Isaiah 51:2
New International Version
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.

New Living Translation
Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.”

English Standard Version
Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.

Berean Standard Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

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

New King James Version
Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”

New American Standard Bible
“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was only one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

NASB 1995
“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

NASB 1977
“Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who brought you forth through labor pains; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

Amplified Bible
“Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; For I called him when he was but one, Then I blessed him and made him many.”

Christian Standard Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave birth to you. When I called him, he was only one; I blessed him and made him many.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain. When I called him, he was only one; I blessed him and made him many.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
God chose Abraham and Sarah to be your ancestors. The LORD blessed Abraham, and from that one man came many descendants.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Look to Abraham, your ancestor, and to Sarah, from whom you are descended. When I called Abraham, he was childless. I blessed him and gave him many descendants.

Good News Translation
Think of your ancestor, Abraham, and of Sarah, from whom you are descended. When I called Abraham, he was childless, but I blessed him and gave him children; I made his descendants numerous.

International Standard Version
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. For when he was only one person I called him, but I made him fruitful and made him many.

Majority Standard Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.

NET Bible
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.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

World English Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for when he was but one I called him, I blessed him, and made him many.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Look attentively to your father Abraham, "" And to Sarah—she brings you forth, "" For—one—I have called him, "" And I bless him, and multiply him.”

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Smith's Literal Translation
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah bringing you forth: for one I called him, and I will bless him, and I will increase him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Look unto Abraham your father, and to Sara that bore you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and multiplied him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Pay attention to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who bore you. For I called him alone, and I blessed him, and I multiplied him.

New American Bible
Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth; Though he was but one when I called him, I blessed him and made him many.

New Revised Standard Version
Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who conceived you; for he was alone, and I called him and blessed him and multiplied him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Gaze to Abraham your Father and to Sara who conceived you, for he was alone and I called him and I blessed him and I increased him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Look unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah that bore you; For when he was but one I called him, And I blessed him, and made him many.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Look to Abraam your father, and to Sarrha that bore you: for he was alone when I called him, and blessed him, and loved him, and multiplied him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Salvation for Zion
1“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn. 2Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him. 3For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.…

Cross References
Genesis 12:1-3
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. / I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. / I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 17:4-6
“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. / No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. / I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

Romans 4:1-3
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? / If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. / For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Hebrews 11:8-12
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. / By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. / For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ...

Genesis 15:5-6
And the LORD took him outside and said, “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able.” Then He told him, “So shall your offspring be.” / Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

Galatians 3:6-9
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” / Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. / The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” ...

Genesis 22:17-18
I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. / And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Romans 9:7-8
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” / So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

Genesis 18:18
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

Matthew 3:9
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

Luke 3:8
Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Genesis 24:1
By now Abraham was old and well along in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

John 8:39
“Abraham is our father,” they replied. “If you were children of Abraham,” said Jesus, “you would do the works of Abraham.

Genesis 25:11
After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who lived near Beer-lahai-roi.


Treasury of Scripture

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

unto Abraham

Genesis 15:1,2
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward…

Genesis 18:11-13
Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women…

Joshua 24:3
And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

for

Genesis 12:1-3
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: …

Genesis 13:14-17
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: …

Genesis 15:4,5
And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir…

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Abraham Alone Attentively Bare Birth Bless Blessed Blessing Bore Great Increased Multiplied Multiply Pain Sarah Thoughts Turned Voice
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Abraham Alone Attentively Bare Birth Bless Blessed Blessing Bore Great Increased Multiplied Multiply Pain Sarah Thoughts Turned Voice
Isaiah 51
1. An exhortation after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ
3. By reason of his comfortable promises,
4. Of his righteous salvation
7. And man's mortality
9. Christ by his sanctified arm defends his from the fear of man
17. He bewails the afflictions of Jerusalem
21. And promises deliverance














Look to Abraham your father
Abraham is considered the patriarch of the Israelites, a central figure in the history of God's covenant with His people. His story begins in Genesis 12, where God calls him to leave his homeland and promises to make him a great nation. Abraham's faith and obedience are highlighted in Hebrews 11:8-12, where he is commended for trusting God's promises despite not seeing their fulfillment in his lifetime. This phrase encourages the Israelites to remember their spiritual heritage and the faith of their forefather, who trusted God against all odds.

and to Sarah who gave you birth
Sarah, Abraham's wife, is a key figure in the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. Despite her initial barrenness, God miraculously enabled her to conceive Isaac, as recounted in Genesis 21. This event is a testament to God's power and faithfulness, serving as a reminder that God's promises often come to fruition in unexpected ways. Sarah's story is also referenced in the New Testament, particularly in Galatians 4:22-31, where Paul uses her as an allegory for the new covenant of grace.

When I called him, he was but one
This phrase emphasizes the humble beginnings of Abraham. When God called him, he was a solitary individual without a nation or descendants. This highlights the miraculous nature of God's work in transforming Abraham into the father of many nations. It underscores the theme of divine election and grace, where God chooses and uses the seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

then I blessed him and multiplied him
God's blessing on Abraham is a central theme in the biblical narrative. The promise of multiplication is first given in Genesis 12:2 and reiterated in Genesis 15:5, where God tells Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars. This multiplication is both physical, through the nation of Israel, and spiritual, as all believers are considered Abraham's offspring through faith (Galatians 3:29). This phrase also points to the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, demonstrating His faithfulness and sovereignty in history.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
Known as the father of faith, Abraham is a central figure in the Bible. God called him to leave his homeland and promised to make him a great nation, despite his old age and initial childlessness.

2. Sarah
The wife of Abraham, Sarah is significant for her role in the fulfillment of God's promise. She gave birth to Isaac in her old age, demonstrating God's power and faithfulness.

3. God's Call
The event of God calling Abraham is pivotal. It marks the beginning of the covenant relationship between God and Abraham's descendants, which is foundational to the account of the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Faith in God's Promises
Abraham and Sarah's account is a testament to the power of faith. Despite their circumstances, they trusted in God's promises, which encourages us to have faith even when situations seem impossible.

God's Sovereignty and Timing
God's timing is perfect, as seen in the birth of Isaac. We are reminded to trust in God's plan and timing, even when it doesn't align with our own expectations.

The Power of One
God can use a single individual to bring about great change. Abraham was one man, yet through him, God established a nation. This encourages us to be open to God's calling, knowing He can use us mightily.

Legacy of Faith
Abraham and Sarah's faith left a legacy that impacted generations. Our faith and actions today can have a lasting impact on future generations.(2) I called him alone.--Literally, as one. If so great a nation had sprung from one man (Hebrews 11:12), so would God out of the faithful remnant once more create a people. (Comp. Ezekiel 33:24, where the exiles arc represented as boastfully inverting the argument: "Abraham was one, and we are many; therefore we shall prosper, the chances are in our favour.")

Verse 2. - I called him alone; or, I called him when he was but ode; i.e. before he had any children (comp. Ezekiel 33:24, "Abraham was one, and he inherited the land"). And blessed him (see Genesis 24:1, 35). And increased him; i.e. "made him a father of many nations" (Genesis 17:5). If God could multiply the progeny of ode man, much more could he make a flourishing nation out of the exiles, who, though but a "remnant" of the pro-Captivity Israel, were yet many thousands in number (see Ezra 2:64).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Look
הַבִּ֙יטוּ֙ (hab·bî·ṭū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Abraham
אַבְרָהָ֣ם (’aḇ·rā·hām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 85: Abraham -- 'exalted father', the father of the Jewish nation

your father,
אֲבִיכֶ֔ם (’ă·ḇî·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

and to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Sarah
שָׂרָ֖ה (śā·rāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8283: Sarah -- 'princess', a wife of Abraham

who bore you.
תְּחוֹלֶלְכֶ֑ם (tə·ḥō·w·lel·ḵem)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2342: To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert

When
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I called him,
קְרָאתִ֔יו (qə·rā·ṯîw)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

he was but one;
אֶחָ֣ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

then I blessed him
וַאֲבָרְכֵ֖הוּ (wa·’ă·ḇā·rə·ḵê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and multiplied him.
וְאַרְבֵּֽהוּ׃ (wə·’ar·bê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father (Isa Isi Is)
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