49:2 mouth. The servant conquers through preaching (11:4 note; 51:16 note; 61:1). God’s words are effective (40:8; 45:19; 55:10, 11).

sharp sword . . . polished arrow. These metaphors portray the effectiveness of the word (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15).