Isaiah 61:5

KJV

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your vinedressers.

KJV (with Strong's)

And strangers {H2114} shall stand {H5975} and feed {H7462} your flocks {H6629}, and the sons {H1121} of the alien {H5236} shall be your plowmen {H406} and your vinedressers {H3755}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, foreigners plow your land and tend your vines;

Berean Standard Bible

Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

American Standard Version

And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 61:5 presents a profound prophetic vision of Israel's future restoration and exaltation, depicting a time when foreign peoples, traditionally distinct from God's covenant community, will actively serve and contribute to the prosperity of Zion. This verse vividly illustrates a dramatic reversal of circumstances, signifying divine favor, abundant provision, and the universal acknowledgment of God's blessing upon His chosen nation, ushering in an era of peace, ease, and flourishing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 61 commences with a powerful Messianic proclamation, famously echoed by Jesus in [Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Inaugural Sermon in Nazareth"), outlining the mission of the Anointed One to bring good news to the afflicted, heal the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives. Following this foundational declaration, the prophecy transitions into detailing the glorious transformation and restoration awaiting Zion. Verses 4 through 7 describe the rebuilding of ancient ruins, the reception of double honor, and an enduring joy that replaces shame and disgrace. Verse 5, specifically, provides a tangible and striking illustration of this restoration, portraying the practical aspects of renewed prosperity and ease, where the labor previously required of God's people is now undertaken by others, symbolizing a state of divine provision and exaltation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Isaiah, particularly its latter chapters (40-66), addresses a people who have either endured or are anticipating the Babylonian exile and subsequent desolation. They grapple with profound questions concerning God's faithfulness and their future. In this cultural milieu, the imagery of "strangers" and "aliens" is highly significant, as foreign nations often represented either oppressive powers or distinct, sometimes hostile, entities. For a people returning from exile, who had experienced servitude and subjugation, the concept of foreigners serving them would have been a radical and profound reversal of their recent history. This verse envisions a time when the power dynamics are inverted, reflecting God's sovereign hand in restoring His people to a position of honor and abundance, where even those outside their immediate covenant community contribute to their well-being rather than hindering it.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic corpus. It powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Restoration and Exaltation**, where God's unwavering faithfulness leads to a complete turnaround from hardship and humiliation to unparalleled prosperity for His people. The imagery of foreigners tending flocks and working the land highlights **Abundance and Provision**, signifying an overflowing agricultural and pastoral wealth that will characterize this new era, freeing God's people from arduous toil. Furthermore, the willing service of "strangers" and "sons of the alien" points to the theme of **Universal Recognition of God's Favor**, indicating that the nations will acknowledge and contribute to the unique blessing upon Israel, a concept echoed in passages like [Isaiah 60:10](/isaiah/60-10 "Isaiah 60:10 - Foreigners Building Jerusalem's Walls") where "the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee," signifying a future of global acknowledgment of God's redemptive work.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strangers (Hebrew, _zûwr'_):** From a primitive root (H2114) meaning "to turn aside," this term refers to someone who is a foreigner, alien, or from another place. In this context, it emphasizes the non-Israelite identity of those who will serve, highlighting the unexpected and gracious nature of the provision. It is not merely "someone else," but specifically those historically outside the covenant community.
* **Feed (Hebrew, _râʻâh'_):** This primitive root (H7462) means "to tend a flock," "pasture it," or generally "to rule" or "shepherd." Here, it denotes the act of caring for and providing for the flocks, implying diligent and active management. The use of this word emphasizes the practical, hands-on service rendered by the strangers in a vital economic sector.
* **Plowmen (Hebrew, _ʼikkâr'_):** Derived from an unused root meaning "to dig," this word (H406) specifically denotes a farmer, husbandman, or ploughman. It points to agricultural labor, particularly the tilling of the soil. Its inclusion alongside "vinedressers" covers the two primary forms of cultivation in ancient Israel, signifying comprehensive agricultural support.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks":** This clause introduces the surprising reversal of roles in the restored community. "Strangers" (non-Israelites) are depicted as actively engaging in the essential pastoral work of tending the flocks belonging to God's people. The phrase "shall stand" implies a posture of readiness, service, and perhaps even respectful attention, suggesting not forced labor but willing participation in the prosperity of Zion. This signifies a time of peace and abundance where core economic activities are managed with ease and support.
* **"and the sons of the alien [shall be] your plowmen and your vinedressers":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first, further specifying the foreign lineage through "sons of the alien" (H1121, H5236), emphasizing their non-Israelite identity. These individuals will undertake the vital agricultural tasks of plowing and cultivating vineyards. Together, "plowmen" and "vinedressers" represent the entirety of agricultural production, ensuring the land's fruitfulness and the people's sustenance without their own strenuous toil. This imagery paints a comprehensive picture of divine provision and a life of ease for God's people.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs striking **Imagery** and a profound **Reversal of Roles**. The vivid imagery of "strangers" tending flocks and "sons of the alien" working as "plowmen and vinedressers" paints a clear and compelling picture of a transformed reality. This imagery is not merely descriptive but deeply symbolic, representing a profound **Reversal of Roles** from the typical historical experience of Israel, where they were often subjugated or exploited by foreign powers. Now, these foreigners are depicted as willingly contributing to Israel's prosperity, signifying God's sovereign power to invert circumstances and elevate His people. This also hints at **Hyperbole** to emphasize the extraordinary extent of God's blessing and the ease with which His people will live, as well as a form of **Metonymy**, where the specific tasks (feeding flocks, plowing, vinedressing) stand for the overall economic well-being, abundant provision, and the comprehensive nature of the restoration.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 61:5 is a powerful testament to God's redemptive plan, illustrating His unwavering commitment to restoring His people to a place of honor, ease, and abundance. Theologically, it speaks to the concept of divine sovereignty over all nations and the ultimate triumph of God's covenant promises. It signifies that God's blessing upon His chosen people will be so evident and overflowing that even those outside their immediate community will recognize and contribute to it. This highlights a future characterized by peace, prosperity, and a harmonious order established by God, where the former burdens of toil and oppression are replaced by ease and abundant provision, orchestrated through unexpected means. This vision extends beyond mere material wealth, pointing to a spiritual flourishing that draws others into the orbit of God's favor and kingdom.

* [Zechariah 8:20-23](/zechariah/8-20-23 "Zechariah 8:20-23 - Many Peoples and Strong Nations Seek the Lord")
* [Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - No Longer Strangers But Fellow Citizens")
* [Revelation 21:24](/revelation/21-24 "Revelation 21:24 - Nations Walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 61:5 offers profound comfort and enduring hope to believers today, serving as a powerful reminder that God is a God of radical restoration and divine reversal. When we find ourselves overwhelmed by burdens, incessant toil, or a sense of being downtrodden by life's circumstances, this verse assures us that God possesses the sovereign power to transform our situations, bringing forth abundance from desolation and honor from humiliation. It profoundly encourages us to trust in His overarching plan, knowing with certainty that He can orchestrate provision from the most unexpected sources and elevate us beyond our struggles. Spiritually, it speaks to the profound ease and rest that comes from surrendering to God's grace, where the "labor" of our salvation has been fully and perfectly accomplished by Christ. We are invited into a life of spiritual abundance and peace, not earned by our efforts but freely given. This passage challenges us to consider how God might use even the "unlikely" or seemingly "foreign" elements and individuals in our lives to bring about His purposes and provide for our needs, fostering a deep and abiding trust in His unfailing care and a hopeful anticipation of His ultimate kingdom where all things are made new.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of "strangers" serving God's people challenge or expand your understanding of divine provision and God's sovereignty?**
* **In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing "toil" or "desolation" that you need to surrender to God for His transforming and restorative work?**
* **How can this verse inspire you to trust God for unexpected sources of blessing and support in your own life, family, or community?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that foreigners will be enslaved or exploited by God's people in the future?**

Answer: No, the context and the nature of the service described in Isaiah 61:5 do not suggest exploitation or forced labor. Instead, the imagery, particularly when read alongside other prophetic passages like [Isaiah 60:10](/isaiah/60-10 "Isaiah 60:10 - Foreigners Building Jerusalem's Walls") and [Zechariah 8:20-23](/zechariah/8-20-23 "Zechariah 8:20-23 - Many Peoples and Strong Nations Seek the Lord"), points to a willing and harmonious contribution. The "strangers" and "sons of the alien" are depicted as actively participating in the prosperity of God's people, recognizing the divine favor upon them. This service is a sign of the universal recognition of God's glory and the peace of His kingdom, where different peoples play their part in God's grand design, contributing to the well-being of His chosen nation in a unique and blessed way. It signifies a radical reversal of fortunes for Israel, not the subjugation of others, but rather a manifestation of God's abundant grace extending even to those outside the immediate covenant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 61:5 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a literal, nationalistic subjugation of Gentiles by ethnic Israel, but in the spiritual reality of God's kingdom inaugurated by Jesus Christ. The "strangers" and "sons of the alien" who serve God's people are powerfully reinterpreted in the New Testament as the Gentiles who are graciously brought into the family of God through faith in Christ. Jesus, the Messiah prophesied in [Isaiah 61:1-2](/isaiah/61-1-2 "Isaiah 61:1-2 - The Spirit of the Lord GOD is Upon Me"), came to preach good news to the poor and liberty to the captives, not exclusively for Israel but for all who believe, as seen in His inaugural sermon in [Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Inaugural Sermon in Nazareth"). Through His atoning work on the cross, Christ broke down the "dividing wall of hostility" that separated Jew and Gentile, making them "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" ([Ephesians 2:14-19](/ephesians/2-14-19 "Ephesians 2:14-19 - Christ Our Peace")). Thus, the "strangers" are no longer outside but are incorporated into the spiritual Israel, the Church, becoming "heirs according to the promise" through Christ ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). In this new covenant reality, all believers, regardless of their former identity, collectively contribute to the spiritual "flocks" and "vineyards" of God's kingdom, using their diverse spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ ([Romans 12:4-8](/romans/12-4-8 "Romans 12:4-8 - Many Members, One Body")). The promised abundance and ease are realized in the spiritual blessings, peace, and rest found in Christ, and the ultimate vision of nations walking in the light of the New Jerusalem ([Revelation 21:24](/revelation/21-24 "Revelation 21:24 - Nations Walk in the Light of the New Jerusalem")) underscores the complete fulfillment of this prophetic reversal, where all peoples serve the one true God in perfect harmony and worship.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 60:10

And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Isaiah 60:14

The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 14:1

¶ For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:2

And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

Ephesians 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Ephesians 2:20

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];