Isaiah 49:22

²⁰ Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’

²¹ Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”

This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

²³ Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”

²⁴ Can the plunder be snatched from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and raise My banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.
KJV: 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.
WEB: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and lift up my banner to the peoples. They shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
ASV: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
DARBY: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in [their] bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon the shoulder.
BLB: Thus says the Lord YHWH: “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and to the peoples I will raise up My banner; and they will bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters will be carried on the shoulders.

ÅB: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Se, jeg vil løfte min hånd til hedningene og reise mitt banner for folkene, og de skal komme med dine sønner ved barmen, og dine døtre skal de bære på skulderen.
OTB: Dette sier Herren Gud: “Se, jeg vil vinke til nasjonene, jeg vil løfte mitt banner for folkene; de skal bringe dine sønner i sine armer og bære dine døtre på sine skuldre.
B1930: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Se, jeg vil løfte min hånd til hedningene og reise mitt banner for folkene, og de skal komme med dine sønner ved barmen, og dine døtre skal de bære på skulderen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 13:29
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
Read in context
Psalms 86:9
All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
Read in context
Isaiah 14:2
The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.
Read in context
Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Read in context
Psalms 67:4–7
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples justly and lead the nations of the earth. Selah
Read in context
Isaiah 11:10–12
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
Read in context
Psalms 22:27
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
Read in context
Psalms 72:8
May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
Read in context