Isaiah 49:24 meaning

Isaiah 49:24 is an interesting verse near the end of the second Servant Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1-26).

This verse is interesting because it is not entirely clear who the “singer” or speaker is. The speaker is most likely either the LORD or Zion.

If the speaker is the LORD, then Isaiah 49:24 is a continuation of the fourth “verse” of this Servant Song. The fourth verse began in Isaiah 49:15 as the LORD responded to Zion’s accusation that He had forsaken and forgotten them (Isaiah 49:14).

If the speaker is Zion, then Isaiah 49:24 is the fifth “verse” of this Servant Song.

But in either case, whether it is Zion or the LORD who is speaking, the meaning of this verse is essentially the same.

Isaiah 49:24 consists of a pair of rhetorical questions:

Can the prey be taken from the mighty man,
Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? (v 24).

If this verse is spoken by the LORD, then He is anticipating a challenge from Zion to His promise of delivering them from their oppressors. He is in essence voicing Zion’s doubts in this verse before He addresses them in Isaiah 49:25-26.

If this verse is spoken by Zion, then Zion is voicing her own doubts to the LORD.

Either way Isaiah 49:24 is a formulation of Zion’s doubts and therefore the meaning is the same—whether they are directly spoken by Zion or they are anticipated by the LORD.

The rhetorical questions are:

1. Can the prey be taken from the mighty man?
   
   
2. Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?

The expected answer to both of these rhetorical questions is “No.” Prey cannot be taken from the mighty man, nor can the captives of a tyrant be rescued.

These rhetorical questions suggest the extreme degree of difficulty or even the (from a human standpoint) impossible nature of the LORD’s promised redemption. Namely, it implies that the LORD will be unable to rescue Zion from their mighty captors.

This indicates that whatever circumstances arise, it will seem impossible that Zion will be delivered. We can see in places like Zechariah 14:1-2 the prediction of a time when Jerusalem’s demise seems inevitable. This future event was likely foreshadowed by a past event, when God miraculously delivered Judah from utter defeat at the hands of the king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:35-37).

The imagery here is vivid and dramatic. It portrays God’s people as captives held by a powerful tyrant. And these questions address Zion’s fears. Zion seems to doubt whether such a deliverance is even possible. This might portray the future despair of people in Israel who look at their situation and consider it hopeless. But God is Lord over all, and can deliver regardless of circumstances.

Considering the first question: Can the prey be taken from the mighty man?

Prey refers to something that is stalked and hunted by a predator more powerful than itself. Usually, prey refers to an animal that is hunted for food, by a human hunter or more powerful animal. In this case, prey refers to Zion who has been taken captive. And the mighty man symbolizes the formidable oppressor who has captured them.

The phrasing of the question—can the prey be taken…implies a situation where the captives appear utterly helpless, like prey caught in the clutches of a powerful predator. This is a picture of dominance and seemingly inescapable bondage. The rhetorical question highlights the strength of the captor and the vulnerability of the captives, raising doubt about the possibility of liberation from such a strong hand.

The second question reiterates the same themes of the first one: Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?

Again, the captives represent the people of Zion, who are under the harsh rule of a tyrant. The word tyrant suggests not only someone who is powerful but also cruel. The word rescued implies a dramatic intervention—something that would require an act of someone who is even more powerful than the mighty tyrant.

This rhetorical question reflects the apparent impossibility of release when viewed from a human perspective. The verse captures the tension between the human understanding of power dynamics and the divine promise of deliverance.

This is especially true when we consider that Babylon, the world’s mightiest kingdom at the time, is the tyrant who will exile Zion and make her people her captives. From an earthly point of view, freeing captives from a mighty man or tyrant of Babylon would be nearly impossible.

Zion's questions capture the essence of doubt in the face of overwhelming odds. It reflects the natural human response to a situation where all avenues for liberation appear closed. Zion feels trapped, and questions whether even the LORD has the power to intervene against such formidable foes.

And yet Zion’s doubts are not merely cries of despair. They are a cry for assurance from God. They express a deep longing for the LORD to confirm His promise of deliverance. These questions of doubt also imply an underlying ember of trust. Zion's questions are not just an expression of doubt but also an implicit appeal for the LORD to affirm His power and willingness to rescue His people. By voicing their fears and doubts to the LORD, Zion is seeking reassurance that, despite the apparent impossibility of their situation, God will indeed act on their behalf.

Moreover, Zion’s question of doubt, whether directly from their own mouths or articulated for them by the LORD, sets the stage for a powerful revelation of God’s ability to overturn human expectations and demonstrate His omnipotent sovereignty over all powers of the earth.

Isaiah 49:24 serves to build suspense and highlight the need for divine intervention.

By posing this question, Isaiah gives voice to Zion’s doubts while at the same time preparing them to understand that the coming deliverance will not be by human strength or power but by the mighty hand of the LORD.

The verse speaks to the reality that what is impossible for man is possible for God (Luke 18:27; Romans 11:33).

Isaiah 49:24 challenges us to look beyond the immediate circumstances and trust in the LORD’s ability to redeem His people, no matter how dire the situation may seem. This includes New Testament believers who are also promised that God cares for them (1 Peter 5:7).

Paul encourages believers to cling to the truth, that:

“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God [and] to those who are called according to His purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)

The LORD will answer Zion’s doubts in the final verses of this Servant Song.