What does Isaiah 49:25 mean?
"But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." - Isaiah 49:25

Isaiah 49:25 (KJV) states, "But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."
This verse is found in the Book of Isaiah, which is a prophetic book in the Old Testament of the Bible. The prophet Isaiah delivered his messages to the people of Judah during a time of great upheaval, as they faced the threat of invasion and captivity by the powerful Assyrian Empire. In this particular verse, Isaiah is delivering a message of hope and deliverance to the oppressed and conquered people of Judah.
The verse begins with the phrase, "But thus saith the Lord," indicating that the message that follows is a direct revelation from God. This sets the tone for the rest of the verse, emphasizing the divine authority and power behind the promise of deliverance.
The verse goes on to speak of the captives of the mighty being taken away and the prey of the terrible being delivered. This imagery is deeply symbolic, representing the oppression and subjugation of the people of Judah by their powerful enemies. The promise of their liberation and deliverance from captivity is a source of great comfort and hope in the midst of their suffering.
The next part of the verse states, "for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee." Here, God declares that he will personally intervene in the situation, taking up the cause of his people and fighting on their behalf against those who oppress them. This is a powerful declaration of God's commitment to justice and his unwavering support for his people in their time of need.
Finally, the verse concludes with the promise, "and I will save thy children." This is a deeply poignant and emotional statement, as it speaks directly to the heart of the people of Judah who are facing the very real threat of losing their children to captivity and slavery. The promise of their salvation and deliverance is a source of profound hope and comfort, reminding them that God has not forgotten them and will not abandon them in their time of need.
The themes present in this verse are ones of oppression, deliverance, justice, and hope. It speaks to the universal human experience of suffering and the longing for liberation and salvation. The verse also conveys a powerful message of God's faithfulness and his commitment to standing with his people in their darkest moments.
In its historical context, this verse would have been a source of immense encouragement and hope for the people of Judah as they faced the very real threat of invasion and captivity. It would have served as a reminder of God's faithfulness and his promise to deliver them from their oppressors.
The symbolism in this verse is rich and profound. The imagery of the captives being taken away and the prey being delivered speaks to the experience of bondage and captivity, and the longing for freedom and deliverance. The promise of God contending with those who oppress his people is a powerful symbol of divine justice and intervention. And the assurance of saving the children speaks to the deep, universal desire for the safety and well-being of the next generation.
In conclusion, Isaiah 49:25 (KJV) is a verse that speaks to the universal human experience of suffering and oppression, and the longing for deliverance and salvation. It is a powerful declaration of God's faithfulness and his commitment to standing with his people in their darkest moments. It is a message of hope and comfort that transcends its original historical context and continues to speak to the hearts of believers today.
Have questions about Isaiah 49:25?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Isaiah 49:25 Artwork
Isaiah 49:25 - "But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."
Isaiah 49:25 But thus says the Lord: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.
Isaiah 49:25 But thus says the Lord: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.
"But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." - Isaiah 49:25
Isaiah 49 1-7
Jeremiah 49:25 - "How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!"
Isaiah 49:24 - "¶ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?"
Isaiah 49:11 - "And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted."
Isaiah 49:14 - "But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me."
Isaiah 49:3 - "And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
Isaiah 49:12 - "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim."
"How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!" - Jeremiah 49:25
Isaiah 49:17 - "Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee."
Isaiah 49:16 - "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
Isaiah 49:9 - "That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places."
Isaiah 44:25
"¶ Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?" - Isaiah 49:24
Isaiah 14:25
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."
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me." - Isaiah 49:16
Genesis 49:25 - "Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:"
Isaiah 49:13 - "¶ Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted."
Isaiah 49:19 - "For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away."
"And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." - Isaiah 49:11
Isaiah 49:4 - "Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God."
Leviticus 25:49 - "Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself."
"But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." - Isaiah 49:14
Isaiah 49:10 - "They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them."
Isaiah 49:20 - "The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell."
Isaiah 49:2 - "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;"