Isaiah 27 12

Isaiah 27:12 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.

Isaiah 27:12 nkjv

And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.

Isaiah 27:12 niv

In that day the LORD will thresh from the flowing Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you, Israel, will be gathered up one by one.

Isaiah 27:12 esv

In that day from the river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt the LORD will thresh out the grain, and you will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel.

Isaiah 27:12 nlt

Yet the time will come when the LORD will gather them together like handpicked grain. One by one he will gather them ? from the Euphrates River in the east to the Brook of Egypt in the west.

Isaiah 27 verses

Isaiah 27 12 Meaning

Isaiah 27:12 foretells a future day of divine action where the Lord will meticulously gather His dispersed people, the children of Israel. This gathering is depicted with an agricultural metaphor of "threshing," implying a process of separation for restoration and purification. The geographic span mentioned, from the "flowing stream" (the Euphrates River) to the "Brook of Egypt," signifies the complete collection of His people from the full extent of the ancient Near East, returning them to their covenant land. The phrase "you will be gathered one by one" emphasizes the personal and individual nature of this divine act of redemption, ensuring no one from His elect is overlooked in this comprehensive restoration.

Isaiah 27 12 Context

Isaiah 27:12 stands as a prophetic assurance within a section of Isaiah (chapters 24-27) often referred to as "Isaiah's Little Apocalypse." This portion of the book focuses on universal judgment followed by a glorious future for God's people. Chapter 27, in particular, speaks of God's victory over cosmic evil ("Leviathan," 27:1), the protection of His vineyard (Israel, 27:2-6), and His balanced dealings with Israel – punishing them for their sins while not destroying them completely (27:7-11). Verse 12 transitions to the theme of the final ingathering, a restoration following a period of chastisement and scattering. Historically, Israel had faced and would continue to face displacement under Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. This prophecy speaks beyond mere historical returns, looking towards a full and ultimate eschatological gathering of all of God's covenant people from their various dispersals throughout history. It is a promise of redemption and renewal after severe discipline.

Isaiah 27 12 Word analysis

• In that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bay-yōwm ha-hūʾ): This phrase consistently points to an eschatological period, a time of decisive divine action and revelation, often signaling the culmination of God's redemptive plan. It refers to the final end-time events.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Emphasizes the covenant God of Israel, the sovereign and self-existent One, who is actively performing this great act of restoration. This highlights the divine initiative and power.
• will thresh (יַחְבֹּט - yach·bōṭ): From the root חבט (chabat), meaning "to beat off," "to thresh." It describes the act of striking to separate the grain from the straw, or olives from the tree. Here, it implies a process of careful divine action to extract or separate His people for collection, ensuring nothing of value is lost. It signifies a diligent, forceful, and purifying act, often on the periphery of their scattered existence.
• from the flowing stream (מִפְּרָת - mīp·prāṯ): Literally, "from the Euphrates" (פְּרָת - pĕrāt). This signifies the northern and eastern boundary of the promised land and a major point of Israel's exile (Babylonian captivity was beyond this river). It represents the extent of their dispersion in one direction.
• to the Brook of Egypt (עַד נַחַל מִצְרַיִם - ‘aḏ na·ḥal miṣ·ra·yim): Also known as the Wadi of Egypt, this forms the traditional southwestern boundary of the land of Israel (e.g., Num 34:5, Josh 15:4). This signifies the extent of their dispersion in the other direction, representing all exiles from north to south.
• you will be gathered (וְאַתֶּם תְּלֻקְּטוּ - wə·’at·tem tə·luq·qə·ṭū): The passive voice emphasizes God's active role as the gatherer. The root לקט (laqat) means "to glean" or "to gather carefully," often referring to collecting scattered pieces. This term highlights the precision and completeness of God's gathering.
• one by one (לְאַחַד אֶחָד - lə·’e·ḥāḏ ’e·ḥāḏ): This highly emphatic phrase underscores the meticulous, personal, and individual nature of this divine act. Not as a mere herd, but each person individually counted, sought out, and brought back. No individual of God's chosen people will be overlooked or left behind.
• O people of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bənê yiś·rā·’ēl): Identifies the direct beneficiaries of this prophecy – the covenant people of God, referring to the entire collective of those whom God claims as His own, irrespective of historical tribal divisions or past unfaithfulness.

Words-group analysis:

• "In that day the Lord will thresh...you will be gathered": Establishes divine agency and eschatological timing for this profound work of restoration. God is the active agent in this purification and regathering.
• "from the flowing stream to the Brook of Egypt": Defines the vast geographical scope of the dispersion and consequently, the comprehensive nature of the promised gathering, covering all points from where the scattered remnants might reside.
• "you will be gathered one by one, O people of Israel": Highlights the personal and thorough nature of God's restoration, contrasting with any mass, impersonal collection. Every single individual within "the people of Israel" is significant and included in God's redemptive purpose. The "threshing" metaphor here implies a careful separation, not for destruction, but for the valuable yield to be preserved and gathered.

Isaiah 27 12 Bonus section

The threshing imagery can also be connected to the concept of the New Exodus. Just as God brought His people out of Egypt, demonstrating His power and careful leadership, this future threshing and gathering indicates another grand act of liberation and reassembly. The specific geographical markers, from Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, intentionally mirror the full extent of the land promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). This re-establishment of geographical boundaries is a significant sign of God’s complete restoration of His covenant promises to His people, not just in terms of return to land, but also a spiritual renewal, where they once again dwell securely under His covenant blessings.

Isaiah 27 12 Commentary

Isaiah 27:12 is a powerful assurance of God's faithful and sovereign intent to restore His covenant people. Following chapters of judgment and global upheaval, this verse shifts focus to God's tender yet precise gathering. The "threshing" imagery, while often associated with judgment, here signifies a refining process – separating the scattered valuable remnants (the "grain") from the debris of dispersion. It's a careful sifting across the vastness of the Middle East, from the Euphrates in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south, encompassing all traditional and historical points of exile for Israel. The emphasis on "one by one" is crucial, painting a picture not of a general, impersonal assembly, but of God’s meticulous and personal care for each individual in the future spiritual and physical restoration. This promise finds its ultimate fulfillment not just in post-exilic returns but in the wider, eschatological gathering of all God's elect, both Jew and Gentile, into the kingdom of God through Christ. It underscores the certainty that despite dispersion, no part of God's true Israel will be lost or forgotten.