Isaiah 52:15

so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Isaiah delivers this oracle immediately after describing the Servant’s severely disfigured appearance, addressing the exiled community with a declaration of future divine action.

The words — יַזֶּה (ya.Zeh) literally means he will startle or sprinkle, and יִקְפְּצ֥וּ (yik.pe.Tzu) means they will shut or close, describing the sudden reaction of kings to what is revealed.

The thread — The motif of sudden revelation silencing the uninitiated appears in Isaiah 49:7, Psalms 72:9, and Romans 15:20.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that understanding comes through direct encounter with the text’s subject, not through prior instruction, and demands a posture of attention rather than debate.

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

כֵּ֤ןkenso יַזֶּה֙ya.Zehhe will startle גּוֹיִ֣םgo.Yimnations רַבִּ֔יםra.Bimmany עָלָ֛יו'a.La/von/ him יִקְפְּצ֥וּyik.pe.Tzuthey will shut מְלָכִ֖יםme.la.Khimkings פִּיהֶ֑םpi./Hemmouth/ their כִּ֠יkifor אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sher[that] which לֹֽא־lo'-not סֻפַּ֤רsu.Parit had been recountedלָהֶם֙la./Hemto/ themרָא֔וּra.'Uthey will see וַאֲשֶׁ֥רva./'a.Sherand/ [that] which לֹֽא־lo'-not שָׁמְע֖וּsha.me.'Uthey had heard הִתְבּוֹנָֽנוּ׃hit.bo.Na.nuthey will understand

King James Version

So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Cross-references

Romans 15:20 In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
Psalms 72:9 May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
Isaiah 55:5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”
Ezekiel 36:25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
Micah 7:16 Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their might. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf.
Zechariah 2:13 Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.”
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,