Isaiah 55:5

Witness and mission Israel and the nations

³ Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant— My loving devotion promised to David.

⁴ Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”

⁶ Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

⁷ Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

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: Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”
KJV: Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
WEB: Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know; and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.”
ASV: Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
DARBY: Behold, thou shalt call a nation thou knowest not, and a nation [that] knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
BLB: Behold, you will call on a nation you do not know, and a nation you do not know will run to you, on account of YHWH your God and the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.”

ÅB: Se, folk du ikke kjenner, skal du kalle, og hedningefolk som ikke kjenner deg, skal løpe til deg, for Herrens, din Guds skyld og for Israels Helliges skyld; for han herliggjør deg.
OTB: Sannelig, du vil kalle på nasjoner du ikke kjenner, og nasjoner som ikke kjenner deg vil skynde seg til deg, på grunn av Herren din Gud, Israels Hellige, for han har herliggjort deg.»
B1930: Se, folk du ikke kjenner, skal du kalle, og hedningefolk som ikke kjenner dig, skal løpe til dig, for Herrens, din Guds skyld og for Israels Helliges skyld; for han herliggjør dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Zechariah 2:11
“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
Read in context
Isaiah 60:5
Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and swell with joy, because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.
Read in context
Isaiah 60:9
Surely the islands will wait for Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead, to bring your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
Read in context
Isaiah 56:8
Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”
Read in context
John 17:1
When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.
Read in context
Romans 15:20
In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
Read in context
Isaiah 55:4
Behold, I have made him a witness to the nations, a leader and commander of the peoples.
Read in context
Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.
Read in context