Isaiah 61:9
in Isaiah 61Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.
KJV
And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.
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This verse in Isaiah 61
Commentary
8 notes on this verse1084. Third, the divulging of their glory: and they shall know their seed among the Gentiles. This refers either to the Jews who were known for their religious worship, or to the spiritual seed of the apostles: and their children for their sakes remain for …
This site's exposition
For I, the LORD, love justice
on Isaiah 61:8-9
“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity” states what God prizes. The verse joins it to a promise, “make an everlasting covenant with them”. Verse 9 gives the covenant its evidence, for all who see them will know “a people the LORD has blessed”.
This site's exposition
Their descendants will be known among the nations
Barnes takes known as honoured, the pride of a parent whose offspring are blessed, and notes that the Chaldee read offspring as children's children. Clarke expects the descendants of Jacob, once converted, to remain a people known among the nations. Aquinas allows the apostles' spiritual seed as well.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Vers. 8, 9.) And I will give their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed will be known among the nations, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples. All who see them will recognize them, that they are the offspring whom the Lord has blessed. LXX: And I will give their labor to the righteous, and I will establish an eternal covenant with them. And their seed will be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Some make this the song of joy and praise to be sung by the prophet in the name of Jerusalem, congratulating her on the happy change of her circumstances in the accomplishment of the foregoing promises; others make it to be spoken by Christ in the name of the New-Testament church triumphing in gospel grace.
And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And their seed - The figure here is taken from the feelings of a parent who desires his children to be esteemed, and who regards it as an honor that they become so distinguished that their fame extends to distant lands. Shall be known - Shall be distinguished or honored. For this use of the word ‘known,’ see Psa 67:2; Psa 76:1; Psa 79:10. And their offspring - (See the notes at Isa 48:19). The Chaldee and the Syriac render this, ‘Their children’s children.’ The sense is, that the true friends of the church shall be everywhere honored.
Their seed shall be known among the Gentiles - Both Jews and Gentiles are to make but one fold under one shepherd, Christ Jesus. But still, notwithstanding this, they may retain their peculiarity and national distinction; so that though they are known to be Christians, yet they shall appear to be converted Jews. After their conversion to Christianity this will necessarily be the case for a long time. Strange nations are not so speedily amalgamated, as to lose their peculiar cast of features, and other national distinctions.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
like a bridegroom who dons garments of glory like a high priest.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְנוֹדַ֤ע | venoda' | and it will be known | H3045 → | 945 times |
| בַּגּוֹיִם֙ | bagoyim | among the nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| זַרְעָ֔ם | zaram | offspring their | H2233 → | 229 times |
| וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֖ם | vetzeetzaeihem | and descendants their | H6631 → | 11 times |
| בְּת֣וֹךְ | betokh | in among | H8432 → | 418 times |
| הָעַמִּ֑ים | haamim | the peoples | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| רֹֽאֵיהֶם֙ | roeihem | [those who] see them | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| יַכִּיר֔וּם | yakirum | they will recognize them | H5234 → | |
| כִּ֛י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הֵ֥ם | hem | they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| זֶ֖רַע | zera' | [are] offspring | H2233 → | 229 times |
| בֵּרַ֥ךְ | berakh | [whom] he has blessed | H1288 → | 330 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ ס | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
וְנוֹדַ֤עand it will be known
venoda'H3045 →945 times
בַּגּוֹיִם֙among the nations
bagoyimH1471 →561 times
זַרְעָ֔םoffspring their
zaramH2233 →229 times
וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶ֖םand descendants their
vetzeetzaeihemH6631 →11 times
בְּת֣וֹךְin among
betokhH8432 →418 times
הָעַמִּ֑יםthe peoples
haamimH5971 →1873 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
רֹֽאֵיהֶם֙[those who] see them
roeihemH7200 →1300 times
יַכִּיר֔וּםthey will recognize them
yakirumH5234 →
כִּ֛יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
הֵ֥םthey
hemH1992 →553 times
זֶ֖רַע[are] offspring
zera'H2233 →229 times
בֵּרַ֥ךְ[whom] he has blessed
berakhH1288 →330 times
יְהוָֽה׃ סYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 44:3For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
it leads to
- Joel 2:28
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- Acts 2:17
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
- Isaiah 59:21
“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit will not depart from you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your…
- John 7:37–39
On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.
- Proverbs 1:23
If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
- Joel 2:28
Through
Genesis 22:18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
it leads to
- Acts 3:25
And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 3:16
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Acts 3:25
Through
Psalms 115:14May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children.
it leads to
- Acts 2:39
This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:39
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Isaiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.