Isaiah 29:23

For when he sees his children around him, the work of My hands, they will honor My name, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the house of Jacob immediately after promising that Jacob will no longer be ashamed. This declaration marks the transition from judgment to future restoration when God’s redeemed descendants are gathered before Him.

The words — The phrase מַעֲשֵׂה יָדַ֛י (ma.'a.seh ya.da.i) literally reads “work of my hands,” specifying divine agency rather than human origin. The verb יַקְדִּ֣ישֽׁוּ (yak.di.shu) means “they will sanctify” or “regard as holy,” describing the children’s future response to God’s presence.

The thread — The theme of people as God’s handiwork runs to Isaiah 19:25, where Egypt, Assyria, and Israel are designated as His possession. The call to regard God as holy parallels Isaiah 8:13, which commands reverence without issuing an imperative for fear.

Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to acknowledge that restoration depends on God’s creative work, not human merit. It demands a posture of reverence and obedience when God’s people are visibly gathered and recognized as His own.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkifor בִ֠רְאֹתוֹvi/r.'o.t/owhen/ sees/ it יְלָדָ֞יוye.la.Da/vchildren/ its מַעֲשֵׂ֥הma.'a.Seh[the] work of יָדַ֛יya.Da/ihands/ my בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹbe./kir.B/oin/ midst/ its יַקְדִּ֣ישֽׁוּyak.Di.shuthey will regard as holy שְׁמִ֑יshe.M/iname/ my וְהִקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ve./hik.Di.shuand/ they will regard as holy אֶת־'et-<obj.>קְד֣וֹשׁke.Do.osh[the] holy [one] of יַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoJacob וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>אֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.Hei[the] God of יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsrael יַעֲרִֽיצוּ׃ya.'a.Ri.tzuthey will regard with awe

King James Version

But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

Cross-references

Isaiah 19:25 The LORD of Hosts will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.”
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
Isaiah 8:13 The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
Isaiah 45:11 Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: “Concerning things to come, do you question Me about My sons, or instruct Me in the work of My hands?
Isaiah 5:16 But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.
Isaiah 49:20 Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’
Isaiah 60:21 Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever; they are the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified.
Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
Isaiah 43:21 The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.
Hosea 3:5 Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.