Isaiah 60:22 kjv
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 60:22 nkjv
A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time."
Isaiah 60:22 niv
The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly."
Isaiah 60:22 esv
The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will hasten it.
Isaiah 60:22 nlt
The smallest family will become a thousand people,
and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen."
Isaiah 60 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 60:22 | "The least will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly." | Directly stated promise |
| Jeremiah 31:28 | "Just as I have watched over them to uproot and to break down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the Lord. | God's restorative work |
| Ezekiel 36:11 | "I will multiply men and animals on you, and they will be fruitful and increase. I will settle you in the way you were before, and I will deal better with you than with your beginnings. Then you will know that I am the Lord." | Abundant increase |
| Amos 9:13 | "The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will overtake the ploughman, and the treader of grapes will overtake the sower, when the mountains drip with wine and all the hills overflow with grain." | Timeliness and abundance |
| Zechariah 8:23 | "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with your people.' " | Inclusivity and divine presence |
| John 1:16 | "Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." | Divine fullness |
| Romans 9:28 | "For the Lord will carry out his sentence on the earth completely and without delay." | Divine execution |
| Romans 11:12 | "Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fullness mean!" | Gentile inclusion |
| 2 Corinthians 3:6 | "...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." | Spirit's transforming power |
| Ephesians 2:19 | "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household," | Belonging and inclusion |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." | Stewardship of grace |
| Revelation 21:1, 5 | "Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’... And he who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”" | New creation ultimate fulfillment |
| Revelation 22:2 | "...on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." | Universal healing and provision |
| Matthew 13:31-33 | Parable of the Mustard Seed and Leaven | Kingdom growth |
| Isaiah 11:6-9 | The peaceable kingdom where animals live harmoniously. | Transformative peace |
| Jeremiah 30:19 | "From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be diminished; I will honor them, and they will not be slighted." | God's blessing and honor |
| Ezekiel 17:22-24 | God's promise to replant David's royal line. | Restoration of a remnant |
| Psalm 72:17 | "May his name endure forever! May his name continue as long as the sun! May all nations be blessed through him. May they call him blessed!" | Universal blessing through a king |
| Acts 2:41 | "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to them that day." | Rapid growth in the early church |
| Revelation 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..." | Great multitude from all nations |
Isaiah 60 verses
Isaiah 60 22 Meaning
The verse promises a swift and certain fulfillment of God's promises to His people. It highlights God's direct and personal involvement in bringing about this transformation. The ultimate fulfillment points to the new heavens and new earth where God's kingdom is fully established.
Isaiah 60 22 Context
This verse is the concluding statement of Isaiah chapter 60, which is a prophetic vision of Jerusalem's future restoration and glory. The chapter focuses on the magnificent influx of wealth, nations, and peoples coming to Jerusalem, symbolizing its elevated status as a spiritual and political center. The immediate context before verse 22 speaks of rebuilding, rebuilding the cities, and Jerusalem as a crown of beauty. This verse acts as a capstone, emphasizing the completeness and speed of God's promised restoration and transformation. Historically, these prophecies would have resonated with a people experiencing exile and looking forward to a return and renewed covenant with God. The chapter sets a tone of hope and exultation.
Isaiah 60 22 Word Analysis
- וְהַצָּעִיר (v'hatza'ir):
- וְ (v'): Conjunction "and." Connects this statement to the preceding ones, adding another layer of God's promise.
- הַ (ha): The definite article "the."
- צָעִיר (tza'ir): Adjective meaning "small," "young," "least," or "insignificant." Here it refers to the smallest or least among God's people, or even a small, seemingly insignificant beginning.
- לְאַלָּף (l'alaph):
- לְ (l'): Preposition meaning "to," "into," or "as."
- אַלָּף (alaph): Noun meaning "thousand." Indicates a massive multiplication or increase. The "least" becoming a "thousand" signifies an exponential growth from a humble starting point.
- וְהַקָּטֹן (v'hakkaton):
- וְ (v'e): Conjunction "and."
- הַ (ha): The definite article "the."
- קָטֹן (katon): Adjective meaning "small," "little," or "minor." Similar to "tza'ir," it emphasizes insignificance or smallness, reinforcing the theme of great transformation from humble beginnings.
- לְגוֹי (l'goy):
- לְ (l'): Preposition "to," "into," or "as."
- גוֹי (goy): Noun meaning "nation" or "people." This suggests not just an increase in numbers, but a transformation into a formidable and recognized nation or group.
- עָצוּם ('atsum):
- Adjective meaning "mighty," "powerful," or "numerous."
- The phrase "the small becomes a thousand" and "the least becomes a mighty nation" illustrates the radical increase and empowerment God bestows. It speaks of becoming something of significant stature and strength.
- אֲנִי (ani):
- Pronoun meaning "I." This personal pronoun emphasizes God's direct agency and personal involvement in fulfilling His promises.
- יְהוָה (YHWH):
- The Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, "The LORD." Its inclusion is significant, reminding the audience of God's faithfulness and power as the God who has entered into covenant.
- בְּעִתָּהּ (b'itah):
- בְּ (b'): Preposition "in."
- עִתָּהּ ('itah): Noun meaning "its time" or "appointed time." This indicates that God's promised action will occur at the divinely ordained moment. It is not random, but timely.
- מְהֻרְתִּי (mehurtí):
- Verb, Hiphil (causative) form of the root מהר (mahar), meaning "to hasten" or "to make swift." Here it is a participle or adjective describing the action: "I will hasten it" or "I will make it swift." This emphasizes the immediacy and certainty of God's intervention once the appointed time arrives.
Isaiah 60 22 Bonus Section
The promise of the "least" becoming "a thousand" and the "small" a "mighty nation" is a recurring theme of God turning perceived weakness into overwhelming strength for His purposes. This is evident from the small nation of Israel being multiplied in Egypt, though this initially led to slavery. However, the ultimate fulfillment is seen in spiritual growth and the universality of the Church, where individuals from all backgrounds and of all capacities become part of a vast, spiritually mighty nation through Christ. The "swiftness" indicated by "mehurtí" contrasts with periods of slow divine action or human anticipation, emphasizing that God's ultimate work will be marked by decisive completion rather than delay. This prophetic assurance speaks to the reliability of God's character and His unwavering commitment to His promises.
Isaiah 60 22 Commentary
This verse provides a powerful assurance of God's redemptive and restorative power. It speaks to a future reality where the humble, the overlooked, and the seemingly weak will experience extraordinary growth and strength. This transformation is not due to human effort alone, but is directly initiated and accomplished by God Himself at His appointed time. The "least" becoming a "thousand" and the "small" a "mighty nation" points to an abundant and rapid expansion. This is characteristic of God’s work, especially when establishing His kingdom and blessing His people. The phrase "I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly" encapsulates God’s faithfulness, power, and perfect timing. It signifies that the grand plans of salvation will unfold not slowly and hesitantly, but with swift decisiveness when the moment is right. This ultimate fulfillment is seen in the expansion of God's people through the Gospel and the future establishment of the New Jerusalem.