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King James Version
Isaiah 65:1
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"I helped people who had not come to me for advice. Those who found me were not looking for me. I spoke to a nation that does not use my name. I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!'
The Lord says, "I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!' to a nation that did not call on my name.
I am inquired of by those that didn't ask [for me]; I am found of those that didn't seek me: I said, Look at me, look at me, to a nation that did not call on my name.
The Lord says, "I made myself known to people who were not looking for me. I was found by those who were not asking me for help. I said, ‘Here I am. Here I am,' to a nation that was not praying to me.
"I made myself available to those who did not ask for me; I appeared to those who did not look for me. I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that did not invoke my name.
I am sought by [them that] asked not [for me]; I am found by [them that] sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation [that] was not called by my name.
I am inquired of by those who didn't ask; I am found by those who didn't seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not called by my name.
"I let Myself be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I let Myself be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To the nation [Israel] which did not call on My Name.
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that was not called by my name.
Thei souyten me, that axiden not bifore; thei that souyten not me, founden me. Y seide, Lo! Y, lo! Y, to hethene men that knewen not me, and that clepiden not mi name to help.
I AM inquired of by them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
"I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that did not call My name.
I, the Lord , was ready answer even those who were not asking and to be found by those who were not searching. To a nation that refused to worship me, I said, "Here I am!"
I am inquired of by them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
I have been ready to give an answer to those who did not make prayer to me; I have been offering myself to those who were not searching for me; I said, Here am I, here am I, to a nation which gave no respect to my name.
"I made myself accessible to those who didn't ask for me, I let myself be found by those who didn't seek me. I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation not called by my name.
I am sought out of them that inquired not [for me], I am found of them that sought me not; I have said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
I gave access to them that asked not for Me, I was at hand to them that sought Me not; I said: 'Behold Me, behold Me', unto a nation that was not called by My name.
I am sought of them that asked not for me: I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, vnto a nation that was not called by my name.
"I let Myself be looked for by those who did not ask for Me. I let Myself be found by those who did not look for Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that did not call on My name.
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that did not call on my name.
I haue bene sought of them that asked not: I was found of them that sought me not: I sayd, Beholde me, beholde me, vnto a nation that called not vpon my Name.
I AM sought of those who did not ask for me; I am found of those who sought me not; I said, Here am I, here am I, to a nation that has never called my name.
I have let myself be consulted by them who had not asked, I have suffered myself to be found by them who had not sought me, - I have said, Here I am! Here I am! Unto a nation that had not been called by my name,
They have sought me that before asked not for me, they have found me that sought me not. I said: Behold me, behold me, to a nation that did not call upon my name.
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, "Here am I, here am I," to a nation that did not call on my name.
They seeke me, that hitherto haue not asked for me, they finde me, that hitherto haue not sought me: I haue saide, I am here, I am here, I am founde of a people that neuer called vpon my name.
I became manifest to them that asked not for me; I was found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold, I am here, to a nation, who called not on my name.
The Lord said, "I was ready to answer my people's prayers, but they did not pray. I was ready for them to find me, but they did not even try. The nation did not pray to me, even though I was always ready to answer, ‘Here I am; I will help you.'
“I was sought by those who did not ask;
I am inquired of by those who didn't ask; I am found by those who didn't seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not called by my name.
"I let myself be sought by those who did not ask; I let myself be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am; here I am!' to a nation that did not call on my name;
I have been sought, not by those who asked. I have been found, not by those who sought Me. To a nation not calling on My name, I said, Behold Me! Behold Me!
I have been inquired of by those who asked not, I have been found by those who sought Me not, I have said, `Behold Me, behold Me,' Unto a nation not calling in My name.
They shal seke me, that hitherto haue not axed for me: they shal fynde me, that hither to haue not sought me. Then shal I saye immediatly, to the people that neuer called vpon my name: I am here, I am here.
"I've made myself available to those who haven't bothered to ask. I'm here, ready to be found by those who haven't bothered to look. I kept saying ‘I'm here, I'm right here' to a nation that ignored me. I reached out day after day to a people who turned their backs on me, People who make wrong turns, who insist on doing things their own way. They get on my nerves, are rude to my face day after day, Make up their own kitchen religion, a potluck religious stew. They spend the night in tombs to get messages from the dead, Eat forbidden foods and drink a witch's brew of potions and charms. They say, ‘Keep your distance. Don't touch me. I'm holier than thou.' These people gag me. I can't stand their stench. Look at this! Their sins are all written out— I have the list before me. I'm not putting up with this any longer. I'll pay them the wages They have coming for their sins. And for the sins of their parents lumped in, a bonus." God says so. "Because they've practiced their blasphemous worship, mocking me at their hillside shrines, I'll let loose the consequences and pay them in full for their actions."
"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name.
"I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, "Here I am, here I am,' To a nation that was not called by My name.
"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here am I, here am I,' To a nation which did not call on My name.
"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,'To a nation which did not call on My name.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
I am sought: Isaiah 2:2, Isaiah 2:3, Isaiah 11:10, Isaiah 55:5, Psalms 22:27, Romans 9:24-26, Romans 9:30, Romans 10:20, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:13
Behold: Isaiah 40:9, Isaiah 41:27, Isaiah 45:22, John 1:29
unto: Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 63:19, Hosea 1:10, Zechariah 2:11, Zechariah 8:22, Zechariah 8:23, 1 Peter 2:10
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 22:12 - Here I am 2 Samuel 1:7 - Here am I 2 Samuel 22:44 - a people 2 Chronicles 15:4 - found of them Job 38:35 - Here we are Isaiah 6:8 - Here am I Isaiah 62:12 - Sought out Isaiah 66:19 - that have Amos 9:12 - which are called by my name Luke 13:12 - Woman John 1:36 - Behold John 1:43 - and findeth John 5:6 - Wilt Acts 15:17 - the Gentiles Romans 3:11 - seeketh Romans 9:16 - General Romans 15:21 - General
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I am sought of them that asked not for me,.... That this is a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles is not to be doubted, since the Apostle Paul has quoted it, and applied it to that case, Romans 10:20 and is here mentioned as an aggravation of the sin of the Jews, in rejecting Christ, when the Gentiles received him; and was the reason of their being rejected of God, and the Gospel being taken away from them, and given to another people, and of the Lord's removing his presence from the one to the other. The Gentiles are described as those that "asked not for" Christ, or after him, as the apostle supplies it; they had not asked for him, nor after him, nor anything about him; nor of him "before" this time, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; they were without Christ, the promises and prophecies concerning him; and so had no knowledge of him, nor made any inquiry about him, who or what he was; they did not ask after his coming, or for it; did not desire it, or him, and were in no expectation of it; they asked no favour of him, nor saw any need of him, or worth in him; and yet now he was "sought of them"; or, as the apostle has it, "was made manifest unto them"; and so the Septuagint version; that is, he was manifested to them in the Gospel, and by the ministry of it; which is a revelation of him, of salvation by him, of justification by his righteousness, of peace and pardon by his blood, of atonement by his sacrifice, and of eternal life through him; and the words will bear to be rendered, "I was preached unto them": for from this word are derived others g, which signify an expounder, and an interpretation, or exposition; and this was matter of fact, that Christ was preached to the Gentiles upon the Jews' rejection of him, which is one branch of the mystery of godliness, 1 Timothy 3:16 and upon this he was sought of them: they sought him early and earnestly, and desired to have him and his Gospel preached to them again and again,
Acts 13:42 they sought after the knowledge of him, and for an interest in him, and for all grace from him, righteousness, salvation, and eternal life; and for all the supplies of grace, as all sensible sinners do; this they did as soon as he was made manifest to them by the word, and especially as soon as he was revealed in them, or made manifest in their hearts by his Spirit:
I am found of them that sought me not; that had not sought him before the Gospel came to them; they sought the world, and the thing, of it, "for after all these things do the Gentiles seek"; they sought after the wisdom of the world, the vain philosophy of it; "the Greeks seek after wisdom"; and at most and best they only sought after morality and outward righteousness, but not after Christ, till he was set up in the Gospel as an ensign to them, Isaiah 11:10, but being preached in it, they were set a seeking after him, and "found" him in it, of whom it is full; in the doctrines, promises, and ordinances of it; in whom they found righteousness, life, and salvation, food, and plenty of it, rest, spiritual and eternal, and everlasting glory and happiness:
I said, behold me, behold unto a nation that was not called by my name; which still describes the Gentiles, who formerly were not called the people of God, even those who now are, Hosea 2:23, this Christ says to them in the Gospel, whose eyes he opens by his Spirit, to behold the glory of his person, the riches of his grace, his wondrous love and condescension, the abundance of blessings in him, and the complete salvation he has wrought out for sinners; and the words are repeated to show that Christ is only to be beheld, and is always to be looked unto; as well as it declares the heartiness of Christ, and his willingness that sinners should look unto him, and be saved; and all this is a proof of the preventing grace of God in the conversion of men, he is first in it; before they ask anything of him, or about him, or his Son, he manifests himself; he reveals Christ, bestows his grace, and presents them with the blessings of his goodness. R. Moses the priest, as Aben Ezra observes, interprets this of the nations of the world; and that the sense is,
"even to the Gentiles that are not called by my name I am preached;''
which agrees with the apostle's sense of them; Hosea 2:23- :.
g So, with the Rabbins, ×רש is "to preach"; ××¨×©× is "a preacher";
××¨×©× is "a sermon"; ×רש "the name of a book of sermons"; and
××רש "an exposition"; see Buxtorf. Lex. Rab. col. 583, 584.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
I am sought of them that asked not for me - That is, by the Gentiles. So Paul applies it in Romans 10:20. Lowth translates the word which is rendered, âI am sought,â by âI am made known.â Noyes, âI have heard.â The Septuagint renders it, ÎÌμÏανηÌÏ ÎµÌγενηÌθην EmphaneÌs egeneÌtheÌn - âI became manifest.â Jerome, âThey sought me who had not before inquired for me.â The Chaldee, âI am sought in my word by those who had not asked me before my face.â The Hebrew word ××¨×©× daÌrash means properly âto frequent a place, to search or seekâ; and in the Niphal - the form used here - âto be sought unto, to grant access to anyone; hence, to hear and answer prayerâ Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 20:3-31. Here there is not only the idea that he was sought, but that they obtained access to him, for he listened to their supplications. The phrase, âThat asked not for me,â means that they had not been accustomed to worship the true God. The idea is, that those had obtained mercy who had not been accustomed to call upon him.
I am found of them - Paul has rendered this Romans 10:20, ÎÌμÏανηÌÏ ÎµÌγενοÌμην EmphaneÌs egenomeÌn - âI was made manifest.â The idea is, that they obtained his favor.
I said, Behold me, behold me - I offered them my favor, and invited them to partake of salvation. Paul has omitted this in his quotation.
Unto a nation - This does not refer to any particular nation, but to people who had never been admitted to favor with God.
That was not called by my name - (See the notes at Isaiah 63:19).
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
CHAPTER LXV
We have here a vindication of God's dealings with the Jews,
1, 2.
To this end the prophet points out their great hypocrisy, and
gives a particular enumeration of their dreadful abominations,
many of which were committed under the specious guise of
sanctity, 3-5.
For their horrid impieties, (recorded in writing before
Jehovah,) the wrath of God shall certainly come upon them to
the uttermost; a prediction which was exactly fulfilled in
the first and second centuries in the reigns of the Roman
emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Hadrian, when the whole Jewish
polity was dissolved, and the people dispersed all over the
world, 6, 7.
Though God had rejected the Jews, and called the Gentiles, who
sought him not, (Romans 9:24-26,)
yet a remnant from among the former shall be preserved, to whom
he will in due time make good all his promises, 8-10.
Denunciation of Divine vengeance against those idolaters who
set in order a table for Gad, and fill out a libation to Meni,
ancient idolatries, which, from the context, and from the
chronological order of the events predicted, have a plain
reference to the idolatries practised by Antichrist under the
guise of Christianity, 11, 12.
Dreadful fate which awaits these gross idolaters beautifully
contrasted with the great blessedness reserved for the
righteous, 13-16.
Future restoration of the posterity of Jacob, and the happy
state of the world in general from that most glorious epoch,
represented by the strong figure of the creation of NEW heavens
and a NEW earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, and into which
no distress shall be permitted to enter, 17-19.
In this new state of things the term of human life shall be
greatly protracted, and shall possess none of that uncertainty
which attaches to it in "the heavens and the earth which are
now." This is elegantly illustrated by the longevity of a tree;
manifestly alluding to the oak or cedar of Lebanon, some
individuals of which are known to have lived from seven to ten
centuries, 20-23.
Beautiful figures shadowing forth the profound peace and
harmony of the Church of Jesus Christ, which shall immediately
follow the total overthrow of Antichrist; with a most gracious
promise that the great chain of Omnipotence shall be put upon
every adversary, so that none will be able any longer to hurt
and destroy in all God's holy mountain, 24, 25.
This chapter contains a defence of God's proceedings in regard to the Jews, with reference to their complaint in the chapter preceding. God is introduced declaring that he had called the Gentiles, though they had not sought him; and had rejected his own people for their refusal to attend to his repeated call; for their obstinate disobedience, their idolatrous practices, and detestable hypocrisy. That nevertheless he would not destroy them all; but would preserve a remnant, to whom he would make good his ancient promises. Severe punishments are threatened to the apostates; and great rewards are promised to the obedient in a future flourishing state of the Church. - L.
NOTES ON CHAP. LXV
Verse Isaiah 65:1. I am sought of them that asked not for me "I am made known to those that asked not for me"] × ××¨×©×ª× nidrashti, εμÏÎ±Î½Î·Ï ÎµÎ³ÎµÎ½Î¿Î¼Î·Î½, the Septuagint, Alexandrian, and St. Paul, Romans 10:20; who has however inverted the order of the phrases, εμÏÎ±Î½Î·Ï ÎµÎ³ÎµÎ¿Î¼Î·Î½, "I was made manifest," and ÎµÏ Ïεδην, "I was found," from that which they have in the Septuagint. × ××¨×©×ª× nidrashti means, "I am sought so as to be found." Vitringa. If this be the true meaning of the word, then ש××× shaalu, "that asked," which follows, should seem defective, the verb wanting its object: but two MSS., one of them ancient, have ש×××× × shealuni,"asked me;" and another MS. ש××× ×× shealu li, "asked for me;" one or other of which seems to be right. But Cocceius in Lex., and Vitringa in his translation, render × ××¨×©×ª× nidrashti, by "I have answered;" and so the verb is rendered by all the ancient Versions in Ezekiel 20:3; Ezekiel 20:31. If this be right, the translation will be, "I have answered those that asked not." I leave this to the reader's judgment; but have followed in my translation the Septuagint and St. Paul, and the MSS. above mentioned. ××§×©× × bikeshuni is written regularly and fully in above a hundred MSS. and in the oldest edition, ×קש×× × bikeshuni. - L.
