A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

ISAIAH 60:22KJV
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Isaiah 60:22 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 60:22 mean?

Isaiah 60:22 promises that even the smallest or least significant person or group will grow into something great and powerful, and that the LORD will make this happen quickly when the right time comes. The verse highlights God's ability to transform and multiply what seems insignificant, acting according to His perfect timing.

In Isaiah 60, the prophet is speaking to the people of Israel, describing a future time of restoration and blessing after hardship and exile. The verse assures the listeners that God Himself (the LORD) will bring about this dramatic change, turning weakness into strength and smallness into abundance, not by human effort but by His own action and timing.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 60:22

  • "one" (קָטֹן, qāṭōn): This word means "small" or "insignificant." Its use here emphasizes that even those who seem least important will be included in God's promise of growth.
  • "thousand" (אֶלֶף, ʾeleph): This word means "a thousand," representing a large increase or multiplication, stressing the dramatic change God will bring.
  • "strong" (עָצוּם, ʿāṣūm): This word means "mighty" or "powerful." It shows that what starts out small will become not just bigger, but also strong and influential.
  • "hasten" (חָשָׁה, chāshah): This word means "to hurry" or "to make happen quickly." It highlights that when God decides the time is right, the transformation will come swiftly.

Why Isaiah 60:22 matters

  • Isaiah 60:22 clears up the idea that God's promises depend on human strength or numbers; instead, it stresses that God can use even the smallest beginnings to create something great.
  • The verse connects to the larger message of Isaiah 60, which is about hope, restoration, and the certainty of God's future blessings for His people.
  • The emphasis on God's timing ("in his time") reminds readers that fulfillment may not be immediate, but it will be sure and sudden when God acts.

Where else these words appear

“hasten” Hebrew H2363 · used in 20 verses

  • Numbers 32:17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
  • Psalms 22:19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
  • Psalms 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

“one” Hebrew H6810 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 19:31 And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
  • Genesis 48:14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
  • Psalms 68:27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

“strong” Hebrew H6099 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
  • Deuteronomy 26:5 And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
  • Daniel 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

“one” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
  • 2 Chronicles 31:15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small: