Isaiah 61:5 kjv
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isaiah 61:5 nkjv
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isaiah 61:5 niv
Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
Isaiah 61:5 esv
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
Isaiah 61:5 nlt
Foreigners will be your servants.
They will feed your flocks
and plow your fields
and tend your vineyards.
Isaiah 61 5 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Isaiah 61:5 | Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. | Immediate context, restoration |
Genesis 12:3 | In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | Abrahamic covenant |
Psalm 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water... | Metaphor of prosperity |
Jeremiah 31:12 | They shall come and sing for joy on the height of Zion... | Future restoration, joy |
Joel 2:22 | Do not fear, O soil; rejoice and be glad, for the LORD does great things. | Divine provision, rejoicing |
Zechariah 8:12 | For there will be a sowing of peace: the vine will give its fruit, and the ground will give its produce, and the heavens will give their dew... | Abundant provision |
John 15:1 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. | Jesus as the source of life |
Galatians 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | Inheritance in Christ |
Romans 8:17 | Now if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ... | Children of God, heirs |
1 Corinthians 3:9 | For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. | God's work in believers |
Ephesians 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. | Inclusion in God's family |
Philippians 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's provision |
Colossians 1:10 | so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him... | Living a life of blessing |
Hebrews 6:7 | For when the rain falls on a garden, the plants drink it in and are blessed... | Spiritual fruitfulness |
1 Peter 2:5 | ...and in Christ you are being built into a spiritual house... | Part of God's house |
Revelation 7:9 | ...a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages... | Universal salvation |
Revelation 14:6 | ...proclaim with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth... | Worship of the Creator |
Isaiah 54:3 | For you shall spread to the right and to the left; your offspring shall inherit the nations and shall populate the desolate cities. | Expansion and dominion |
Isaiah 60:10 | Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you... | Gentiles serving Israel |
Genesis 26:4 | I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. | Seed of Abraham's blessing |
Joshua 23:10 | One man of you shall put to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you... | Divine strength in battle |
Amos 9:13 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed... | Abundance of harvest |
Isaiah 61 verses
Isaiah 61 5 Meaning
This verse paints a picture of abundant blessing and divine restoration, describing individuals not merely surviving but thriving through the grace and protection of God. It speaks of being strengthened and fortified, akin to well-watered agricultural land, experiencing supernatural flourishing and prolific growth under divine care.
Isaiah 61 5 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah 61, a chapter often seen as a prophecy of the Messiah and the spiritual blessings He would bring. The immediate context follows prophecies of comfort and healing for the brokenhearted, and the proclamation of a year of favor. The restoration described here is not just physical but also social and economic, suggesting a reversal of previous fortunes and a period of unprecedented prosperity and security under divinely appointed leaders or through God’s direct intervention. The passage moves from internal restoration to external blessing and engagement with the world.
Isaiah 61 5 Word Analysis
- וְצָרִ֖ים (vetsarim) - Strangers; implies foreigners or those previously alienated, indicating their inclusion and active participation.
- וְעָמְד֥וּ (ve’amdu) - And shall stand; suggests active, stable, and supportive presence.
- וְרָע֥וּ (verahyu) - And shall feed; referring to shepherding, symbolizing care, provision, and management of resources.
- צֹאנְכֶֽם (tsonchem) - Your flocks; representing wealth, sustenance, and blessing.
- וְזָרִ֖ים (vezarim) - And strangers; reiterates the inclusion of the "other."
- כֹּלְ֒לֵיכֶם (kolelim) - Your plowmen (literally, all your strength/laborers); signifies those who work the land, enabling cultivation and production.
- וּפַלְחֵ֣י (ufalhei) - And plowmen/cultivators (a more technical term for tilling/working); highlights the skilled labor and agricultural effort.
- כַּרְמְלְכֶֽם (karmelem) - Your vineyard; symbolizes productive and flourishing agriculture, a rich source of sustenance and joy.
Group Analysis:The phrases "Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks" and "foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers" together illustrate a profound reversal. Instead of being oppressed or excluded, these previously external groups are now integrated and actively contributing to the community's welfare, managing its most valuable assets. This signifies peace, prosperity, and God's sovereign arrangement of resources and relationships.
Isaiah 61 5 Bonus Section
The imagery of strangers feeding flocks and tending vineyards can be understood in the context of a unified global community or the integration of gentiles into the people of God, as alluded to in the New Testament. This concept of inclusion and shared responsibility for God's blessings resonates with the Messianic age and the New Covenant. The "plowing" and "vinedressing" signify the labor that brings forth fruit, emphasizing that this prosperity is not passive but actively maintained and cultivated, with God as the ultimate source ensuring the success of the labor, even when performed by those previously outside the covenant community. This integration of "strangers" also mirrors God's design for His people to be a light to the nations, influencing and drawing others into His blessing.
Isaiah 61 5 Commentary
Isaiah 61:5 presents a vivid picture of ultimate restoration where the roles of strangers and foreigners are transformed. They are no longer outsiders but active participants and caretakers of God’s people’s prosperity. This highlights God’s power to bring about peace and unity, making enemies or estranged people into allies and partners. It speaks to a time when divisions are overcome, and all resources and abilities are mobilized for the common good, under divine orchestration. The verse underscores that true flourishing is inclusive and comes from God’s abundant blessing, which can even repurpose those previously considered outsiders.