Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
15. Jehovah’s remembrance of Zion is more enduring than the strongest human affection. Even a mother’s pity for an infant may fail. yea, they may forget ] Or, should even these forget (Cheyne).
yet will I not forget thee ] See on ch. Isa 44:21.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Can a woman forget her sucking child? – The design of this verse is apparent. It is to show that the love which God has for his people is stronger than that which is produced by the most tender ties created by any natural relation. The love of a mother for her infant child is the strongest attachment in nature. The question here implies that it was unusual for a mother to be unmindful of that tie, and to forsake the child that she should nourish and love.
That she should not have compassion – That she should not pity and succor it in times of sickness and distress; that she should see it suffer without any attempt to relieve it, and turn away, and see it die unpitied and unalleviated.
Yea, they may forget – They will sooner forget their child than God will forget his afflicted and suffering people. The phrase they may forget, implies that such a thing may occur. In pagan lands, strong as is the instinct which binds a mother to her offspring, it has not been uncommon for a mother to expose her infant child, and to leave it to die. In illustration of this fact, see the notes at Rom 1:31.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 49:15-16
Can a woman forget her sucking child?
—
Unforgetting love
1. As. Jehovah,, had just been announcing His purposes of world-wide mercy–salvation to the ends of the earth–we may take these words, in the first instance, as the plaint of literal Israel: The Lord has chosen the
Gentile, and in doing so, He has forgotten me. The wild olive has been grafted in; will not the natural olive be rejected?
2. Or it may be taken as the wail of the Church universal, prompted in times of rebuke and blasphemy, defection and apostasy, cruelty and persecution, when blood is flowing and martyr-fires are lighted; or worse, when faith is weak, and love is waxing cold, and knees are bowing to Baal.
3. Or again, the utterance may be regarded as the exclamation of the individual soul, amid frowning providences and baffling dispensations. In all the three cases Jehovahs reply is the same–the assurance of His inviolable, unchanging, everlasting love. This He enforces by two arguments.
I. THE MOTHERS INSTINCTIVE FONDNESS FOR HER BABE.
II. THE GRAVERS ART (Isa 49:16). (J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
Maternal love and tenderness
Maternal love and tenderness is the strongest and most enduring of instincts. It holds potent sway even in the brute creation, and among the lower tribes of animated being. We see it exemplified in the timid bird hovering with wailing cry over the threatened or despoiled nest, and, despite its feebleness and weakness, ready to give battle to the invader. We see it in the familiar scriptural emblem of the hen gathering her brood of chickens under her wings in threatening storm, or in the hour of danger. We see it in the bolder watch the mother of the eaglets keeps over her young in the eyry on cliff or mountain-side, as she disputes, with ruffled plumage, the assault of the plunderer. We see it in the proverbial fierceness of the bear robbed of her whelps, or in the maddened roar of the lioness bereaved of her cubs, as she lashes her sides with her tail, and makes mountain and forest ring with the proclamation of her wrongs. But it is the mother and her infant babe (the human parent) in whom this deep-seated instinct has its highest, truest illustration. (J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
Maternal affection the moat appropriate image of Divine benevolence
I. MARK SOME STRIKING POINTS OF RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE COMPASSION OF A MOTHER AND THE COMPASSION OF GOD.
1. The first distinctive feature in the affection of a mother is, that it is coeval with the maternal character. It springs at once into existence, vigorous and perfect, and becomes henceforth a permanent and essential part of her constitution. Other affections are produced, and nourished by degrees. Love to parents, gratitude to benefactors, sympathy with the afflicted, and benevolence to our kind, are all, in a very considerable degree, the offspring of instruction and of association. But of maternal tenderness, it may be truly said that it is an instantaneous creation; the stamp of heaven, impressed upon a mothers heart, and acting in all its vigour the moment she hears the cry of helplessness. Just, but fair, representations of that love of God, which is far above all similitude, as it passes all understanding! In implanting this affection in a mothers bosom, He has furnished the best and most winning image of His own benignity; and by interweaving it in her constitution, He intends to show that His own love is not a feeling, adventitious or fluctuating; but an unchangeable attribute of His being–that predominating principle, of which His other attributes are nothing more than varied ramifications. A mother, however, is frail and fallible. She may forget even her sucking child. But God cannot forget to love.
2. The next quality distinctive in the love of a mother is that of all affections with which we are acquainted it is the purest in its source, and the most disinterested in its exercise. No created being can, in any way, be profitable unto God, for He is independent and unchangeable, both in nature and in happiness. All the life which He communicates; all the means of enjoyment which He spreads through creation; every faculty and every affection that ennobles and blesses the rational soul in its highest advances to perfection, springs from the exhaustless source of unmixed and unbounded benevolence.
3. The last quality I shall remark as peculiarly striking in the love of a mother is, that its exertions and sacrifices are not only disinterested, but, beyond every other example, patient and persevering. And as the love of a mother is not overcome by provocation, neither is it chilled by absence. Such is the almost unconquerable patience of a mothers love. Still it may be conquered; and she may cease to have compassion. But God cannot forget His children- How beautifully do the temper and conduct of Jesus display the riches and the perseverance of Divine love! It is said of Him by an evangelist, that having loved His own, He loved them to the end: and the remark is verified by His whole life.
II. DRAW FROM THE SUBJECT SOME PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS. It is impossible not to advert to the design and uses of this wonderful affection, as indicating, in the most striking manner, the unbounded wisdom and benignity of Providence. If we had but this one evidence, it would be sufficient to convince a reflecting mind that a paternal care is exercised in the government of the world, and that the tender mercies of God are over all His works. Take away the strong instinctive feelings of a mother, and what becomes of the living creation? But whilst man, in common with other animals, owes to this instinctive feeling, the preservation, growth, and vigour of his body, he owes to it, what is still more important, the commencement of those moral affections which constitute, in their progressive development, the strength and the glory of his moral and social life. It is in the bosom of a mother that these affections are generated. Accustomed to look to that bosom for nourishment, protection, and pleasure, it raises thence its infant smiles; it catches answering smiles of complacency and joy; its heart begins to dilate with instinctive gladness; its sensations of delight are gradually modified into those of fondness and gratitude; and as it continues to mark the love of a mother, it learns from her the art of loving. Reflections–
1. As we owe everything to a mother, we should be as unwearied in paying the debt, as she was in the acts of tenderness by which it is contracted.
2. Let us learn to form just conceptions of the Divine nature, and of the great ends of the Divine government. (J. Lindsay, D. D.)
Better than a mother
Our subject is the superiority of an utter over an almost impossibility.
I. ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBILITY. If it is not an impossibility for a woman to forget her sucking child, it is certainly next door to one, and the Lord could not have obtained any higher earthly illustration of His tenderness and love. In order to show it you will see the Lord has pressed into His service a variety of words, all serving to increase the beauty of the simile.
1. Woman. God who made the heart of woman as well as man, knows that there is a tenderness in her disposition exceeding that of mans, and therefore He chooses the highest type to illustrate His sympathy.
2. It is not merely the tenderness of the woman, but the tenderness of the woman who is a mother. God not only employs the highest type, but the highest specimen of that type. Mother! What associations of loving tenderness are in the very name. The word touches a secret spring in the heart, and conjures back scenes of the past. It brings to view in the dim distance a sweet face that used to bend over our little cot at eventide, and impress a kiss upon our brow. It reminds of one who used to smile when we were happy, and weep when obliged to correct us. It calls to remembrance one who always seemed interested in our little tales of adventure, and never laughed at our little sorrows that seemed to us so large. It was her face we gazed last upon when we went away to school, and it was into her arms we first rushed when the holidays brought us home. It was thought of her that kept us in the house of business, and held us back from sin with unseen silken cords; and when those dark locks of hers became silvered with advancing age, we only thought an extra charm had crowned her brow. You forget not the love that was strong as death, and escaped from her dying lips in words you treasure to this day. Her name has still a magic power. There is one feature in a mothers love that must be mentioned, as it constitutes the chiefest beauty of the type. Her love is not love drawn forth by prosperity or dispelled by adversity. She loves her son not because of what he has, but because of what he is.
3. There is yet one other delicate touch in the picture which gives to it the perfection of beauty. The tenderness described is not only that of a woman, or even that of a mother, but of a mother towards her sucking child. This crowns the description, and should drive away the last remnant of unbelief. I can imagine a mother sometimes forgetting her grownup son, who has long since attained the age of manhood, and is himself the head of a family. I can believe that the daughter, married into some other family and well provided for, is not always in the thoughts of her mother, but it is almost impossible to conceive the sucking child for a moment forgotten Its very life is dependent on the mothers thoughtfulness, and its utter helplessness becomes its security. Yea, she could not forget it even if she desired; nature itself would become a sharp reminder, and her own pain would plead her infants cause. Behold, how God has strengthened His illustration by every possible means. Then comes the question, Can she forget? There is s moments pause, and the answer is heard, She may. Mothers may forget their sucking children, either literally, or by acting as if they did.
II. AN UTTER IMPOSSIBILITY. The true magnitude of an object can only be understood by comparison, and it is by contrast the mind grasps the reality. God only knows the love of God. Its height and depth, its length and breadth defy all measurement. They may forget. Yet, and it is this word that shoots aloft beyond all human sight, will I not forget thee.
1. His nature forbids it. God is love. Not loving, poor mortal can be that, but love itself.
2. His promises forbid it.
3. The travail of the Redeemers soul is alone sufficient argument, that they for whom it was endured shall be remembered.
4. His honour renders it an utter impossibility. (A. G. Brown.)
Gods love greater than a mothers
I. A MOTHERS LOVE FOR HER CHILD IS BUT A FRACTION DERIVED FROM GODS LOVE FOR MAN.
II. THE STRONGEST AFFECTION OF A MOTHER IS SUBJECT TO MUTATIONS.
1. The conduct of the mother may cool or even quench this spark within her. In some cases debauchery, intemperance, and vice have extinguished this sacred fire, and the parent has become unnatural and cruel to her offspring.
2. The conduct of the child may cool or even quench this spark within her. But the affection of the Eternal is subject to no such mutation. Who, then, shall separate us from the love of God, &c.
III. THE OBJECT OF THE MOTHERS LOVE IS NOT SO NEAR TO HER AS THE OBJECT OF THE DIVINE AFFECTION.
1. The mother is not the owner of the child. His limbs, faculties, being, are not hers. But God is the absolute proprietor of man. All souls are His.
2. The mother is not the life of the child. Her life is distinct from that of her offspring. But God is the very life of man.
IV. THE FAILURE OF THE MOTHERS AFFECTION TOWARDS HER OFFSPRING WOULD NOT BE SO TERRIBLE AS THE FAILURE OF GODS AFFECTION TOWARDS THE GOOD. If God forsakes a man, he is ruined inevitably, and for ever. (Homilist.)
A mothers love
The following touching incident was related by the Rev. Norman Macleod, of Glasgow:–His father was preaching on the love of God, and to illustrate his subject, referred to a poor widow in Scotland, who, being distressed for rent, resolved to go, carrying her helpless babe with her, and borrow of a friend that lived ten miles from her home. The journey lay across a bleak mountain, and the day was rough and snowy. Soon after her departure, the neighbours felt it would be impossible for her to reach her destination, and feared that her very life was endangered by the snowstorm that was rapidly gaining in violence. Twelve strong men resolved to go in search; far away on the mountain they found the poor woman lying in the snow, sleeping the sleep of death. Where was the babe? In a sheltered nook in the rock, close by, warm and alive, because wrapped in the garments of which the mother had deprived herself. A mothers love unchangeable:–As I was walking down our street the other day, I saw a woman, good and pure, refined and cultured, walking with a man whose face was red with drink, whose form and look bore marks of deepest dissipation. I stepped to her side, and said, Woman, why are you with this man? She little heeded me at first, as she supported his unsteady steps Woman, why do you not hand him over to the police? She drew herself up, and with a righteously indignant anger, mixed with pathos, said, Sir! I am his mother. (C. S. Macfarland, Ph. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Earthly parents sometimes are so unnatural and monstrous; but do not entertain such unworthy thoughts of me. I will remember thee effectually, to bring thee out of Babylon, and, which is infinitely greater, to send my Son into the world to work out eternal redemption for thee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
15. (Isa 44:21;Psa 103:13; Mat 7:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?…. This is the Lord’s answer to the church’s complaint, instancing in the care and affection of a mother to her child, thereby illustrating his love to his people; he instances in a “woman”, the tender sex; in a “child” of her’s, an infant, not one grown up, from which her affections might be alienated by disobedience; her suckling child, she had in her arms, and on her knees, and whom her breasts would put her in mind of; and since one that is not an own child may be suckled, it is called “the son of her womb”; and is it possible for such an one to be forgotten?
yea, they may forget; through inadvertency, want of affection, a cruel disposition, hurry of business, sickness, public calamities, c. La 4:3, such monsters in nature there may be, though rare:
yet will I not forget thee he cannot forget, because of is nature, on which forgetfulness cannot properly fall; he will not, because of his promise, which never fails; he may seem to his people to have forgotten them, and he may be thought to have done so by others; he forgets their sins, but not their persons; he cannot forget his love, nor his covenant with them, nor his promises made to them; nor does he forget their love to him, nor their works, words, and thoughts; the righteous are had by him in everlasting remembrance. All this suggests that the Lord stands in the relation of a parent to his people, and they stand in the relation of children to him; they are born of him, and are as it were pieces of himself, and little images of him, and dear to him as the apple of his eye; they are like sucking children, that suck in the milk of his word, and suck at the breasts of his ordinances; and they are used by him in the most tender manner, as infants are; they are kissed by him, and dandled on the knee; they are led by him, and taught to go; he delights in them when they begin to speak in prayer or praise, though in a lisping and stammering manner; all their little actions are engaging, their works done by them, though imperfect, and a great deal of childishness in them; when anything ails them, he sympathizes with them, he takes care of them, and provides for them; and it is a concern to him whenever he is obliged to chastise them, and can he therefore forget them?
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
15. Shall a woman forget her child! In order to correct that distrust, he adds to the remonstrance an exhortation full of the sweetest consolation. By an appropriate comparison, he shews how strong is his anxiety about his people, comparing himself to a mother, whose love toward her offspring is so strong and ardent, as to leave far behind it a father’s love. Thus he did not satisfy himself with proposing the example of a father, (which on other occasions he very frequently employs,) but in order to express his very strong affection, he chose to liken himself to a mother, and calls them not merely “children,” but the fruit of the womb, towards which there is usually a warmer affection. What amazing affection does a mother feel toward her offspring, which she cherishes in her bosom, suckles on her breast, and watches over with tender care, so that she passes sleepless nights, wears herself out by continued anxiety, and forgets herself! And this carefulness is manifested, not only among men, but even among savage beasts, which, though they are by nature cruel, yet in this respect are gentle.
Even if they shall forget. Since it does sometimes happen that mothers degenerate into such monsters as to exceed in cruelty the wild beasts and forget “the fruit of their womb,” the Lord next declares that, even though this should happen, still he will never forget his people. The affection which he bears toward us is far stronger and warmer than the love of all mothers. We ought also to bear in mind the saying of Christ,
“
If ye, being evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more your heavenly Father?” (Mat 7:11.)
Men, though by nature depraved and addicted to self-love, are anxious about their children. What shall God do, who is goodness itself? Will it be possible for him to lay aside a father’s love? Certainly not. Although therefore it should happen that mothers (which is a monstrous thing) should forsake their own offspring, yet God, whose love toward his people is constant and unremitting, will never forsake them. In a word, the Prophet here describes to us the inconceivable carefulness with which God unceasingly watches over our salvation, that we may be fully convinced that he will never forsake us, though we may be afflicted with great and numerous calamities.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(15) Can a woman forget . . .?The love of Jehovah for His chosen ones is more than that of a father, more tender and unchangeable even than the maternal love which exists often in the most depraved. Even that may perish, but not so His pitying affection.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
15. Can a woman forget, etc. The Lord’s yearning over his children is far greater than a human mother’s for her own offspring: impossible, therefore, is it for him to forget the people he covenanted to save, if they also would keep covenant with him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 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.
Ver. 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child? ] It were a wonder she should grow out of kind as to be so unkind. The mother fasteth that her child may eat, waketh that he may sleep, is poor to make him rich, slighted to make him glorious. Occidar mode imperet, said she in story. God’s love to his is more than maternal. All the mercies of all the mothers in the world being put together would not make the tithe of his mercy. David saith much, Psa 103:13 “as a father pitieth his children,” &c. Great was Jacob’s love to Benjamin, David’s to Absalom, so that Joab upbraideth him with it. 2Sa 19:6 But God here saith more, “Can a woman forget,” &c. The harlot could not yield to have her child divided. Arsinoe interposed her own body between the sword of the murderer and her dear children. Melanchthon telleth of a countess of Thuringia, who being compelled by her husband’s cruelty to go into banishment from her children, when she took leave of her eldest son she bit a piece of his cheek out, amoris notam cruento morsu imprimens, and so marked him for her own. a This is somewhat; but what is all this to the infinite? Was there ever love like God’s love in sending his Son to die for sinners? Christ himself wondereth at it; Joh 3:16 this was a sic so, without a sicut, just as, there being nothing in nature wherewith to parallel it. See Rom 8:32 .
Yea, they may forget.
a Chronic., lib. v.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Can a woman, &c. Figures of speech Erotesis and Pathopoeia.
will I not forget. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a woman: 1Ki 3:26, 1Ki 3:27, Psa 103:13, Mal 3:17, Mat 7:11
that she should not have compassion: Heb. from having compassion
they may: Lev 26:29, Deu 28:56, Deu 28:57, 2Ki 6:28, 2Ki 6:29, 2Ki 11:1, 2Ki 11:2, Lam 4:3, Lam 4:10, Rom 1:31
yet: Isa 44:21, Jer 31:20, Hos 11:1, Rom 11:28, Rom 11:29
Reciprocal: Gen 21:6 – God Gen 21:16 – Let Exo 28:29 – a Num 11:12 – as a nursing Deu 28:54 – his children 2Ki 4:20 – his mother Psa 27:10 – When Psa 42:9 – Why hast Psa 77:9 – God Psa 94:14 – For Pro 31:2 – the son of my womb Isa 40:27 – sayest Isa 63:15 – thy bowels Jer 51:5 – Israel Eze 16:5 – eye Luk 11:11 – a son Luk 11:13 – know Luk 15:20 – But
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 49:15-16. Can a woman forget her sucking child God is often represented as bearing a fatherly affection toward his people, but here the comparison is raised higher, and he speaks of himself as having a tenderness for them, similar to that which a mother hath toward the fruit of her womb. The image is common and frequent; yet it is wrought up with so much grace, embellished with so much elegance, and expressed in such pathetic terms, that nothing can exceed it in beauty and force; nothing can convey a stronger idea of the maternal, the more than maternal regard, which God hath for his people. Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee The turn in this clause is more expressive than a volume. As if he had said, Earthly parents sometimes are so unnatural and monstrous; but do not entertain such unworthy thoughts of me. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms, &c. Mine eye and heart are constantly upon thee. This is certainly an allusion, says Bishop Lowth, to some practice, common among the Jews at that time, of making marks on their hands or arms by punctures on the skin, rendered indelible by fire or staining, with some sort of sign, or representation of the city or temple, to show their affection and zeal for it. It is well known that the pilgrims at the holy sepulchre get themselves marked in this manner with what are called the ensigns of Jerusalem. Maundrell, p. 75; where he tells us how it is performed: and this art is practised by travelling Jews all over the world at this day. See also Vitringa and Michaeliss notes. Or the allusion may be merely to the common practice of men, who use to put signs upon their hands or fingers, of such things as they especially wish to remember. Thy walls are continually before me The ruins and desolations of my church are always in my thoughts, nor shall I forget or neglect to repair them, and grant her deliverance from her enemies, and protection at the proper time.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
God’s response to His "wife’s" complaint was to assure her of His unfailing commitment to her. Human mothers may possibly neglect the children they cared so much for that they nursed, though this is unnatural. They may even stop showing compassion to the children they carried in their wombs for nine months, though this is inconsistent. Yet Yahweh would never, ever forget (abandon) His chosen people (cf. Psa 27:10).
"This is one of the strongest, if not the strongest expression of God’s love in the Old Testament, and is often compared with Jer 31:20." [Note: Young, 3:285.]