Isaiah 22:22
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
“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.

NASB 1995
“Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.

NASB 1977
“Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.

Amplified Bible
“Then I will set on his shoulder the key of the house of David; When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD will put him in charge of the key that belongs to King David's family. No one will be able to unlock what he locks, and no one will be able to lock what he unlocks.

English Revised Version
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will place the key of the house of David around his neck. What he opens no one will shut. What he shuts no one will open.

Good News Translation
I will give him complete authority under the king, the descendant of David. He will have the keys of office; what he opens, no one will shut, and what he shuts, no one will open.

International Standard Version
"I'll place on his shoulder the key to the house of David—what he opens, no one will shut, and what he shuts, no one will open.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
I will place the key 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.

New Heart English Bible
I will lay the key of the house of David on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
I will lay the key of David’s house on his shoulder. He will open, and no one will shut. He will shut, and no one will open.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have placed the key "" Of the house of David on his shoulder, "" And he has opened, and none is shutting, "" And has shut, and none is opening.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have placed the key Of the house of David on his shoulder, And he hath opened, and none is shutting, And hath shut, and none is opening.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I gave the key of the house of David upon his shoulder, and he opened and none shut, and he shut and none opened.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will place the key of the house of David upon his shoulder. And when he opens, no one will close. And when he closes, no one will open.

New American Bible
I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one will shut, what he shuts, no one will open.

New Revised Standard Version
I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will place upon his shoulder the keys of the house of David; so he shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none shall open.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he shall set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, and he shall open and there is none who will shut, and he shall shut and there is none who will open
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; And he shall open, and none shall shut; And he shall shut, and none shall open.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will give him the glory of David; and he shall rule, and there shall be none to speak against him: and I will give him the key of the house of David upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and there shall be none to shut; and he shall shut, and there shall be none to open.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Message for Shebna
21I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22I 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. 23I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will be a throne of glory for the house of his father.…

Cross References
Revelation 3:7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.

Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Revelation 1:18
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Job 12:14
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.

Luke 11:52
Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 16:9
because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

2 Corinthians 2:12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,

Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

Revelation 3:8
I know your deeds. Behold, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. I know that you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.

1 Samuel 3:15
Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,

1 Kings 3:7
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

2 Kings 18:18
Then they called for the king. And Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebnah the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder, went out to them.

2 Kings 18:37
Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.


Treasury of Scripture

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

and the key.

Matthew 16:18,19
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…

Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

so he

Job 12:14
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

Matthew 18:18,19
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven…

Revelation 3:7
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

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Isaiah 22
1. The prophet laments the invasion of Jerusalem
8. He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy
15. He prophesies Shebna's deprivation
20. And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ.














I will place
This phrase indicates a divine action, suggesting God's sovereign authority and intentionality. The Hebrew root for "place" is "נתן" (natan), meaning to give or bestow. This conveys the idea of God entrusting a significant responsibility or authority to an individual, emphasizing His control over the affairs of His people.

on his shoulder
The shoulder is often symbolic of bearing responsibility or authority. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, keys were large and carried on the shoulder, signifying the weight of the responsibility. This imagery suggests that the person entrusted with the key is given a significant role, one that requires strength and reliability.

the key to the house of David
The "key" symbolizes authority and access. In the context of the "house of David," it represents control over the royal household and, by extension, the kingdom. The Hebrew word for key, "מפתח" (maphteach), implies an instrument of opening and closing, signifying power over entry and exclusion. This is a messianic prophecy pointing to Christ, who holds ultimate authority over the kingdom of God.

what he opens no one can shut
This phrase underscores the absolute authority and sovereignty of the one holding the key. The act of opening signifies granting access or opportunity, and the assurance that "no one can shut" highlights the irrevocable nature of divine decisions. It reflects the power of God’s will, which cannot be thwarted by human or spiritual forces.

and what he shuts no one can open
Similarly, the act of shutting signifies closing off or denying access. The assurance that "no one can open" what has been shut by divine authority emphasizes the finality and unchallengeable nature of God's decrees. This reflects the ultimate judgment and discernment of God, who alone determines the course of history and the fate of individuals.

(22) And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder . . .--The key of the king's treasure-chambers and of the gates of the palace was the natural symbol of the chamberlain's or vizier's office, and, as in Isaiah 9:6, it was solemnly laid upon the shoulder of the new official, perhaps as representing the burden of the responsibilities of the duties of his office. In the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," in Matthew 16:19, and again in Revelation 3:7, as also in the custom of admitting a Rabbi to his office by giving him a key, we have a reproduction of the same emblem.

So he shall open, and none shall shut . . .--The words paint vividly the supremacy of the office to which Eliakim was to be called. He alone was to decide who was to be admitted into the king's chamber, and for whom the king's treasury was to be opened. In Revelation 3:7, the symbolism is reproduced in its higher application to the King of kings.

Verse 22. - The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder. A key would seem to have been the special badge of the prefect's office, which included the control of the stores (ver. 15), and the general management of the household. It was, perhaps, a part of the form of investiture, that the key should be first laid on the prefect's shoulder and then delivered into his hand. Among the Greeks the priests of Ceres are said to have borne a key on their shoulder, permanently, as a badge of office (Callimach., 'Hymn. ad Cererem,' 1. 45). The reference to this passage in Revelation 3:7 is sufficient to show that Eliakim, the "servant of Jehovah" (ver. 20), is, to a certain extent, a type of Christ; perhaps also of his faithful ministers (Matthew 16:19; John 20:23).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will place
וְנָתַתִּ֛י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

his shoulder
שִׁכְמ֑וֹ (šiḵ·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7926: The neck, as the place of burdens, the spur of a, hill

the key
מַפְתֵּ֥חַ (map̄·tê·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4668: An opener, a key

of the house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of David.
דָּוִ֖ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

What he opens,
וּפָתַח֙ (ū·p̄ā·ṯaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

no
וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

one can shut;
סֹגֵ֔ר (sō·ḡêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

what he shuts,
וְסָגַ֖ר (wə·sā·ḡar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

no
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

one can open.
פֹּתֵֽחַ׃ (pō·ṯê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 22:22 I will lay the key (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 22:21
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