The Lord Sets His Hand Again: Thoughts on Isaiah 11:11-12

I’ve always wondered about Isaiah 11:11-12. I’ve wondered whether verse 11 describes a different event than verse 12 and wondered about the specific timing that these verses will be fulfilled.

“(11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (12) And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11-12)

After much study, I am ready to present my findings on Isaiah 11:11-12. In this article, I will show that Isaiah 11:11-12 will find its fulfillment during the end times.

Isaiah 11:11-12 Overview

Isaiah 11:11 mentions that the “Lord shall set his hand again”. The word “again” implies that the Lord has set His hand before. Many Bible commentators believe that the first time the Lord set His hand to recover the Israelites was when He rescued them from Egypt (as Isaiah 11 was written before the Babylonian captivity). The “second time” the Lord is going to recover the remnant of His people will transpire during the end times. The specific time when the Lord is going to set His hand during the end times is a key issue to address.

Isaiah 11:11-12 & Isaiah 49:22

Isaiah 11:12 mentions that the Lord “shall set up an ensign for the nations” and that the remnant of Israel scattered throughout the world shall be assembled. Meanwhile, Isaiah 49:22 mentions that the Lord is going to lift His hand to the Gentiles and set up an ensign in an effort to bring back the remnant of Israel. The nations will respond to the Lord lifting His hand and setting up an ensign (standard) by transporting the remnant of Israel back to their land:

“Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” (Isaiah 49:22)

I believe Isaiah 49:22 describes the same recovery process as Isaiah 11:11-12 since the verse mentions that the Lord will use His Hand (Isaiah 11:11) and set up an ensign (Isaiah 11:12). Both actions ultimately lead to the recovery of the remnant of Israel from the nations where they were scattered:

“Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.” (Isaiah 49:22)

“(11) And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (12) And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:11-12)

The events of Isaiah 11:11-12 and Isaiah 49:22 describe the events following Armageddon. We can see this by considering Isaiah 66:19-20 (a post-Armageddon passage) and Isaiah 60:1-9. These passages describe the defeated Gentiles reacting to the ensign (and the Lord’s lifted hand) by transporting the Gentiles back to Israel:

“(19) And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. (20) And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.” (Isaiah 66:19-20)

“(1) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. (4) Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (5) Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. (6) The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. (7) All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. (8) Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? (9) Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.” (Isaiah 60:1-8)

The Highway of Isaiah 11:16

Isaiah 11:16 and Isaiah 35:8-10 speak of a “way of holiness” that the remnant of Israel located in Egypt and Assyria will use to return to Israel following their redemption:

And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” (Isaiah 11:16)

“(8) And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (9) No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: (10) And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:8-10)

I believe the highway will be created following the events of the seventh vial judgment, which will knock down every mountain on Earth:

“(17) And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. (18) And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. (19) And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (20) And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” (Revelation 16:17-20)

The main reason why I believe the highway will form following the event of the seventh vial judgment is that Isaiah 40:1-4 (a passage which saw its first fulfillment with the first coming of Christ (Matthew 3:1-3) indicates that a desert highway is going to form at a time when every mountain and hill is going to be brought low:

“(1) Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. (2) Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. (3) The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (4) Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:” (Isaiah 40:1-4)

Isaiah 49:10-13 suggests that similar highways may exist to guide people to the land of Israel from around the world:

“(10) They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. (11) And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. (12) Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.” (Isaiah 49:10-12)

Final Thoughts

I hope you found this article on Isaiah 11:11-12 insightful. The passage definitely relates to the end time gathering of the people of Israel from the nations following the events of Armageddon.

If you would like to read more about the gathering of the people of Israel from the nations, click this link for my article on the Valley of the Dry Bones Prophecy: Is the Valley of Dry Bones Prophecy Fulfilled?

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Wayne Croley
Wayne Croley

Hi! I’ve studied and written about Bible prophecy since I was a teenager. My goal is to make Bible prophecy easy for you to understand while avoiding the sensationalism seen elsewhere. I am the author of several end time books, including Prophecy Proof Insights on the End Times, a comprehensive book about the end times. I hold an M.B.A. and degrees in Managerial Economics and Political Science.