Isaiah 22 22

Isaiah 22:22 kjv

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Isaiah 22:22 nkjv

The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Isaiah 22:22 niv

I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Isaiah 22:22 esv

And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Isaiah 22:22 nlt

I will give him the key to the house of David ? the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.

Isaiah 22 verses

Isaiah 22 22 Meaning

The Lord will place the key of David upon Hezekiah's shoulder. He will open, and none will shut; he will shut, and none will open. This signifies absolute authority and access granted to Hezekiah, reflecting God's sovereign control over all things. It points to a unique entrusted responsibility for the governance and security of the house of David, a role of significant trust and power bestowed by God.

Isaiah 22 22 Context

This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 22, which deals with the impending judgment on Jerusalem, specifically due to the complacency and unfaithfulness of its leaders. The passage describes an invasion, likely by the Assyrians under Sennacherib, and highlights the moral and spiritual decay within Jerusalem's administration. The specific context leading to verse 22 involves the replacement of Shebna, a proud and corrupt official, with Eliakim, a faithful servant. God, through Isaiah, announces this change in leadership, signifying a shift in divine favor and entrusted authority. The broader context is the ongoing prophecy concerning Judah and Jerusalem, detailing God's judgments and eventual restoration through a Davidic ruler.

Isaiah 22 22 Word Analysis

• וְנָתַתִּ֥י (wenatati): "And I will place." This signifies an act of bestowal or imputation by God. It implies an active delegation of authority.

• עַל־שִׁכְמ֑וֹ (al-shichmo): "upon his shoulder." Shoulders were symbols of burden-bearing, responsibility, and authority in the ancient Near East. The key was physically placed there, representing the weight of the office.

• אֶת־מַפְתֵּ֖חַ (et-mafteach): "the key." The key is a potent symbol of access, authority, and dominion. In ancient times, a key might have been a substantial object, not necessarily a modern small key, and its bestowal meant entrusting governance and treasury.

• בֵּ֥ית (Beit): "the house." This refers to the household or dynasty.

• דָּוִ֖יד (Dawiyd): "of David." This explicitly links the authority to the Davidic dynasty, indicating a messianic foreshadowing.

• וּפָתַ֖ח (ufetach): "and he shall open." This action denotes granting access or bringing about a new order.

• וְשָׁמַ֣ר (weshamar): "and he shall guard/keep shut." This signifies the power to restrict or deny access.

• וְאָ֧סָר (we’asar): "and he shall bind/shut." This parallels the action of closing and sealing, signifying finality in decisions.

• וּפָתַ֥ח (ufetach) - Repeated: The repetition emphasizes the absolute nature of the authority – both opening and shutting are entirely within his power.

• אֵ֥ין (eîn): "there is no one." This highlights the exclusivity of the authority.

• וְיִפְתַּ֣ח (weyiftach): "who will open."

• וְאָסַ֥ר (we’asar) - Repeated:

• וְגָוָ֣ע (wegava'u): "and no one will shut." The Hebrew suggests "they will die" in some translations for Shebna, but here refers to the futility of others trying to override Eliakim's decisions regarding the door. The common understanding for the context of Eliakim is "none will open."

• וְאָפַ֥ר (we'afer): "and none will shut."

• Key-group analysis: The concept of "key" being placed on the "shoulder" signifies entrusted, absolute authority for stewardship and governance within the "house of David." The subsequent actions of opening and shutting represent complete control over access and decisions pertaining to this dominion. The explicit mention of David points to a continuity of authority and promise connected to that lineage.

Isaiah 22 22 Bonus Section

The symbolism of the key is consistent throughout Scripture, often representing knowledge, authority, or access. In the New Testament, Jesus himself is presented as holding the key, fulfilling this ancient prophecy. The burden on the shoulder further emphasizes that such authority comes with great responsibility and is not a trivial matter but a solemn charge. The specific wording about "opening and none shutting, shutting and none opening" highlights the sovereign and definitive nature of God's decisions, which no human power can thwart. The transfer of this symbolic authority from Shebna, a figure of pride and apostasy, to Eliakim, a more faithful steward, illustrates God’s principle of promoting the humble and judging the proud, as also seen in the Magnificat (Luke 1:52).

Isaiah 22 22 Commentary

This verse marks a pivotal prophetic declaration by God regarding a change in high-level civil and perhaps religious administration within Jerusalem. Shebna, a faithless and self-serving official, is to be replaced by Eliakim. The symbol of the "key of David" placed on Eliakim's shoulder is immensely significant. It speaks of inherited authority, access to resources, and the responsibility to govern justly, echoing God's own dominion. This promise is deeply rooted in the Davidic covenant. While referring to Eliakim's earthly role, this passage carries profound prophetic weight, pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who is depicted as the ultimate Davidic king and the true holder of the "key of David." His authority to open and shut—to grant salvation and access to God's kingdom—is absolute and eternal. This prophetic transference of a symbolic authority underscores that God sovereignly appoints and removes leaders, and His ultimate authority is always sovereign.