Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. (Isaiah 49:1)

from the womb . . . the body of my mother. The whole world, including Gentiles (“coastlands,” “peoples from afar”) are called to recognize two significant points: 1) the Messiah/Servant will be a human being, born as others are of a woman, yet virgin born, and 2) he will be an individual as distinct from a personified group such as the nation of Israel, which has also been called the Lord’s servant. (John MacArthur)

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This is directed to the isles (that is, the Gentiles, for they are called the isles of the Gentiles,(Genesis 10:5) and to the people from far, that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, and afar off. Let these listen as to a thing at a distance, which yet they are to hear with desire and attention. Note, 1. The tidings of a Redeemer are sent to the Gentiles, and to those that lie most remote; and they are concerned to listen to them. 2. The Gentiles listened to the gospel when the Jews were deaf to it. (Matthew Henry)