Isaiah 14 1

Isaiah 14:1 kjv

For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1 nkjv

For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1 niv

The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1 esv

For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1 nlt

But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.

Isaiah 14 verses

Isaiah 14 1 meaning

Isaiah 14:1 proclaims God's enduring covenant love and faithfulness towards His chosen people, Israel. Following prophecies of judgment on their oppressors, particularly Babylon, this verse pivots to a message of restoration and divine favor. It asserts that the LORD will again show deep compassion and reconfirm His choice of Israel, bringing them back to their promised land. Furthermore, it remarkably predicts that non-Israelites will be drawn to join and become part of God's people, the house of Jacob, indicating a broader scope of salvation and inclusion.

Isaiah 14 1 Context

Isaiah 14:1 provides a dramatic turn from the preceding and surrounding prophecies concerning Babylon. Chapters 13 and most of 14 focus on a detailed oracle of judgment against Babylon and its proud king. This "burden" or "oracle" predicts Babylon's devastating fall, which served as a major global power and an oppressor of God's people, Israel. Within this context of divine judgment against the proud and wicked, verse 1 begins with "For," indicating a reason or consequence stemming from Babylon's overthrow. God's act of dismantling powerful, idolatrous empires like Babylon directly paves the way for the restoration and renewal of Israel. The historical backdrop for the original audience, even before the Babylonian exile, included a longing for divine intervention against powerful gentile nations, and assurance of God's covenant promises to Israel. This verse offers hope and reversal: as Babylon falls, Israel rises, returning to its land, and remarkably, others will be drawn to its light.

Isaiah 14 1 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction acts as a pivotal connection, linking God's plan for Israel directly to the downfall of their oppressors, specifically Babylon mentioned previously. It signifies a causal relationship – because Babylon will fall, God's compassion will be manifest for Israel. It also indicates a logical explanation following the previous judgment pronouncements.
• the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and sovereign nature. This is the God who entered into covenant with Israel, fulfilling His promises through His character. It highlights that the ensuing actions are divine and originate from the true, living God, contrasting with the false gods of Babylon.
• will have compassion (יְרַחֵם, yəraḥēm): Derived from the root raḥam, often associated with the womb. It conveys deep, tender, parental, and merciful love, far beyond mere pity. This points to a profound emotional attachment and care from God for Israel, despite their failings, a love that moves Him to act on their behalf. It is a reversal of judgment into lovingkindness.
• on Jacob (אֶת־יַעֲקֹב, et-Yaʿaqov): Refers to the nation of Israel, descended from the patriarch Jacob. The use of "Jacob" often emphasizes the chosen people's human weakness and God's sovereign grace in spite of it. It serves as a personal identifier for the collective people with whom God maintains a special covenant relationship.
• He will again choose (וּבָחַר עוֹד, ūvōḥar ʿōd): The verb bāḥar (choose) signifies divine election. The adverb ʿōd (again, still, moreover) is crucial, indicating a re-affirmation or a renewed act of choice after a period of discipline or apparent abandonment. It assures Israel that God's prior choice and covenant were not nullified but will be definitively restored and expressed. This isn't a new choice but a recommitment.
• Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, bəYisraʾel): Another name for God's chosen nation, often emphasizing their identity as "one who strives with God." This repetition alongside "Jacob" reinforces the target of God's renewed favor.
• and set them (וְהִנִּיחָם, vəhinīḥām): From the root nûaḥ, meaning "to rest" or "to settle." In the Hiphil causative stem, it means "He will cause them to rest" or "He will settle them." It implies bringing stability, security, and peace after a period of unrest, exile, or upheaval. This signifies a permanent and divinely ordained placement.
• in their own land (עַל־אַדְמָתָם, ʿal-ʾadmātām): The specific, divinely promised land of Canaan/Israel, integral to God's covenant with Abraham. This underscores a literal return and re-possession, fulfilling ancient promises. It is their ancestral inheritance, linked to their identity and God's faithfulness.
• And strangers (וְנִלְוָה גֵּר, vənilvāh gēr): Gēr denotes a resident alien, foreigner, or sojourner—someone not of Israelite descent residing among them. This term emphasizes their external, non-covenant status initially. The verb nispəḥū comes from lāwâ, meaning "to join oneself to," implying a deliberate and volitional act of attachment. This signifies a significant departure from pure ethnic identity, pointing towards a spiritual inclusion.
• will join with them and attach themselves (עֲלֵיהֶם וְנִסְפְּחוּ, ʿăleyhem vənispəḥū): The verbs nīlwa (join) and nispəḥū (attach, cling) both indicate a deep, intentional integration. They are not merely temporary guests but become actively associated and committed to Israel. Sapaḥ has connotations of cleaving, making them part of the core, not just external observers. The niphal form implies a passive but willing joining, a drawing in that reflects divine action and their response.
• to the house of Jacob (עַל־בֵּית יַעֲקֹב, ʿal-beyt Yaʿaqov): Reinforces the collective entity of Israel, often referring to their cultural, religious, and national identity as God's household or community. The strangers are not merely joining the land, but joining the covenant people and their way of life. This indicates full incorporation into the people of God, implying sharing in their destiny and faith.

Isaiah 14 1 Bonus section

The Hebrew terms gēr (stranger/sojourner) and nispəḥū (attach) are noteworthy. Ger throughout the Old Testament refers to non-Israelites who lived among the Israelites, often in a vulnerable status. God’s Law frequently commanded kindness and justice towards them, indicating a pre-existing divine concern for the outsider (Exod 22:21, Deut 10:19). The prophecy here goes beyond mere tolerance; these gerim will actively and willingly attach themselves to the house of Jacob. The nuance of "attach" (from sapaḥ) carries a sense of clinging or being closely united, stronger than just "joining." This demonstrates a powerful transformation of relationship, foreshadowing the Messianic age where national boundaries for worship would become less rigid (Zech 8:20-23) and the spiritual people of God would be enlarged. This movement of "strangers" is a direct response to the display of YHWH's power and compassion, turning hearts towards Him.

Isaiah 14 1 Commentary

Isaiah 14:1 is a profoundly significant verse, not just as a message of hope for exiled Israel, but as a window into God's ultimate redemptive plan. It contrasts sharply with the preceding judgment on Babylon, illustrating the consistent biblical pattern of God bringing down the proud to exalt the humble. The re-affirmation of "choosing Israel" highlights God's irrevocable covenant faithfulness, even when His people have been disobedient. This renewed election leads to their physical restoration to "their own land," confirming the enduring nature of the land promises. Critically, the verse expands beyond an ethnocentric view of salvation by foretelling the "strangers" who "will join" and "attach themselves." This prophetic inclusion of Gentiles within the "house of Jacob" hints at the broader, New Covenant reality where believing Gentiles become part of the spiritual Israel, a concept fulfilled in Christ (Gal 3:28-29, Eph 2:11-22). It portrays a restored, blessed Israel that becomes a beacon, attracting those from outside, underscoring that God's blessings on His chosen people are ultimately intended to radiate outwards, drawing all nations to Him.