I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
Parallel translations
- WEB I am the first to say to Zion, ‘Behold, look at them;’ and I will give one who brings good news to Jerusalem.
- KJV The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
- NKJV The first time I said to Zion, ‘Look, there they are!’ And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings.
- NASB “Previously I said to Zion, ‘Behold, here they are.’ And to Jerusalem, ‘I will give a messenger of good news.’
- NLT I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look! Help is on the way!’ I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God is the first to bring good news of deliverance to Zion and Jerusalem.
Overview
In contrast to the silent idols, God Himself heralds salvation to His people, providing a messenger of good tidings. He is the originator of the gospel of comfort to Zion. This anticipates the announcement of redemption ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the bearer of good news.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 40:9Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Isa 52:7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
- Isa 44:28who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
- Nah 1:15Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.
- Isa 48:3I foretold the former things long ago; they came out of My mouth and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
- Ezra 1:1–2In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:
- Rom 10:15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
- Isa 43:10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.
- Luke 2:10–11But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
- Isa 48:12Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.
- Isa 41:4Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”
- Isa 44:6Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
- Rev 2:8To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 41:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.