Isaiah 22:20-23

22:20 “At that time ¹  I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. 22:21 I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. ²  He will become a protector of ³  the residents of Jerusalem and of the people ⁴  of Judah. 22:22 I will place the key ⁵  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; ⁶  he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family. ⁷ 

[22:20]  ¹ tn Or “in that day.” The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[22:21]  ² tn Heb “and your dominion I will place in his hand.”

[22:21]  ³ tn Heb “a father to.” The Hebrew term אָב (’av, “father”) is here used metaphorically of one who protects and supports those under his care and authority, like a father does his family. For another example of this metaphorical use of the word, see Job 29:16.

[22:21]  ⁴ tn Heb “house.”

[22:22]  ⁵ 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.

[22:23]  ⁶ sn The metaphor depicts how secure his position will be.

[22:23]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he will become a glorious throne for the house of his father.”