Isaiah 22:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

NIV: I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

NASB: Then I will put the key of the house of David on his shoulder; When he opens, no one will shut, When he shuts, no one will open.

CSB: I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one can close; what he closes, no one can open.

NLT: I will give him the key to the house of David — the highest position in the royal court. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them.

KJV: And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

NKJV: The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

In the modern world, the "key to the city" is sometimes given out as an honorary award by some mayors. This symbolizes the idea that the person has earned such respect that the entire town welcomes them. Such ceremonies usually use an oversized, decorative key which doesn't open any actual lock. Nor does the ceremony truly bestow special rights. Yet here, Isaiah is not referring to an honor in title only. This new leader was given management over crucial aspects of Jerusalem's resources.

The Lord declares His intention to grant authority to Eliakim: the new steward of the king's court. This man of God and father-figure to the nation will wear the key to the house of David. As with the modern ceremony, this may have involved a physical item representing authority. The gates of a city were its most important point of security and commerce. A man with power over those had the authority to decide who will be allowed to have an audience with the king and who will be excluded. The king's decision to give the key to Eliakim, by the Lord's will, is a sign of great respect and trust. The one who carried this responsibility exercised authority in the name of the king. Eliakim was the final word on whether the gates remained open or closed.

The key of David, and the authority that comes to the key-bearer, is mentioned again in Revelation in the context of spiritual doors: "The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens" (Revelation 3:7).

Chapter 22:15–25 concludes Isaiah's oracle against Jerusalem with a focus on two men. Shebna is the steward of the king's household. The Lord condemns him for carving his elaborate tomb, with the enemy at the gates, instead of seeking the Lord or serving the king. The Lord gives this steward's authority and position to Eliakim. Eliakim serves with such strength, faithfulness, and integrity that he becomes a father figure to the people. However, he also falls away eventually.

Isaiah presents a prophecy against the city of Jerusalem: "the valley of vision." The prophet condemns the people for partying, perhaps following an astonishing deliverance from the Lord. Instead, they should remember all who died. They should be sobered to realize how helpless they had been. When destruction seemed certain, they should have mourned and cried out to the Lord to save them. Instead, they reveled like nothing mattered. The Lord condemns the steward of the king's house for carving out his tomb instead of trusting God. He puts a man named Eliakim in that position. Eliakim serves with great integrity, faithfulness, and excellence. Yet, he, too, falls away.

Isaiah has recorded several prophecies in preceding chapters. These spoke of nations such as Egypt as well as various tribes. Chapter 22 is an oracle against the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah condemns the people for celebrating instead of mourning and seeking the Lord's help. This could be either before or after a great siege of the city. The prophet weeps for the lost and calls the people to repent. The Lord condemns the king's steward for faithlessness. His replacement, Eliakim, serves with strength and integrity. The next oracles concern Tyre and Sydon, before addressing the entire world.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).