Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
KJV
Numquid oblivisci potest mulier infantem suum, ut non misereatur filio uteri sui ? Etsi illa oblita fuerit, ego tamen non obliviscar tui.
Vulgate
μὴ ἐπιλήσεται γυνὴ τοῦ παιδίου αὐτῆς, ἢ τοῦ μὴ ἐλεῆσαι τὰ ἔκγονα τῆς κοιλίας αὐτῆς; εἰ δὲ καὶ ταῦτα ἐπιλάθοιτο γυνή, ἀλλ’ ἐγὼ οὐκ ἐπιλήσομαι σοῦ, εἶπεν Κύριος.
LXX
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.
ASV
הֲ/תִשְׁכַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ עוּלָ֔/הּ מֵ/רַחֵ֖ם בֶּן בִּטְנָ֑/הּ גַּם אֵ֣לֶּה תִשְׁכַּ֔חְנָה וְ/אָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א אֶשְׁכָּחֵֽ/ךְ
Hebrew
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In the original Hebrew
10 distinct Hebrew words appear in this verse.
Historic Christian voices
6 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§219God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son. His love for his people is stronger than a mother's for her children. God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved; his love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities and will extend to his most precious gift: "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son."40
§239By calling God "Father", the language of faith indicates two main things: that God is the first origin of everything and transcendent authority; and that he is at the same time goodness and loving care for all his children. God's parental tenderness can also be expressed by the image of motherhood,62 which emphasizes God's immanence, the intimacy between Creator and creature. t…
§370In no way is God in man's image. He is neither man nor woman. God is pure spirit in which there is no place for the difference between the sexes. But the respective "perfections" of man and woman reflect something of the infinite perfection of God: those of a mother and those of a father and husband.241 "Each for the other" - "A unity in two"
2. Now when, as you see, He had demonstrated the greatness of God's providential care, and they were in what follows to be rebuked also, even in this He was sparing, laying to their charge not want, but poverty, of faith. Thus, if God, says He, so clothe the grass of the field, much more you, O you of little faith. Matthew 6:30 And yet surely all these things He Himself works. …
Cross-references
- 1Kgs 3:26 — Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let
- 1Kgs 3:26 — Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let
- 2Kgs 6:28 — And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.
- 2Kgs 11:1 — And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
- Deut 28:57 — And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherew
- Exod 28:29 — And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
- Ezek 16:5 — None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
- Gen 21:6 — And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
- Gen 21:16 — And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wep
- Hos 11:1 — When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
- Isa 44:21 — Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
- Isa 44:21 — Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
- Jer 31:20 — Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the
- Lam 4:10 — The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
- Lam 4:10 — The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
- Luke 11:11 — If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
- Luke 11:13 — If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
- Luke 15:20 — And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
- Mal 3:17 — And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
- Matt 7:11 — If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
- Matt 7:11 — If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
- Prov 31:2 — What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
- Ps 27:10 — When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
- Ps 103:13 — Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.