Add parallel Print Page Options

11 At that time, my Lord will reach out and gather in the remnant of His scattered people a second time. God’s people, those who had been defeated and exiled, will make their way back from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea.

12 When God raises a signal, the whole world will hear the news
    of how He is assembling the people He had banished,
Gathering those scattered from Judah from across the whole wide earth.

There are no capricious acts with God. God, and no one else, is the undoing of Israel. He may use Assyria as His agent to chastise the people of Judah for their wrongdoing, but judgment is never God’s last move. When God judges—when God punishes—He does so for a reason. His judgment is always measured, finite, and based on His covenant loyalty. God takes no delight in His people’s suffering; but sometimes, tragically, it is necessary. Willful ignorance and blatant disregard for God and others cannot be ignored. In the end, God’s purpose is to repair a world deeply injured by sin and its consequences. So His next move is to rescue and restore His covenant partners. Reconciliation and grace always follow destruction.

13 At that time Ephraim will no longer envy Judah,
    those who afflict Judah will be brought down,
For those groups who had been at odds with each other—
    envy and hostility will end.

Read full chapter

11 In that day(A) the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant(B) of his people from Assyria,(C) from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt,(D) from Cush,[a](E) from Elam,(F) from Babylonia,[b] from Hamath(G) and from the islands(H) of the Mediterranean.(I)

12 He will raise a banner(J) for the nations
    and gather(K) the exiles of Israel;(L)
he will assemble the scattered people(M) of Judah
    from the four quarters of the earth.(N)
13 Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish,
    and Judah’s enemies[c] will be destroyed;
Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah,
    nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.(O)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 11:11 That is, the upper Nile region
  2. Isaiah 11:11 Hebrew Shinar
  3. Isaiah 11:13 Or hostility