Isaiah 51:2

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased 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, those who inhabit the ruins in the land of Israel are speaking, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us as a possession.
• Gal 3:9-9 : 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'The just shall live by faith.' 12 And the law is not of faith, but 'The man who does them shall live in them.' 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.' 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
• Heb 11:8-9 : 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out to a place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable.
• Rom 4:1-5 : 1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has reason to boast; but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. 4 Now to him who works, the reward is not given of grace, but as a debt. 5 But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
• Rom 4:16-24 : 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end that the promise might be sure to all the descendants; not to those only who are of the law, but also to those who are of 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, before him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, So shall your descendants be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead, being about a hundred years old, nor the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. 21 And being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was credited to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was credited to him; 24 But also for us, to whom it shall be credited, if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead;
• Isa 29:22 : 22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now grow pale.
• Gen 12:1-3 : 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get yourself out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you: 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.
• Gen 13:14-17 : 14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which you see, to you will I give it, and to your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also shall be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you.
• Gen 15:1-2 : 1 After these things, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceedingly great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
• Gen 15:4-5 : 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own body shall be your heir. 5 And he brought him outside, and said, Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to number them: and he said to him, So shall your offspring be.
• Gen 18:11-13 : 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well advanced in age, and it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I have grown old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13 And the LORD said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?
• Gen 22:17 : 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies;
• Gen 24:1 : 1 And Abraham was old and advanced in age, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
• Gen 24:35 : 35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.
• Josh 24:3 : 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants, and 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 made a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your words, for You are righteous;