Isaiah 22:21

21 and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall comfort him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into the hands of him; and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. (and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall strengthen him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into his hands; and he shall be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.)

Isaiah 22:21 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 22:21

And I will clothe him with thy robe
The same he wore, or rather one like unto it, which was a badge and token of his office. If he was a priest, as the Jews say, this was his priestly robe, by which the high priest was distinguished from others; but he rather seems to be a civil officer, who wore a garment suitable to it, and distinctive of it; in which he was a type of Christ, invested with the priestly, or rather with the kingly office, crowned with glory and honour; and who is seen among his churches, clothed with a garment down to the feet, ( Revelation 1:13 ) :

and strengthen him with thy girdle:
which was a symbol both of power and of strength; both priests and princes had their girdles. Christ's girdle, in the administration of his office, is faithfulness and righteousness, ( Isaiah 11:5 ) ;

and I will commit thy government into his hand;
the government of the king's house, typical of the government of the church, put into the hands of Christ by his Father, ( Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 9:7 ) ( John 5:22 John 5:23 ) :

and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to
the house of Judah;
have a fatherly care over them, and affection for them; and such an one is Christ, who stands in the relation of the everlasting Father to his church and people, and of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; he provides for them, takes care of them, is tenderly affected towards them, pities and sympathizes with them, and affords them all supply and support. Kimchi interprets it of a faithful counsellor, and a good leader. So Ben Melech.

Isaiah 22:21 In-Context

19 And I shall cast thee out of thy standing, and I shall put thee down of thy service. (And I shall throw thee out of thy office, and I shall put thee down from thy service.)
20 And it shall be, in that day I shall call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah; (And it shall be, on that day I shall call for my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah;)
21 and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall comfort him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into the hands of him; and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. (and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall strengthen him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into his hands; and he shall be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.)
22 And I shall give the key of the house of David on his shoulder (And I shall put the key of the house of David upon his shoulder); and he shall open, and none shall be that shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall be that shall open.
23 And I shall set him (as) a stake, either a perch, in a faithful place, and he shall be into a seat of glory of the house of his father. (And I shall make him like a stake, or like a peg, in a firm place, and he shall be a seat of honour for all his father's household.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.