What Does Isaiah 29:23 Mean in the King James?
But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
When the children are seen as the work of God’s hands, God’s nature stands apart in their sight.
THE MEANING
When you see the people in your midst as the work of God’s hands, God’s nature becomes distinct to you. That recognition gathers into awe before the God of Israel.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the idea that your recognition makes God holy: the repeated verb sets apart the One already named as holy.
THE ROOT
יַקְדִּישׁוּ
yaqdîshû
GROWS FROM
קדשׁ
q-d-sh
To be set apart; to mark as distinct or sacred.
“sanctify” in this verse is yaqdîshû. The verb repeats for both God’s name and the Holy One of Jacob, joining God’s nature to the One named. The children’s response recognizes what is already set apart; it does not make God holy.
ALSO GROWS
qādōsh: Set apart; holy.
קָדוֹשׁ
The same root names the Holy One they recognize.
miqdāsh: Sanctuary; a set-apart place.
מִקְדָּשׁ
The root reaches from setting God apart in speech to places marked as set apart.
qōdesh: Holiness; what is set apart.
קֹדֶשׁ
This branch makes clear that sanctifying God’s name is recognizing its distinct nature.
בְּקִרְבּוֹ
beqirbô
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach or draw near; the related noun qerev means the interior or midst.
The children are described as being in his midst, using the q-r-b word family. That family joins what is inward and close with the act of drawing near, placing God’s handiwork within the scene where his nature is recognized.
ALSO GROWS
qerev: Interior; inward part; midst.
קֶרֶב
This is the word behind the verse’s description of the children in his midst.
qārav: To approach; draw near.
קָרַב
The same consonants connect being in the midst with nearness.
qorbān: A drawing-near offering.
קָרְבָּן
This branch carries the same movement of nearness found in the verse’s inward setting.
יַעֲרִיצוּ
yaʿărîṣû
GROWS FROM
ערץ
ʿ-r-ts
To dread or regard as formidable; to inspire awe.
“fear” in this verse is yaʿărîṣû. This verb names the people’s awed regard for God. Its root carries the sense of what makes a person tremble or recognize overwhelming power, giving the verse’s final response weight beyond a simple label.
ALSO GROWS
ʿāraṣ: To dread; be terrified.
עָרַץ
This verbal form reveals the force carried by the verse’s response of fear.
ʿārîṣ: Formidable or violent one; tyrant.
עָרִיץ
The related word describes a force that commands dread, illuminating the awe in their regard for God.
THE PATTERN
What God makes visible becomes a witness that turns recognition back toward God.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.THE THREAD
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.Isaiah 6:3 repeats the same q-d-sh root in “Holy,” the set-apart nature named in this verse. The children’s recognition echoes the cry that God’s distinct nature fills the scene.
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