Isaiah 66:9
New International Version
Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

New Living Translation
Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?” asks the LORD. “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God.

English Standard Version
Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?” says the LORD; “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God.

Berean Standard Bible
Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.

King James Bible
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

New King James Version
Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.

New American Standard Bible
“Shall I bring to the point of birth but not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

NASB 1995
“Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

NASB 1977
“Shall I bring to the point of birth, and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

Legacy Standard Bible
Shall I bring to the point of breaking forth and not cause birth?” says Yahweh. “Or shall I who causes birth shut the womb?” says your God.

Amplified Bible
“Shall I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.

Christian Standard Bible
“Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it? ” says the LORD; “or will I who deliver, close the womb? ” says your God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD;” or will I who deliver, close the womb?” says your God.

American Standard Version
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD is the one who makes birth possible. And he will see that Zion has many more children. The LORD has spoken.

English Revised Version
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? saith thy God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Do I bring a mother to the moment of birth and not let her deliver?" asks the LORD. "Do I cause a mother to deliver and then make her unable to have children?" asks your God.

Good News Translation
Do not think that I will bring my people to the point of birth and not let them be born." The LORD has spoken.

International Standard Version
Am I to open the womb and not deliver?" asks the LORD. "And when I bring to delivery, am I to close the womb?" asks your God.

Majority Standard Bible
Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.

NET Bible
"Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?" asks the LORD. "Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?" asks your God.

New Heart English Bible
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" says the LORD: "shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb?" says your God.

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

World English Bible
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says Yahweh. “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do I bring to the birth, "" And not cause to bring forth?” says YHWH, "" “Am I not He who is causing to beget? I have also restrained,” said your God.

Young's Literal Translation
'Do I bring to the birth, And not cause to bring forth?' saith Jehovah, 'Am not I He who is causing to beget? I have also restrained,' said thy God.

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall I cause to break and not cause to bring forth? will Jehovah say: If I cause to bring forth and did I shut up? said thy God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall not I that make others to bring forth children, myself bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I, that give generation to others, be barren, saith the Lord thy God?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Will I, who causes others to give birth, not also give birth myself, says the Lord? Will I, who bestows generation upon others, be barren myself, says the Lord your God?

New American Bible
Shall I bring a mother to the point of birth, and yet not let her child be born? says the LORD. Or shall I who bring to birth yet close her womb? says your God.

New Revised Standard Version
Shall I open the womb and not deliver? says the LORD; shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? says the LORD; perhaps it is not I who causes to bring forth and who shuts the womb? says the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Have I given this expectation and am I not begetting, says LORD JEHOVAH? Has it not been I who am bringing forth and restraining, says your God?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? Saith the LORD; Shall I that cause to bring forth shut the womb? Saith thy God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But I have raised this expectation, yet thou hast not remembered me, saith the Lord: behold, have not I made the bearing and barren woman? saith thy God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rejoice with Jerusalem
8Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. 9Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God. 10Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her,…

Cross References
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Genesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”

Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.”

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

Jeremiah 1:12
“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

Ezekiel 12:25
because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Job 42:2
“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Isaiah 55:11
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

Genesis 21:1-2
Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. / So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? said the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? said your God.

bring to

Isaiah 37:3
And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.

Genesis 18:14
Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

cause to bring forth.

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Beget Birth Cause Causing Children Close Complete Delivery Forth Gives Kept Moment Point Restrained Shut Started Womb
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Beget Birth Cause Causing Children Close Complete Delivery Forth Gives Kept Moment Point Restrained Shut Started Womb
Isaiah 66
1. The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5. He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7. With the marvelous growth
10. And the gracious benefits of the church
15. God's severe judgments against the wicked
18. The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24. And see the damnation of the wicked














Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth
This phrase begins with a rhetorical question posed by God, emphasizing His sovereignty and control over creation and life. The imagery of childbirth is powerful, symbolizing the culmination of a process that God Himself initiates and oversees. In Hebrew, the word for "bring" (אָבִיא, avi) suggests a deliberate action, indicating God's intentional involvement in the unfolding of His plans. Historically, childbirth was a significant event, often fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet here it is used to illustrate God's assurance and faithfulness in bringing His purposes to completion.

and not deliver it?
The continuation of the rhetorical question underscores God's faithfulness. The Hebrew root for "deliver" (יָלַד, yalad) is often used in the context of childbirth, but it also conveys the idea of bringing forth or completing something. This reflects God's promise to not abandon His people or His plans midway. In the broader scriptural context, this assurance is a reminder of God's unchanging nature and His commitment to fulfill His promises, as seen throughout the history of Israel and the unfolding narrative of redemption.

Or would I who delivers
Here, God identifies Himself as the one who delivers, reinforcing His role as the ultimate source of salvation and fulfillment. The repetition of the concept of delivery highlights the certainty and reliability of God's actions. In the Hebrew context, this is a profound declaration of God's omnipotence and His ability to bring about what He has promised. It serves as a reassurance to the faithful that God is both the initiator and the completer of His divine purposes.

shut the womb?
The imagery of shutting the womb signifies the cessation of life or the prevention of fulfillment. In ancient times, a closed womb was often seen as a sign of divine disfavor or judgment. However, in this context, the rhetorical question implies the impossibility of such an action by God. It emphasizes that God, who begins a good work, will see it through to completion. This phrase serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people and His plans, echoing the broader biblical theme of God's faithfulness and the assurance of His promises.

says your God
The closing phrase personalizes the message, reminding the audience of their relationship with God. The possessive "your" indicates a covenantal bond, emphasizing that the promises and assurances given are not abstract but are directed towards His chosen people. In the Hebrew tradition, the declaration "says your God" carries the weight of divine authority and certainty. It reassures the faithful of their unique relationship with God, who is both their Creator and Sustainer, and who will unfailingly bring His purposes to fruition. This serves as an encouragement to trust in God's timing and His perfect plan.

(9) Shall I bring to the birth . . .--The implied thought is that God will not leave His work of national restoration unfinished. There shall not be that frustration of hopes when they seem just on the point of being fulfilled which the history of the world so often records. (Comp. Isaiah 37:3.)

Verse 9. - Shall I bring to the birth, etc.? i.e. "Should I arrange all the preliminary circumstances for the restoration of my people, and stop there?" (Cheyne). Nay, should I, having done so much, interpose at the last moment, to shut the womb? Without such interposition, matters have progressed so far, that the result must come.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Shall I
הַאֲנִ֥י (ha·’ă·nî)
Article | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

bring a baby to the point of birth
אַשְׁבִּ֛יר (’aš·bîr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

and not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

deliver it?”
אוֹלִ֖יד (’ō·w·lîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

says
יֹאמַ֣ר (yō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD.
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

“Or
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

will I
אֲנִ֧י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

who deliver
הַמּוֹלִ֛יד (ham·mō·w·lîḏ)
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

close the womb?”
וְעָצַ֖רְתִּי (wə·‘ā·ṣar·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble

says
אָמַ֥ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

your God.
אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃ (’ĕ·lō·hā·yiḵ)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 66:9 Shall I bring to the birth (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 66:8
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