Isaiah 60:22

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 60:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.
Isaiah 60:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 60

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A little one shall become a thousand, &c.] A small family, a little handful of people in all ages, scattered up and down in the world, of no esteem and account in it, being all gathered together, that ever were in the world, will appear to be thousands and millions, and such a number as no man can number, (<660709>Revelation 7:9) and a small one a strong nation; a company of weak persons, persecuted by their enemies, and unable to resist them, as in the present state: now there will be a nation of them strong and mighty; the feeble among them shall be as David, and the house of David as God, as the Angel of the Lord, (<381208>Zechariah 12:8): I the Lord will hasten it in his time: as there…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“little one--Even one, and that the smallest in number and rank, shall be multiplied a thousandfold in both respects (Mic 5:2; Mat 13:31-32). his time--not our time; we might wish to hasten it, but it will come in due time, as in the case of Jesus' first coming (Gal 4:4); so in that of the restoration of Israel and the conversion of the world (Isa 66:8; Hab 2:3; Act 1:7; Heb 10:37). Messiah announces His twofold commission to bring gospel mercy at His first coming, and judgments on unbelievers and comfort to Zion at His second coming (Isa 61:1-9); the language can be applied to Isaiah, comforting by his prophecies the exiles in Babylon, only in a subordinate sense. Next: Isaiah Chapter 61”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A little one shall become a thousand - There shall be a great increase, as if one, and that the smallest, should be multiplied to a thousand. The idea is, that the people, then small in number, would be greatly increased by the accession of the Gentile world. Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘The little one.’ Grotius, ‘The least one.’ So the Septuagint, Ο ὀλιγιστὸς Ho oligistos. I the Lord will hasten it in his time - Noyes, ‘Its time.’ Lowth ‘Due time.’ Septuagint, ‘I will do it in the proper time’ (κατα καιρὸν kata kairon). The sense is, that this would be done at the proper time - called, in Galatians 4:4, ‘the fullness of time.’ There was a proper season when this was to be accomplished.…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“In time - In due time, the time that I have appointed. Next: Isaiah Chapter 61”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“60:22 I, the Lord: The Lord identifies himself as the covenant God of Israel. His identity ensures that he will make it happen (see 27:3-4).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“little: Isa 66:8; Dan 2:35, Dan 2:44; Mat 13:31, Mat 13:32; Act 2:41, Act 5:14; Rev 7:9 I the Lord: Isa 5:19; Hab 2:3; Luk 18:7; Heb 10:36; Pe2 3:8 Next: Isaiah Chapter 61”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The life of this church, which is newly created, new-born, through judgment and grace, gradually expands from the most unassuming centre in ever widening circles until it has attained the broadest dimensions. "The smallest one will become thousands, and the meanest one a powerful nation." "The small and mean one," or, as the idea is a relative one, "the smallest and meanest one" (Ges. 119, 2), is either a childless one, or one blessed with very few children. At the same time, the reference is not exclusively to growth through the blessing of children, but also to growth through the extension of fellowship. We have a similar expression in Mic 4:7 (cf., Isa 5:1), where 'eleph is employed, just…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification