Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 65:1

"I am inquired of by them that asked not [for me]; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." — Isaiah 65:1 (ASV)

I am sought of them that asked not for me — That is, by the Gentiles. So Paul applies it in (Romans 10:20). Lowth translates the word rendered ‘I am sought’ as ‘I am made known.’ Noyes translates it as ‘I have heard.’ The Septuagint renders it, Ἐμφανὴς ἐγενήθην (Emphanēs egenēthēn) — ‘I became manifest.’ Jerome translates, ‘They sought me who had not before inquired for me.’ The Chaldee states, ‘I am sought in my word by those who had not asked me before my face.’ The Hebrew word דרשׁ (dârash) properly means “to frequent a place, to search, or seek”; and in the Niphal—the form used here—it means “to be sought, to grant access to anyone; hence, to hear and answer prayer” (Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 20:3–31).

Here there is not only the idea that he was sought, but that they obtained access to him, for he listened to their supplications. The phrase ‘that asked not for me’ means that they had not been accustomed to worship the true God. The idea is that those who had not been accustomed to call upon him had obtained mercy.

I am found of them — Paul has rendered this (Romans 10:20) as Ἐμφανὴς ἐγενόμην (Emphanēs egenomēn) — ‘I was made manifest.’ The idea is that they obtained his favor.

I said, Behold me, behold me — I offered them my favor, and invited them to partake of salvation. Paul has omitted this in his quotation.

Unto a nation — This does not refer to any particular nation, but to people who had never been admitted to favor with God.

That was not called by my name — (See the notes at Isaiah 63:19).