At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.

ISAIAH 17:7KJV
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Isaiah 17:7 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 17:7 mean?

Isaiah 17:7 describes a time when people will turn their attention to the God who made them. Isaiah calls God “the Holy One of Israel,” identifying the one to whom they will look after the severe loss pictured in the preceding verse.

The verse pictures a change in direction through the image of a person’s eyes. After the few remaining people are compared to fruit left on a harvested tree in verse 6, Isaiah describes a person looking toward God.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 17:7

  • “man” — אָדָם (adam): This word can mean a human being or people generally. The singular picture of “a man” presents a person looking, rather than naming a particular individual.
  • “look” — שָׁעָה (shaʿah): This word can mean to look toward or pay attention to someone. Here the gaze suggests an attentive turning toward the Maker.
  • “respect” — רָאָה (raʾah): The word commonly means to see or look. In the KJV phrase “his eyes shall have respect,” it describes where the person directs his gaze.

Why Isaiah 17:7 matters

  • The person’s Maker and “the Holy One of Israel” are the same one in Isaiah’s description. The two titles connect the God who made people with the God identified with Israel.
  • The passage contrasts attention to God with attention to human-made objects. In verse 8, the person no longer looks to the altars and sacred objects made by human hands.
  • The phrase “at that day” places the change alongside the losses Isaiah has just described. The wider passage presents the turning toward God in the setting of those events.

Where else these words appear

“look” Hebrew H8159 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
  • Job 7:19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
  • Isaiah 22:4 Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

“Holy” Hebrew H6918 · used in 106 verses

  • Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 19:22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
  • Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.