20 The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing, 'This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.'
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.
20 The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: 'The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.'
20 The children born in your exile will be saying, 'It's getting too crowded here. I need more room.'
20 The children you will have, After you have lost the others, Will say again in your ears, 'The place is too small for me; Give me a place where I may dwell.'
20 The generations born in exile will return and say, 'We need more room! It's crowded here!'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 49:20
Commentary on Isaiah 49:18-23
(Read Isaiah 49:18-23)
Zion is addressed as an afflicted widow, bereaved of her children. Numbers flock to her, and she is assured that they come to be a comfort to her. There are times when the church is desolate and few in number; yet its desolations shall not last for ever, and God will repair them. God can raise up friends for returning Israelites, even among Gentiles. They shall bring their children, and make them thy children. Let all deal tenderly and carefully with young converts and beginners in religion. Princes shall protect the church. It shall appear that God is the sovereign Lord of all. And those who in the exercise of faith, hope, and patience, wait on God for the fulfilment of his promises, shall never be confounded.