The little one shall become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.
इस पद की टीका
I have enough material. Let me now compose the answer.
The Setting of the Verse
Closing the great vision of Zion's restoration, Isaiah 60:22 promises that the smallest remnant of Israel will swell into a mighty nation, and that the LORD Himself will "hasten it in his time." The verse seals a chapter that describes not the church but God's ancient earthly people glorified under Messiah's reign.
A Promise Belonging to Israel, Not the Church
Commentary insists this is Israel's hour, not the church's spiritual portion. Kelly notes the language of righteousness measured in earthly terms — long life, prosperity, a populous land — proves that Christians are not in view here:
William KellyHere is evidence overwhelming, were more wanted, that the church on earth or in heaven is not represented here, but the ancient people of God blessed according to His promise and prophecy. For righteousness dealing according to an earthly measure is the rule... "They shall possess the land for ever — the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The little one shall become a thousand, and the smallest a strong nation: I Jehovah will hasten it in its time" (vv. 21, 22).
He warns that confusing Israel's earthly glory with the church's heavenly calling has driven sincere readers to spiritualize away the plain sense:
William KellyThe main source of erroneous interpretation among the orthodox is the obliteration of Israel to bring the church into their place of promised earthly glory... The Christian and the church have their spiritual blessings in heavenly places, as is distinctly set forth in the New Testament; while the Old Testament predicts these wondrous changes in the land and the earth for Israel and the nations, when the kingdom is set up in visible power and glory.
The Place of the Verse in the Chapter
Darby maps the structure of the surrounding prophecy. Chapters 58–59 are the Lord's pleadings before His appearing; chapter 60 is the effect of that appearing — Zion lit up while the nations remain in darkness:
J. N. DarbyWhen the lighting up of Jerusalem is come, and the glory of the Lord enlightens her, darkness covers the Land, and gross darkness the different peoples... Her people all righteous, and they will be blessed and mighty without return of evil... Chapter 60 brings in the sovereign re-establishment of Jerusalem in glory, fruit of God's own sovereign power and good pleasure.
So verse 22 is the climax of a sovereign re-establishment — not the slow growth of a missionary movement, but the fruit of God's own pleasure once Messiah has appeared.
"A Little One Shall Become a Thousand"
The commentary draws this verse together with the prophetic picture of a faithful remnant suddenly multiplying into a nation. Grant ties the promise to the "time of figs" yet to come, when the small godly remnant of believing Israel becomes a whole nation born in a day:
Numerical Bible NotesHow evident the application of this psalm, then, to the real "time of figs" that yet shall be, when the remnant of true believers in Israel shall expand into a nation of rejoicing converts, born as in a day! The fruit being at last found in its season, their "leaf shall not wither"; the perpetuity which is in God's favor shall be theirs. "Thy people shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I Jehovah will hasten it in his time." (Isa. 60:21-22.)
"I the LORD Will Hasten It in His Time"
The closing clause balances divine sovereignty with God's appointed season — He delays nothing, yet acts only when the hour He has set arrives. Grant catches that tension elsewhere, where the long postponement of God's purposes does not cancel them but waits on His own act:
Numerical Bible NotesThe time has been long protracted indeed; and even yet the end (so long after the prophet's time) may seem as far off as ever; and yet it shall, it must be, true: the Lord Himself hasten it, as He will.
A Wider Counsel
Kelly draws the verse into the largest frame of God's purpose — heading up all things in Christ. The earthly glory of Israel is no afterthought but part of the universe brought under the Second Man's headship:
William KellyTheir speculations deprive them of entering into that immense counsel of God which will put the entire universe under Christ's headship, and bind the earth beneath and the heavens above in united blessedness to His own glory, as we may read in Eph. 1:10; of which Rev. 21 - 22 is the New Testament display prophetically.
Summary
- Israel, not the church. The promise of multiplication and earthly inheritance belongs to God's ancient people; the church's blessings are heavenly, not territorial.
- A born-in-a-day nation. The "little one" pictures the godly Jewish remnant suddenly expanding into a strong, righteous nation when Messiah appears.
- Sovereign restoration. Chapter 60 follows the Lord's appearing in chapter 59 — Zion's glory is the direct fruit of God's own power and good pleasure, not human progress.
- Hastened in its time. Though long delayed, God's purpose is fixed; He Himself will speed it on at the hour He has set.
- Christ's universal headship. Israel's earthly glory fits within the larger counsel of Ephesians 1:10, uniting heaven and earth under the Second Man.