Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 49:25

"But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." — Isaiah 49:25 (ASV)

But thus says the Lord - The meaning of this verse is that however difficult or impracticable this might seem, it should still be done. The captives taken by the terrible and the mighty should be rescued and restored to their own land.

Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘The captivity of the mighty’—that is, what could not have been rescued by any ordinary means. The language here undoubtedly refers to Babylon and to the captivity of the Jews there.

The prey of the terrible - That is, of a nation formidable, cruel, and not inclined to compassion; in the previous verse, this nation is described as ‘just,’ meaning indisposed to mercy.

For I will contend with him - I will punish the nation that has inflicted these wrongs on you and will thus rescue you from bondage.