Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 41:27

"[I am the] first [that saith] unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings." — Isaiah 41:27 (ASV)

The first shall say to Zion - This translation is unfortunate. It does not convey any clear meaning, nor is it possible from the translation to surmise what the word ‘first’ refers to. The correct translation undoubtedly is, ‘I first said to Zion;’ and the meaning is, ‘I, Yahweh, first gave to Zion the announcement of these things. I predicted the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and the raising up of the man who should deliver them; and I only have spoken the prophecies concerning the time and circumstances in which these events would occur.’

The Septuagint translates it, ‘I will first give notice to Zion, and I will comfort Jerusalem in the way.’ The Chaldee translates it, ‘The words of consolation which the prophets have spoken concerning Zion in the beginning, look, they are about to come to pass.’ The meaning of the passage is that no one of the idol-gods, or their prophets, had predicted these events. The first indication of them had been by Yahweh, and this had been made to Zion, and designed for its consolation.

Behold, behold them - Look, these events are about to happen. Zion, or Jerusalem, was to behold them, for they were intended to bring about its deliverance and secure its welfare. The words ‘Zion’ and ‘Jerusalem’ here seem intended to denote the Jewish people in general, or to refer to Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish nation. The indication had been given in the capital of the nation, and from there to the entire people.

And I will give - Or rather, I give, or I have given. The passage means that the messenger of the good news about the raising up of a deliverer would be sent to the Jewish people.

To them the joyful news was announced long before the event. The news of the raising up of such a man—an event of so much interest to them—was made known to them long before the pagans had any indication of it, and it would occur as the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy recorded among the Jews.

The prophet refers here, undoubtedly, for the most part, to his own prophecies spoken so long before the event would occur, and which would be distinctly known when they would be in exile in Babylon.