Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

ISAIAH 49:24KJV
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Isaiah 49:24 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 49:24 mean?

Isaiah 49:24 asks whether it is possible for someone to rescue prey from a powerful person or for someone who is rightfully held captive to be set free. The verse presents a question that highlights the seeming impossibility of deliverance from a strong oppressor.

In this part of Isaiah, God is speaking through the prophet to the people of Israel, who feel trapped and powerless under foreign powers. The question sets up the idea that, from a human perspective, escape or rescue looks impossible, but it prepares the reader for God’s answer that follows, showing His power to save even in hopeless situations.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 49:24

  • "Prey" (מַלְקוֹחַ, malqoach) refers to something or someone taken by force, like spoils or captives. This word emphasizes the helplessness of those taken by the strong.
  • "Mighty" (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor) means a strong or powerful person, often a warrior. The verse paints the captor as someone no ordinary person could challenge.
  • "Lawful" (צַדִּיק, tsaddiq) means "righteous" or "just," and here describes the captive as someone who, by law or right, belongs to the captor. This makes the situation seem even more hopeless.
  • "Delivered" (פָּלַט, palat) means to escape or be rescued. The use of this word points to the idea of a dramatic rescue that would be unexpected or miraculous.

Why Isaiah 49:24 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that some situations are beyond hope, showing that what seems impossible to people is not impossible for God.
  • The question sets up the next verses, where God promises to act powerfully for His people, making the contrast between human weakness and divine strength clear.
  • Understanding the original words helps readers see that the captives are not just taken by chance, but are held by someone with real power and even legal claim, making God’s promised rescue even more striking.

Where else these words appear

“prey” Hebrew H4455 · used in 8 verses

  • Numbers 31:11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
  • Numbers 31:26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:
  • Numbers 31:32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,

“captive” Hebrew H7628 · used in 47 verses

  • Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
  • Ezra 8:35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
  • Jeremiah 30:10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

“delivered” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
  • Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.