Thus saith the Lord that made and formed thee, thy helper from the womb: Fear not, O my servant Jacob, and thou most righteous whom I have chosen.
כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ מִבֶּ֖טֶן יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ אַל־תִּירָא֙ עַבְדִּ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וִישֻׁר֖וּן בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 4 commentaries
The Lord, who has both created and shaped you, and who has supported you since your mother's womb, declares this. Here, He highlights another act of grace: He wishes for the act of birth to be seen not merely as a natural occurrence, but rather as His divine action, in alignment with the scripture that states, ‘Thou shalt not despise the works of Thy hands’ (Psalm 137:8).
The Lord God, who fashioned you and brought you into being from the womb, declares that He will still assist you. After rebuking the Israelites for their abandonment of devotion to Him and their worship of false deities, as indicated by His statement that their ancestors and leaders have acted wickedly against Him and have sullied the leaders of His sacred presence (Isaiah 43:27, 28), it is pertinent to include this as well. He does not permit them to fall into complete apostasy or despair, nor does He allow them to lose all faith in Him; rather, He promises to extend His mercy anew, restores them with His characteristic compassion, and guides them toward repentance.
It is evident that He has not entirely forsaken those who have sinned, and not every Israelite shall be lost, for He is compassionate and provides an accessible path to salvation for those who trust in Him. By identifying Himself as Lord and God, who is their Creator from the beginning, He highlights the error of ascribing divine status to others and unjustly bestowing the glory due to Him upon nonexistent idols. Furthermore, their failure to acknowledge the Creator, the One who brought forth humanity from nonexistence, reinforces His assertion of being the Creator and Maker, all while exhibiting a sense of ingratitude towards those who have strayed from their love for Him. It is indeed illogical if we afford our earthly parents the utmost respect as prescribed by divine law but neglect to honor the Creator of all more than those who receive accolades meant for Him, failing to submit to Him wholeheartedly. As one of the holy prophets remarks: ‘The son shall glorify the father, and the servant shall fear his lord: and if I am a Father, where is My glory? And if I am a Lord, where is My fear? says the Lord of Hosts’ (Malachi 1:6). He equally possesses the title of Lord, having dominion over all creation, as the Divine Psalmist acknowledges that all things are subject to Him (Psalm 118:91); He is also Father, as the Creator who has brought all into existence. Therefore, in accordance with duty and hierarchy, we must offer Him the reverence appropriate for sons and the respect due to servants. When God refers to Himself as Creator and Maker, He encourages us to honor Him as the source of existence and as the One who grants life to those who were once not alive. By assuring those who have sinned that ‘He will yet help you,’ He instills hope for them, suggesting that although they may be ensnared in various faults, a remnant of His mercy and compassion remains for them. Nothing stands in the way of their salvation if they choose to turn towards what is good, honorable, and aligned with His commands.
Fear not, O my servant Jacob, beloved of Israel, whom I have chosen. For I will provide water to the thirsty in the barren land; I will place My Spirit upon your descendants and My blessings upon your offspring. They will flourish like grass nourished by water and like a willow tree beside flowing streams. One person will declare, “I belong to God,” another will call upon the name of Jacob, and yet another will write, “I am God's,” acknowledging the name of Israel. In these statements, Israel and Jacob can be seen as symbols of the holy Apostles united in purpose, for in Christ, we are all one. It is essential to understand why He refers to Israel as the beloved and chosen if it is clear that He would not designate as beloved and chosen those who turn away from faith in Him.
Since they are of Jacob’s lineage, who is also Israel, they became vessels of honor and were entrusted with the divine mission of proclaiming the gospel. Thus, He chose to exalt them with such glorious titles, having shone as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15) and bearing the word of the living God (Philippians 2:16), serving as hidden leaders for all those under the sun.
Therefore, He encourages, "Do not be afraid," meaning to be steadfast and strong, maintaining a patient and youthful spirit. Mock the rebellions of your adversaries and hold firm faith in God. Many will rise against the sacred message, and an unrighteous crowd will oppose your words; nonetheless, He instructs, rise above fear, laziness, and weakness, for I will provide water to those traversing this parched land. It is indeed a sweet and life-giving blessing for those longing souls to find springs of water. For those who walk in righteousness, it is even more desirable to be refreshed by divine and spiritual streams or comfort from the Spirit, which can revitalize a weary human spirit, granting renewed courage. The water promised by God to those in the barren land refers to the Holy Spirit. Indeed, our Savior said, “As the Scripture states, ‘The living waters shall flow from his belly,’” and the wise Evangelist clarified, “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him were to receive” (John 7:38-39). Water gives life, nurtures the growth of trees and plants, and serves as a reflection of the Holy Spirit’s work, through whom all creation thrives and flourishes in every good thing and swiftly progresses toward spiritual maturity.
The assurance of water to those walking in a barren land signifies the life-giving influence and comfort of the Holy Spirit, as shown in the passage’s conclusion: “I will put My Spirit upon your descendants and My blessings upon your children.” By the descendants and children of the holy Apostles, we refer to those who are led to the knowledge of the truth and spiritual rebirth through their ministry, regenerating them not from perishable seed but through the word of the living and enduring God, alongside the work of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul similarly states in his letter to those called through him, "Though you may have many teachers in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15). Throughout his writings, he consistently refers to those who have come to believe in Christ through them as children. Therefore, I will place My Spirit upon your offspring and My blessings upon your children. The blessings from God to the saints encompass a variety of spiritual gifts: to one is given a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge, and so forth (1 Corinthians 12:8). Furthermore, Paul writes that each of us possesses a unique gift from God (1 Corinthians 7:7).
The blessings' purpose is revealed when He says, “They shall wither like grass by the water and like a willow tree by the flowing water.” Vegetation in dry areas grows sluggishly and quickly perishes, whereas those nourished by abundant streams thrive; the willow remains verdant due to its proximity to springs and rivers. Thus, those who are enriched with spiritual streams will acknowledge that they know Me alone; they will recognize Him who called them as God. The mention that one will say, "I am God," and another will cry out and write signifies the vast multitude who come to Him through faith in Christ. They shall not be identified by a single nation; rather, all the nations gathered shall declare that they belong to God, calling Him as their Savior and Redeemer, proclaiming their connection to Jacob as portions belonging to the Lord, His people, His heritage—Israel (Deuteronomy 32:9). We proudly assert that we are God's inheritance and part of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Listen, O Jacob, My servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen. Thus declares the Lord, your Creator and Formulator, who has been your support since your inception. Do not fear, My servant Jacob, for I have selected you as My most faithful. I will pour out water upon the thirsty and streams upon the dry ground; I will bestow My Spirit upon your descendants and My blessings upon your offspring. They shall flourish like willows by flowing waters. One will declare, “I am the Lord,” another will call upon the name of Jacob, and a third will write with his hand, “I am the Lord,” and he shall be known as Israel. "I belong to the Lord," and will invoke the name of Israel.
When the Jewish people are reproached for their unbelief, they are called simply by their names: “You have not called upon Me, Jacob, nor have you labored for Me, Israel”; and as a consequence, I allowed Jacob to be slain and Israel to be scoffed at. But when The Lord speaks to the apostles of Jewish heritage, He uses distinctive titles. Listen, O Jacob, My servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen: first there was bondage, then there was selection. Thus says the Lord, who shaped you and has assisted you since birth, so that even in the womb you clung to your brother’s heel, or who preserved you at the inception of the Church from those who sought to harm you. Do not fear their malice, O Jacob, My servant, and the most righteous whom I have chosen. By another name, He addresses Israel; the Hebrew word isurun is interpreted by some as ευθυτατον or ευθή, meaning the most righteous or righteousness itself, as the LXX uniquely expresses: beloved, joining Israel to Himself. For Israel, among the Hebrews, embodies the righteousness of God. The individual who perceives God is represented by this term, not merely by its letters but by its sound. Consequently, the book of Genesis is referred to as ευθείς—indicative of the righteous: Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. So do not fear, O Jacob and Israel, for I will pour water upon the parched and desolate, of whom it has frequently been said. I will extend My Spirit upon your seed and My blessing upon your progeny, who will be reborn through water and the Holy Spirit in baptism. This promise, the Savior affirmed in the Gospel, stating, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” It is further explained, “But this He spoke concerning the Holy Spirit, whom those who believe in Him would receive.” He compares those reborn in baptism to flourishing herbs and willows thriving by the waters; and contrary to their normal nature, they will bear fruit when they were previously barren, or whose seeds, when consumed, were unfruitful. This concept is echoed in the first Psalm: “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in season, and whose leaves do not wither.” Some interpret the herbs and regenerative willows as representing two vocations: the herbs symbolize the nations of the Gentiles, while the willows represent the believers of Israel. At the same time, He illustrates the variety among believers: one will assert, “I am the Lord,” confident in his righteous deeds; another will call Jacob to repentance, urging sinners to abandon their faults; yet another will inscribe with his hand, “I am the Lord’s,” or as the LXX translates, “I am God’s,” proudly declaring his commitment as a servant of Christ. He will also be known by the name of Israel. For not all of Israel, but a significant number of Gentiles will be called by the name of Israel, receiving the law and the prophets along with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit promised to Israel.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS