Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

ISAIAH 49:22KJV
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Isaiah 49:22 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 49:22 mean?

Isaiah 49:22 describes God announcing that He will call the nations (Gentiles) to help restore His people, using the image of lifting His hand and raising a banner as a signal. Foreign peoples will bring back Israel’s sons and daughters with care and honor, carrying them in their arms and on their shoulders.

In this verse, the Lord GOD is speaking through Isaiah to the people of Israel, who are facing exile and hardship. The verse uses powerful imagery to show that God will act publicly and decisively, signaling to other nations to assist in bringing His scattered people home. The scene is one of reversal and hope, where those once exiled will be treated with dignity by those who were not originally part of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 49:22

  • "Gentiles" (גּוֹיִם, goyim): This word refers to the nations outside Israel. Here, it emphasizes that God’s plan includes people beyond Israel, showing a broad, international scope.
  • "Standard" (נֵס, nes): This word means a banner or signal pole. In the ancient world, a raised banner was a rallying point. God’s “standard” here symbolizes a clear, unmistakable call for the nations to gather and help.
  • "Arms" (חֵיק, cheq): This word refers to the lap or bosom, suggesting a gentle, protective carrying. The image is of children being brought back with affection and care, not force.
  • "Shoulders" (כָּתֵף, katef): Carrying someone on the shoulders was a sign of honor and importance, often reserved for special occasions or beloved individuals.

Why Isaiah 49:22 matters

  • Isaiah 49:22 clarifies that God’s restoration of His people is not just a private or local event, but something that involves the wider world, breaking the idea that only Israel is in view.
  • The verse highlights the dignity and care with which God’s people will be treated in their return, countering any expectation of a harsh or humiliating restoration.
  • In the context of Isaiah 49, this verse strengthens the theme that God’s salvation and plans reach far beyond Israel, hinting at a future where all nations play a role in God’s purposes.

Where else these words appear

“arms” Hebrew H2684 · used in 2 verses

  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

“standard” Hebrew H5251 · used in 20 verses

  • Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
  • Isaiah 11:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
  • Isaiah 62:10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

“shoulders” Hebrew H3802 · used in 58 verses

  • Exodus 27:14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.
  • Joshua 18:13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
  • Isaiah 46:7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.