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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/51-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/23_Isa_51_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 51:2 - Salvation for Zion" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/51-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/51-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/51.htm">Chapter 51</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/51-1.htm" title="Isaiah 51:1">◄</a> Isaiah 51:2 <a href="/isaiah/51-3.htm" title="Isaiah 51:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/51.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/51.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/51.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/51.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/51.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/51.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah <i>that</i> bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/51.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah <i>who</i> bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/51.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When <i>he</i> <i>was only</i> one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/51.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/51.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When <i>he</i> <i>was</i> one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/51.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who brought you forth through labor pains; When <i>he</i> <i>was but</i> one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/51.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; For I called him when <i>he was but</i> one, Then I blessed him and made him many.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/51.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave birth to you. When I called him, he was only one; I blessed him and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/51.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain. When I called him, he was only one; I blessed him and made him many. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/51.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/51.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God chose Abraham and Sarah to be your ancestors. The LORD blessed Abraham, and from that one man came many descendants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/51.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/51.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Look to Abraham, your ancestor, and to Sarah, from whom you are descended. When I called Abraham, he was childless. I blessed him and gave him many descendants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/51.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Think of your ancestor, Abraham, and of Sarah, from whom you are descended. When I called Abraham, he was childless, but I blessed him and gave him children; I made his descendants numerous. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/51.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. For when he was only one person I called him, but I made him fruitful and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/51.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Look at Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who gave you birth. When I summoned him, he was a lone individual, but I blessed him and gave him numerous descendants. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/51.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/51.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/51.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/51.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, I blessed him, and made him many. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/51.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Look attentively to your father Abraham, "" And to Sarah—she brings you forth, "" For—one—I have called him, "" And I bless him, and multiply him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/51.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Look attentively unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah -- she bringeth you forth, For -- one -- I have called him, And I bless him, and multiply him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/51.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah bringing you forth: for one I called him, and I will bless him, and I will increase him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/51.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Look unto Abraham your father, and to Sara that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and multiplied him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/51.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Pay attention to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who bore you. For I called him alone, and I blessed him, and I multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/51.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth; Though he was but one when I called him, I blessed him and made him many. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/51.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/51.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who conceived you; for he was alone, and I called him and blessed him and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/51.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Gaze to Abraham your Father and to Sara who conceived you, for he was alone and I called him and I blessed him and I increased him<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/51.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Look unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah that bore you; For when he was but one I called him, And I blessed him, and made him many.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/51.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Look to Abraam your father, and to Sarrha that bore you: for he was alone when I called him, and blessed him, and loved him, and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/51-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=11403" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/51.htm">Salvation for Zion</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5027.htm" title="5027: hab·bî·ṭū (V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- To look. A primitive root; to scan, i.e. Look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care.">Look</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/85.htm" title="85: ’aḇ·rā·hām (N-proper-ms) -- Contracted from 'ab and an unused root; father of a multitude; Abraham, the later name of Abram.">Abraham</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ă·ḇî·ḵem (N-msc:: 2mp) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">your father,</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: wə·’el- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">and to</a> <a href="/hebrew/8283.htm" title="8283: śā·rāh (N-proper-fs) -- Princess, a wife of Abraham. The same as sarah; Sarah, Abraham's wife.">Sarah</a> <a href="/hebrew/2342.htm" title="2342: tə·ḥō·w·lel·ḵem (V-Piel-Imperf-3fs:: 2mp) -- Or chiyl; a primitive root; properly, to twist or whirl, i.e. to dance, to writhe in pain or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert.">who gave you birth.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">When</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: qə·rā·ṯîw (V-Qal-Perf-1cs:: 3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">I called him,</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">he was but one;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1288.htm" title="1288: wa·’ă·ḇā·rə·ḵê·hū (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjImperf-1cs:: 3ms) -- To kneel, bless. A primitive root; to kneel; by implication to bless God, and man; also to curse.">then I blessed him</a> <a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: wə·’ar·bê·hū (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjImperf-1cs:: 3ms) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">and multiplied him.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-1.htm">Genesis 12:1-3</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-4.htm">Genesis 17:4-6</a></span><br />“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. / No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. / I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-1.htm">Romans 4:1-3</a></span><br />What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? / If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. / For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-8.htm">Hebrews 11:8-12</a></span><br />By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5-6</a></span><br />And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” / Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/3-6.htm">Galatians 3:6-9</a></span><br />So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” / Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17-18</a></span><br />I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/9-7.htm">Romans 9:7-8</a></span><br />Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/18-18.htm">Genesis 18:18</a></span><br />Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-9.htm">Matthew 3:9</a></span><br />And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/21-12.htm">Genesis 21:12</a></span><br />But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-8.htm">Luke 3:8</a></span><br />Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/24-1.htm">Genesis 24:1</a></span><br />By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-39.htm">John 8:39</a></span><br />“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/25-11.htm">Genesis 25:11</a></span><br />After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.</p><p class="hdg">unto Abraham</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-1.htm">Genesis 15:1,2</a></b></br> After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I <i>am</i> thy shield, <i>and</i> thy exceeding great reward… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-11.htm">Genesis 18:11-13</a></b></br> Now Abraham and Sarah <i>were</i> old <i>and</i> well stricken in age; <i>and</i> it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/24-3.htm">Joshua 24:3</a></b></br> And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.</p><p class="hdg">for</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-1.htm">Genesis 12:1-3</a></b></br> Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-14.htm">Genesis 13:14-17</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/15-4.htm">Genesis 15:4,5</a></b></br> And, behold, the word of the LORD <i>came</i> unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/41-8.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-21.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-22.htm">Attentively</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-9.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-20.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/isaiah/19-25.htm">Bless</a> <a href="/isaiah/32-20.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/isaiah/45-7.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/isaiah/49-21.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/isaiah/47-15.htm">Great</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-19.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-3.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-3.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/isaiah/42-14.htm">Pain</a> <a href="/numbers/26-46.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-18.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-5.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/isaiah/50-10.htm">Voice</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/63-16.htm">Abraham</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Alone</a> <a href="/isaiah/63-5.htm">Attentively</a> <a href="/isaiah/52-10.htm">Bare</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-4.htm">Birth</a> <a href="/isaiah/65-16.htm">Bless</a> <a href="/isaiah/56-2.htm">Blessed</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-9.htm">Blessing</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-18.htm">Bore</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-10.htm">Great</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Increased</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-12.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-9.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-4.htm">Pain</a> <a href="/romans/9-9.htm">Sarah</a> <a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/isaiah/51-3.htm">Voice</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 51</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-1.htm">An exhortation after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-3.htm">By reason of his comfortable promises,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-4.htm">Of his righteous salvation</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-7.htm">And man's mortality</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-9.htm">Christ by his sanctified arm defends his from the fear of man</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-17.htm">He bewails the afflictions of Jerusalem</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/51-21.htm">And promises deliverance</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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His story begins in <a href="/genesis/12.htm">Genesis 12</a>, where God calls him to leave his homeland and promises to make him a great nation. Abraham's faith and obedience are highlighted in <a href="/hebrews/11-8.htm">Hebrews 11:8-12</a>, where he is commended for trusting God's promises despite not seeing their fulfillment in his lifetime. This phrase encourages the Israelites to remember their spiritual heritage and the faith of their forefather, who trusted God against all odds.<p><b>and to Sarah who gave you birth</b><br>Sarah, Abraham's wife, is a key figure in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Despite her initial barrenness, God miraculously enabled her to conceive Isaac, as recounted in <a href="/genesis/21.htm">Genesis 21</a>. This event is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, serving as a reminder that God's promises often come to fruition in unexpected ways. Sarah's story is also referenced in the New Testament, particularly in <a href="/galatians/4-22.htm">Galatians 4:22-31</a>, where Paul uses her as an allegory for the new covenant of grace.<p><b>When I called him, he was but one</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the humble beginnings of Abraham. When God called him, he was a solitary individual without a nation or descendants. This highlights the miraculous nature of God's work in transforming Abraham into the father of many nations. It underscores the theme of divine election and grace, where God chooses and uses the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes, as seen in <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">1 Corinthians 1:27-29</a>.<p><b>then I blessed him and multiplied him</b><br>God's blessing on Abraham is a central theme in the biblical narrative. The promise of multiplication is first given in <a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a> and reiterated in <a href="/genesis/15-5.htm">Genesis 15:5</a>, where God tells Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. This multiplication is both physical, through the nation of Israel, and spiritual, as all believers are considered Abraham's offspring through faith (<a href="/galatians/3-29.htm">Galatians 3:29</a>). This phrase also points to the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, demonstrating His faithfulness and sovereignty in history.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/a/abraham.htm">Abraham</a></b><br>Known as the father of faith, Abraham is a central figure in the Bible. God called him to leave his homeland and promised to make him a great nation, despite his old age and initial childlessness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/s/sarah.htm">Sarah</a></b><br>The wife of Abraham, Sarah is significant for her role in the fulfillment of God's promise. She gave birth to Isaac in her old age, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god's_call.htm">God's Call</a></b><br>The event of God calling Abraham is pivotal. It marks the beginning of the covenant relationship between God and Abraham's descendants, which is foundational to the account of the Israelites.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_promises.htm">Faith in God's Promises</a></b><br>Abraham and Sarah's account is a testament to the power of faith. Despite their circumstances, they trusted in God's promises, which encourages us to have faith even when situations seem impossible.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_timing.htm">God's Sovereignty and Timing</a></b><br>God's timing is perfect, as seen in the birth of Isaac. We are reminded to trust in God's plan and timing, even when it doesn't align with our own expectations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_one.htm">The Power of One</a></b><br>God can use a single individual to bring about great change. Abraham was one man, yet through him, God established a nation. This encourages us to be open to God's calling, knowing He can use us mightily.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/legacy_of_faith.htm">Legacy of Faith</a></b><br>Abraham and Sarah's faith left a legacy that impacted generations. Our faith and actions today can have a lasting impact on future generations.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_51.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 51</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_abraham_israel's_sole_ancestor.htm">In Isaiah 51:2, how can Abraham be considered the sole origin of a great nation if other historical accounts suggest multiple ancestral lines for Israel? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jesus_say_not_to_call_anyone_'father'.htm">Why does Jesus tell people not to call anyone "father" (Matthew 23:9), yet the Bible refers to Abraham as "our father" (Romans 4:16)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_abraham_important_in_the_bible.htm">Why is Abraham significant in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_could_sarah_bear_a_child_at_her_age.htm">What evidence supports the claim that Sarah, at her advanced age, could bear a child as promised (Genesis 17:15-16)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/51.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">I called him alone.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">as one. </span>If so great a nation had sprung from one man (<a href="/hebrews/11-12.htm" title="Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.">Hebrews 11:12</a>), so would God out of the faithful remnant once more create a people. (Comp. <a href="/ezekiel/33-24.htm" title="Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.">Ezekiel 33:24</a>, where the exiles arc represented as boastfully inverting the argument: "Abraham was one, and we are many; therefore we shall prosper, the chances are in our favour.")<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/51.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">I called him alone</span>; or, I <span class="accented">called him when he was but ode</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> before he had any children (comp. <a href="/ezekiel/33-24.htm">Ezekiel 33:24</a>, "Abraham was one, and he inherited the land"). <span class="cmt_word">And blessed him</span> (see <a href="/genesis/24-1.htm">Genesis 24:1, 35</a><span class="cmt_word">). And increased him</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "made him a father of many nations" (<a href="/genesis/17-5.htm">Genesis 17:5</a>). If God could multiply the progeny of ode man, much more could he make a flourishing nation out of the exiles, who, though but a "remnant" of the pro-Captivity Israel, were yet many thousands in number (see <a href="/ezra/2-64.htm">Ezra 2:64</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/51-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Look</span><br /><span class="heb">הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙</span> <span class="translit">(hab·bî·ṭū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5027.htm">Strong's 5027: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scan, look intently at, to regard</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Abraham</span><br /><span class="heb">אַבְרָהָ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(’aḇ·rā·hām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_85.htm">Strong's 85: </a> </span><span class="str2">Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your father,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲבִיכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḇî·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and to</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Sarah</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8283.htm">Strong's 8283: </a> </span><span class="str2">Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who bore you.</span><br /><span class="heb">תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(tə·ḥō·w·lel·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2342.htm">Strong's 2342: </a> </span><span class="str2">To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert</span><br /><br /><span class="word">When</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I called him,</span><br /><span class="heb">קְרָאתִ֔יו</span> <span class="translit">(qə·rā·ṯîw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> </span><span class="str2">To call, proclaim, read</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he was but one;</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָ֣ד</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">then I blessed him</span><br /><span class="heb">וַאֲבָרְכֵ֖הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(wa·’ă·ḇā·rə·ḵê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1288.htm">Strong's 1288: </a> </span><span class="str2">To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and multiplied him.</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַרְבֵּֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ar·bê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/51-2.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/51-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 51:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 51:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/51-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 51:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 51:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>