Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their shelters?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
- KJV Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
- NKJV “Who are these who fly like a cloud, And like doves to their roosts?
- NASB “Who are these who fly like a cloud And like the doves to their windows?
- NLT “And what do I see flying like clouds to Israel, like doves to their nests?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God marvels at the returning multitudes who come swiftly like clouds and homing doves. The eager, swift return of God's people is a wonder.
Overview
The prophet pictures throngs streaming back so quickly they resemble drifting clouds and doves flying to their nests. The imagery conveys both abundance and the homing instinct of God's people returning to Him. It foreshadows the gathering of the redeemed who, drawn by the gospel, hasten home to God through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rev 7:9After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
- Luke 13:29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.
- Isa 60:4Lift up your eyes and look around: They all gather and come to you; your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried on the arm.
- Heb 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
- Isa 49:21Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who has reared them? Look, I was left all alone, so where did they come from?’”
- Gen 8:8–11Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground.
- Isa 45:22Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 60:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.