Isaiah 41:27
“The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God promises that the good news of restoration will come to Jerusalem first, and a messenger will bring tidings of deliverance.
Context
This verse may allude to the proclamation of deliverance in Isaiah 52:7 ('How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings') and applies to the return from exile as well as to eschatological hope.
What Does Isaiah 41:27 Mean?
Suddenly the focus shifts from the courtroom trial to the word of hope. The first messenger, the first messenger to arrive, will bring word to Zion. Behold them, he will cry. Look at what is coming, what God has accomplished. And God Himself declares: I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. Not in the distant future, but as part of God's present action. The messenger of good news is itself a gift from God, part of His covenant faithfulness.
There is something tender here. The exiles in Babylon did not need to send scouts or listen for rumors. God Himself would send them word. Their restoration would be announced, declared, made known to them as a gift. We too sometimes need to be reminded that good news will come to us, that God does not leave us stranded without word of His comfort.
In the Original Language
basar (Hebrew), 'bring good tidings' or 'evangelize' -- literally 'bring news of victory'; the root refers to announcing the outcome of a battle, peace, or deliverance.
Application
God does not abandon His people to confusion. He sends word, sends messengers, ensures that those who trust in Him will know His comfort and His plan. We can look for the messengers of good news God sends our way.