Isaiah 61:5
New International Version
Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

New Living Translation
Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards.

English Standard Version
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

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

King James Bible
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

New King James Version
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

New American Standard Bible
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

NASB 1995
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

NASB 1977
And strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

Legacy Standard Bible
Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

Amplified Bible
Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

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

Holman Christian 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.

Contemporary English Version
They will hire foreigners to take care of their sheep and their vineyards.

English Revised Version
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and aliens shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Foreigners will come forward and become shepherds for your flocks, and children of foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

Good News Translation
My people, foreigners will serve you. They will take care of your flocks And farm your land and tend your vineyards.

International Standard Version
Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will work your land and dress your vines.

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

NET Bible
"Foreigners will take care of your sheep; foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.

New Heart English Bible
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Webster's Bible Translation
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.

World English Bible
Strangers will stand and feed your flocks. Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And strangers have stood and fed your flock, "" And the sons of a foreigner "" [Are] your farmers and your vinedressers.

Young's Literal Translation
And strangers have stood and fed your flock, Sons of a foreigner are your husbandmen, And your vine-dressers.

Smith's Literal Translation
And strangers stood and fed your sheep, and the sons of the stranger, your husbandmen and your vinedressers.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And strangers shall stand and shall feed your flocks: and the sons of strangers shall be your husbandmen, and the dressers of your vines.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And foreigners will stand up and will pasture your flocks. And the sons of sojourners will be your farmers and the workers of your vineyards.

New American Bible
Strangers shall stand ready to pasture your flocks, foreigners shall be your farmers and vinedressers.

New Revised Standard Version
Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And foreigners shall stand and they shall herd their sheep, and the children of foreigners shall be farmers for them and vinedressers
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And aliens shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And strangers shall come and feed thy flocks, and aliens shall be thy ploughmen and vine-dressers.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Year of the LORD's Favor
4They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 5Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. 6But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches.…

Cross References
Leviticus 25:44-46
Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them. / You may also purchase them from the foreigners residing among you or their clans living among you who are born in your land. These may become your property. / You may leave them to your sons after you to inherit as property; you can make them slaves for life. But as for your brothers, the Israelites, no man may rule harshly over his brother.

Deuteronomy 28:43-44
The foreigner living among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink down lower and lower. / He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.

Jeremiah 30:8-9
On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break the yoke off their necks and tear off their bonds, and no longer will strangers enslave them. / Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

Zechariah 8:23
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Isaiah 14:1-2
For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob. / The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

Isaiah 60:10-12
Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy. / Your gates will always stand open; they will never be shut, day or night, so that the wealth of the nations may be brought into you, with their kings being led in procession. / For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly destroyed.

Ezekiel 28:25-26
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, I will show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations. Then they will dwell in their own land, which I have given to My servant Jacob. / And there they will dwell securely, build houses, and plant vineyards. They will dwell securely when I execute judgments against all those around them who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.’”

Psalm 18:43-45
You have delivered me from the strife of the people; You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me. / When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me. / Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds.

Psalm 72:10-11
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. / May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Micah 7:16-17
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. / They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.

Revelation 21:24-26
By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory. / Its gates will never be shut at the end of the day, because there will be no night there. / And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.

Revelation 3:9
As for those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you.

Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 13:29
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

Romans 11:12
But if their trespass means riches for the world, and their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!


Treasury of Scripture

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

Isaiah 14:1,2
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 60:10-14
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…

Ephesians 2:12-20
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: …

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Alien Aliens Countries Farmers Fed Feed Fields Flock Flocks Foreigner Foreigners Herdsmen Israelites Pasture Ploughmen Plowmen Shepherd Stand Stood Strange Strangers Vinedressers Vine-Dressers Vineyards Work
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Alien Aliens Countries Farmers Fed Feed Fields Flock Flocks Foreigner Foreigners Herdsmen Israelites Pasture Ploughmen Plowmen Shepherd Stand Stood Strange Strangers Vinedressers Vine-Dressers Vineyards Work
Isaiah 61
1. The office of Christ
4. The forwardness
7. And blessing of the faithful














Strangers
The Hebrew word for "strangers" is "zārîm," which often refers to those who are not part of the Israelite community. In the context of Isaiah, this term signifies the inclusion of Gentiles in the blessings of God's people. Historically, Israel was often isolated from other nations, but this prophecy points to a future where those once considered outsiders will participate in the prosperity and work of God's kingdom. This foreshadows the New Testament revelation of the Gospel being open to all nations, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's plan.

Will stand
The phrase "will stand" suggests a position of readiness and service. In ancient times, standing was often associated with being prepared to serve or act. This indicates that the "strangers" are not only present but are actively engaged and committed to their roles. It reflects a transformation where those who were once distant are now integral and supportive members of the community, ready to contribute to its flourishing.

And feed your flocks
The act of feeding flocks is a pastoral image that conveys care, provision, and sustenance. In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, shepherding was a vital occupation, symbolizing leadership and responsibility. The involvement of "strangers" in this task highlights a reversal of roles and a sharing of responsibilities, suggesting a harmonious coexistence and mutual benefit. It also points to the abundance and peace that will characterize the Messianic age.

And foreigners
The term "foreigners" is translated from the Hebrew "nēkār," which refers to those from outside the covenant community. This inclusion of foreigners in the work of the land signifies a breaking down of barriers and a unification under God's sovereignty. It echoes the biblical theme of God's house being a house of prayer for all nations, as seen in Isaiah 56:7, and anticipates the global reach of the Gospel.

Will be your plowmen
Plowmen are those who prepare the ground for planting, a crucial step in agricultural productivity. The involvement of foreigners in this foundational work symbolizes their essential role in the community's prosperity. It suggests a future where the blessings of God extend beyond ethnic and national boundaries, with all people contributing to and benefiting from the fruitfulness of the land.

And vinedressers
Vinedressers are responsible for tending vineyards, a task that requires skill and dedication. Vineyards are often used in Scripture as symbols of God's people and their spiritual health. The participation of foreigners in this role indicates a shared responsibility in nurturing and maintaining the spiritual and physical well-being of the community. It reflects the unity and cooperation that will characterize the kingdom of God, where all are valued and have a part to play in His divine plan.

(5) Strangers shall stand . . .--i.e., like servants waiting for their master's orders. The implied thought of the whole passage is, as in the next verse, that all Israel is raised to the dignity of a priestly caste, leaving the rough work of the world to be done by foreigners, who stood on a lower level. (Comp. Ecclesiasticus 38:31-34.)

Verse 5. - Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks (comp. Isaiah 14:1, 2; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 60:10). The Gentiles who join themselves with the Jews, and form with them one community, are constantly represented in the writings of Isaiah as occupying a subordinate position. In the New Testament, Jew and Gentile are put upon a par. Is the explanation that Isaiah assumes that the Jews generally will accept the gospel, and therefore, to some extent, retain their privileges in the new community, whereas, in fact, they rejected the gospel, and so lost their natural position (see Romans 11:7-20)? Or does Isaiah look onward to a later date? And is there to be a restoration of "Israel according to the flesh" upon their conversion, and a reinstatement of them in a position of privilege? Such a condition of things seems glanced at in Romans 11:23-29, and in Revelation 7:4-9; Revelation 14:1. The sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen and your vinedressers. Not so much compelled, like the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:21-27), to perform menial offices, as undertaking them voluntarily out of good will.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Strangers
זָרִ֔ים (zā·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2114: To turn aside, to be a, foreigner, strange, profane, to commit adultery

will stand
וְעָמְד֣וּ (wə·‘ā·mə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

and feed
וְרָע֖וּ (wə·rā·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

your flocks,
צֹאנְכֶ֑ם (ṣō·nə·ḵem)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

and foreigners
וּבְנֵ֣י (ū·ḇə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

will be your plowmen
אִכָּרֵיכֶ֖ם (’ik·kā·rê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 406: A plowman, husbandman

and vinedressers.
וְכֹרְמֵיכֶֽם׃ (wə·ḵō·rə·mê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3755: To tend vineyards, dress vines


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 61:5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 61:4
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