Isaiah 51:2

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave birth to you. When I called him, he was one person, and I blessed him and made him many.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֣ם אֲבִיכֶ֔ם וְאֶל־שָׂרָ֖ה תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶ֑ם כִּי־אֶחָ֣ד קְרָאתִ֔יו וַאֲבָרְכֵ֖הוּ וְאַרְבֵּֽהוּ

Transliteration

habbiṭû to-'abrāhām 'ăbîkem and-to-śārâ təḥôleləkem kî-'eḥād qərā'tîw wa'ăbārəkēhû wə'arbēhû

Grammar Details

• *habbiṭû*: imperative, masculine plural, Hiphil - look at/consider
• *'abrāhām*: proper noun, masculine - Abraham
• *'ăbîkem*: common noun, masculine singular construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your father
• *śārâ*: proper noun, feminine - Sarah
• *təḥôleləkem*: Polel imperfect, 3rd person feminine singular with 2nd person masculine plural suffix - she bore/gave birth to you
• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *'eḥād*: numeral/adjective - one/alone
• *qərā'tîw*: Qal perfect, 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - I called him
• *wa'ăbārəkēhû*: waw consecutive + Piel imperfect, 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - and I blessed him
• *wə'arbēhû*: waw consecutive + Hiphil imperfect, 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - and I multiplied him

Word Meanings

• *təḥôleləkem*: bore you/gave birth to you/brought you forth
• *'eḥād*: one/alone/single

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Look{H5027} unto Abraham{H85} your father,{H1} and unto Sarah{H8283} that bare{H2342} you; for when he was but one{H259} I called{H7121} him, and I blessed{H1288} him, and made him many.{H7235}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Look{H5027}{(H8685)} unto Abraham{H85} your father{H1}, and unto Sarah{H8283} that bare{H2342}{(H8787)} you: for I called{H7121}{(H8804)} him alone{H259}, and blessed{H1288}{(H8762)} him, and increased{H7235}{(H8686)} him.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Considre Abraham youre father, & Sara that bare you: how that I called him alone, prospered him wel, & encreased him:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Consider Abraham your father, and Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Consider Abraham your father, and Sara that bare you, how that I called hym alone, and blessed hym, and encreased hym.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Let your thoughts be turned to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth: for when he was but one, my voice came to him, and I gave him my blessing, and made him a great people.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.

Referenced Verses

• Ezek 33:24 : 24 Son of man, the people living in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he inherited the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.'
• Gal 3:9-9 : 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' 12 The law is not based on faith; instead, it says, 'The person who does these things will live by them.' 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.' 14 He redeemed us so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
• Heb 11:8-9 : 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
• Rom 4:1-5 : 1 What then shall we say about Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not counted as a gift but as an obligation. 5 But to the one who does not work but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
• Rom 4:16-24 : 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, that it may be according to grace, so that it might be guaranteed to all the offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.' He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' 19 And without weakening in faith, he did not consider his own body, which was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—or the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness. 23 Now the words 'it was credited to him' were not written for his sake alone, 24 but also for us, to whom it will be credited—to those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
• Isa 29:22 : 22 Therefore this is what the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, says to the house of Jacob: 'Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and his face will no longer grow pale.'
• Gen 12:1-3 : 1 The Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your father's household to the land that I will show you." 2 And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.
• Gen 13:14-17 : 14 The LORD said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes from where you are and look to the north, south, east, and west. 15 For all the land you see, I will give to you and your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants could also be counted. 17 Arise, walk through the land, its length and its breadth, for I will give it to you.
• Gen 15:1-2 : 1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, and your reward will be very great." 2 Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
• Gen 15:4-5 : 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He added, "So will your descendants be."
• Gen 18:11-13 : 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well along in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?' 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Can I really bear a child when I am old?”'
• Gen 22:17 : 17 I will surely bless you and will greatly multiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore, and your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies.
• Gen 24:1 : 1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way.
• Gen 24:35 : 35 The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
• Josh 24:3 : 3 But I took your ancestor Abraham from beyond the Euphrates River, led him throughout the land of Canaan, and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac.
• Neh 9:7-8 : 7 You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful before You, and You made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites to his descendants. And You have kept Your promise because You are righteous.