Isaiah 51:2 - Exposition

I called him alone ; or, I called him when he was but ode; i.e. before he had any children (comp. Ezekiel 33:24 , "Abraham was one, and he inherited the land"). And blessed him (see Genesis 24:1 , Genesis 24:35 ). And increased him ; i.e. "made him a father of many nations" ( Genesis 17:5 ). If God could multiply the progeny of ode man, much more could he make a flourishing nation out of the exiles, who, though but a "remnant" of the pro-Captivity Israel, were yet many thousands in number (see Ezra 2:64 ).