Isaiah 22:22-24

22:22 I will place the key ¹  to the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens the door, no one can close it; when he closes the door, no one can open it. 22:23 I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; ²  he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family. ³  22:24 His father’s family will gain increasing prominence because of him, ⁴  including the offspring and the offshoots. ⁵  All the small containers, including the bowls and all the jars will hang from this peg.’ ⁶ 

¹ sn This may refer to a literal insignia worn by the chief administrator. Even so, it would still symbolize the administrator’s authority to grant or exclude access to the king. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:422.

² sn The metaphor depicts how secure his position will be.

³ tn Heb “and he will become a glorious throne for the house of his father.”

³ tn Heb “and all the glory of the house of his father they will hang on him.” The Lord returns to the peg metaphor of v. 23a. Eliakim’s secure position of honor will bring benefits and jobs to many others in the family.

⁴ tn The precise meaning and derivation of this word are uncertain. Cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV “the issue”; CEV “relatives.”

⁵ tn Heb “all the small vessels, from the vessels that are bowls to all the vessels that are jars.” The picture is that of a single peg holding the weight of all kinds of containers hung from it.