Isaiah 60:4 kjv
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Isaiah 60:4 nkjv
"Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
Isaiah 60:4 niv
"Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Isaiah 60:4 esv
Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Isaiah 60:4 nlt
"Look and see, for everyone is coming home!
Your sons are coming from distant lands;
your little daughters will be carried home.
Isaiah 60 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 43:5-6 | "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east..." | God's promise to gather His people globally. |
| Isa 49:22 | "See, I will beckon to the nations, and lift up my banner to the peoples..." | Nations assisting in the return of Israel's children. |
| Isa 49:23 | "Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers." | Foreign rulers caring for Zion's children. |
| Isa 60:1 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises..." | The foundational command to Zion to arise and see. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | Broader context of nations coming to Jerusalem's light. | Emphasizes the preceding command and purpose. |
| Isa 62:4 | "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate..." | Assurance of Jerusalem's restored status. |
| Jer 23:3 | "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries..." | God's promise to regather His scattered sheep. |
| Jer 32:37 | "I will gather them from all the countries where I banish them..." | Explicit promise of return from exile. |
| Eze 34:13 | "I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries." | Prophecy of shepherds gathering the flock. |
| Zec 8:7-8 | "I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west..." | Promise of gathering from all directions. |
| Psa 107:2-3 | "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story...gathered from the lands." | Recounting God's deliverance and gathering. |
| Deut 30:3-5 | "Then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes...gather you again..." | Covenant promise of restoration from exile. |
| Isa 54:13 | "All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace." | Promise of the spiritual nourishment of Zion's children. |
| Mal 4:6 | "He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts..." | The restoration of familial bonds in end times. |
| Joel 3:1 | "In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah..." | Prophecy concerning the ultimate restoration. |
| Mt 23:37 | "Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often I have longed to gather your children..." | Jesus' lament and desire for Jerusalem's ingathering. |
| Lk 13:34 | Similar to Matthew, Jesus' sorrow over Jerusalem's refusal. | Highlights the desired, though resisted, gathering. |
| Gal 4:26 | "But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." | The New Covenant spiritual fulfillment in heavenly Jerusalem. |
| Heb 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." | The ultimate spiritual fulfillment in Christ. |
| Rev 21:24 | "The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring..." | Vision of the New Jerusalem where nations gather. |
| Rev 21:26 | "The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it." | Further detail of the nations' homage and gathering. |
| Isa 11:12 | "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel..." | The regathering facilitated by a divine sign. |
Isaiah 60 verses
Isaiah 60 4 Meaning
Isaiah 60:4 is a powerful prophetic declaration to Zion (Jerusalem), envisioning a future where God's people, long dispersed, will be gathered and returned to her. It depicts a global ingathering of descendants from distant lands, emphasizing a tender, protective homecoming for all, particularly for the daughters. The verse calls Zion to witness this divinely orchestrated restoration, which signifies God's faithfulness and the city's future glory as a beacon for the returning exiles.
Isaiah 60 4 Context
Isaiah 60 stands as a brilliant prophecy of future glory and restoration for Zion, envisioned after a period of intense suffering and desolation, primarily referring to the Babylonian exile and its aftermath. The chapter opens with an urgent command to Jerusalem to "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you" (Isa 60:1). This implies a transition from darkness and obscurity to divine illumination and visibility. Verse 4, specifically, elaborates on how this glory will manifest: through the physical and spiritual return of its scattered people. The historical context for the original audience, living in or contemplating return from exile, was one of despair and doubt about Jerusalem's future. The city lay in ruins, its population deported. This prophecy counters that despair, painting a vibrant picture of God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It is also an implicit polemic against the idea that other nations or false gods have triumphed over Judah's God, asserting YHWH's sovereign power to restore what was lost and elevate Zion beyond her former standing, making her the spiritual magnet for both Israel's diaspora and the Gentiles.
Isaiah 60 4 Word analysis
- Lift up your eyes (Sə'î êynayik): This is a command to Zion, personified as a woman. It signifies a shift in perspective from mourning and despair to hope and expectation. The Hebrew imperative suggests an active, deliberate act of observation, calling her to witness the unfolding divine promise rather than focusing on her desolate state. It's a divine directive to see with spiritual eyes what God is doing.
- all around (sāḇîḇ): Emphasizes the comprehensive scope of observation. Zion is to look in every direction, indicating the universal origin of her returning children.
- and see (û rə'î): A reiteration and reinforcement of the initial command, underscoring the certainty and reality of what is about to be observed. It's not just a casual glance, but an understanding perception.
- they all gather (kulām niqbəṣû): "All of them are gathered." The Hebrew niqbəṣû is a passive verb (Nifal stem), implying that this gathering is divinely initiated and executed; it is God who gathers them, and they are drawn to Zion. The "all" denotes a complete and comprehensive return, none forgotten.
- they come to you (bā'û lāḵ): Direct and intentional movement towards Zion. It is not just a gathering generally, but a specific orientation towards Jerusalem, affirming her centrality in God's redemptive plan.
- your sons (bānayik): Refers to the male descendants of Israel, specifically those who were scattered in exile. Their return represents the re-establishment of the national and spiritual identity.
- will come from afar (mēraḥôq yĕ'eṯāyû): From distant lands, highlighting the extensive nature of the diaspora and the miraculous breadth of God's restoration. No distance is too great for God's redemptive hand.
- and your daughters (ûḇənotayik): Specifically mentioning female descendants. This highlights the holistic nature of the restoration – not just warriors or leaders, but the entire fabric of the community, including its most vulnerable members.
- will be carried (tinaśena): The verb nasa' (carry) here implies gentle, careful, and honored transport. They are not merely walking back through hardship but are being brought with tender care and assistance.
- on the hip (‘al-tsa‘ad): This is a crucial image. Tsa'ad can mean 'hip,' 'side,' or 'lap.' The imagery is of infants or young children being carried close to the body, either on the hip by a parent or nurse, or held securely in a guardian's arms. It conveys utmost care, protection, affection, and tenderness, indicating that their journey back will be one of comfort and honor, protected from hardship, possibly even being brought by foreign nations in tribute (as hinted at in other verses of the chapter).
Isaiah 60 4 Bonus section
The tender imagery of "daughters being carried on the hip" finds echoes in ancient Near Eastern customs where children, especially cherished ones, were carried in this manner. It conveys deep maternal or parental affection and protection. This prophetic vision suggests not only God's personal care for His people but also implies that the surrounding nations, who were previously instruments of judgment, will now serve as escorts and protectors, assisting in the dignified and loving return of Zion's children, rather than hindering them. This reversal of fortune underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and His capacity to turn hostile actions into subservient acts for His redemptive plan.
Isaiah 60 4 Commentary
Isaiah 60:4 provides a tender and compelling glimpse into Zion's future restoration, directly challenging any lingering despair from the exilic period. It paints a picture of complete renewal, driven by divine initiative. The call for Zion to "Lift up your eyes... and see" isn't a mere suggestion but a divine command, demanding a shift from a posture of desolation to one of hopeful anticipation. The spectacle to be witnessed is the glorious return of her scattered children – sons and daughters alike – converging from across the globe. The profound emphasis lies in the nature of this return: not as weary, struggling refugees, but as treasured members, particularly the daughters, carried "on the hip" with the utmost care, tenderness, and honor. This powerful imagery conveys divine protection, comfort, and provision for those who experienced the trauma of displacement. It signifies God's faithfulness to His covenant people, guaranteeing not only their physical return but also their esteemed status in a restored Jerusalem that will radiate His glory. This prophecy transcends the immediate post-exilic context, pointing towards a fuller, eschatological gathering, interpreted by Christians as finding its ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the Church and the heavenly Jerusalem, where believers are gathered into God's presence under His loving care.