoples (R.V.).

the Lord hath called me(Isaiah 42:6 &c.) from the womb Cf. ch. Isaiah 44:2; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 46:3, where the same metaphor is used of the beginning of the nation's history. made mention of my name Cf. Isaiah 43:1.