unfoldingWord_en_tn/isa/49/21.md

# General Information:

Yahweh continues speaking to Zion as if it were a woman. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

# Who has borne these children for me?

Zion speaks of the people who are returning to inhabit the city as if those people were her children. Zion's question expresses her surprise that so many children now belong to her. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# I was bereaved and barren, exiled and divorced

Zion describes herself as a woman incapable of having more children. She indicates the reasons for her great surprise. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# I was bereaved and barren

"I was mourning over my dead children and unable to have more"

# exiled and divorced

"I was sent away, without a husband"

# Who has raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these come from?

Again, Zion uses questions to expresses her surprise. Alternate translation: "Look, I was left all alone; now all of these children that I did not raise have come to me." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])