“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.”
My Notes
What Does Isaiah 55:5 Mean?
Isaiah 55:5 is part of the great invitation chapter — the chapter that opens with "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters" (v. 1). In verse 5, God tells the Servant (or the restored nation) that nations they don't even know yet will come running to them.
"Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not" — the Hebrew qara' (call, summon, invite) paired with lo' yada'ta (you did not know) describes an unprecedented event. Israel will summon nations they have no prior relationship with. The reach of God's work through His people will extend beyond every existing connection into entirely unknown territory.
"And nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee" — the Hebrew yarutsu (shall run) is striking. These unknown nations don't walk, don't wander, don't cautiously approach. They run. The urgency suggests genuine hunger — a recognition that what Israel carries (God's presence, God's covenant, God's word) is exactly what they've been desperate for.
"Because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel" — the attraction is not Israel's military power, cultural sophistication, or economic wealth. It's the LORD. The nations run because they recognize something divine in what Israel represents. Israel is the vessel; God is the draw.
"For he hath glorified thee" — the Hebrew pe'ereka (glorified thee, adorned thee, made thee beautiful) comes from the root pa'ar, meaning to beautify, to bestow honor. God has made Israel attractive — not through human effort but through divine investment. The nations' response is to the beauty God has placed on His people.
This verse anticipates the ingathering of Gentiles that the New Testament celebrates — people with no prior knowledge of Israel's God running toward the light they see in His people.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever had someone drawn to your life or faith in a way you didn't orchestrate — someone who 'ran' toward what they saw in you? What attracted them?
- 2.The nations run 'because of the LORD thy God.' How does it change your sense of purpose to know that the attraction isn't about you but about what God has placed on your life?
- 3.God says He has 'glorified thee' — made you beautiful through His investment. Where do you see evidence of God's beautifying work in your life, even if you haven't recognized it?
- 4.This verse promises influence with 'nations you knew not.' What unknown connections might God be preparing that your current faithfulness is building toward?
Devotional
Nations you've never met will run to you. Not walk. Run.
That's an extraordinary promise. God is telling His people that their influence will extend far beyond anyone they currently know — into nations, relationships, and connections that don't exist yet. And the people who come won't come cautiously. They'll come urgently, at a sprint, because they recognize something in you that they've been starving for.
But notice why they run: not because of you. Because of the LORD your God. Because He has glorified you — placed something on your life that attracts people who are hungry for what only He provides. You're the vessel. He's the draw. The beauty they see in you isn't self-generated. It's the residue of God's presence on a human life.
This reframes how you think about influence. You don't have to manufacture reach. You don't have to self-promote or strategize about your platform. If God has placed His presence on your life, people will find you. People you've never met, from places you've never been, carrying hunger you didn't create. They'll run because they see something real — and what they're seeing is Him, refracted through you.
If you've been wondering whether your faithfulness matters — whether anyone notices, whether your life is making any difference — this verse says the impact isn't limited to people who already know you. God is preparing connections you can't see yet. Nations that know not thee. And when the time is right, they won't stroll. They'll run.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not,.... And even nations, as in the next clause; not all the…
Behold, thou shalt call ... - This is evidently an address to the Messiah, and is a promise that the Gentiles should be…
Here, I. We are all invited to come and take the benefit of that provision which the grace of God has made for poor…
thou(Israel) shalt call a nation &c. i.e. many a nation (see on ch. Isa 25:3) hitherto unknown to thee.
because of the…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture