Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
- BSB Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their shelters?
- 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 beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
- Luke 13:29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
- Isa 60:4Lift 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.
- Heb 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- Isa 49:21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
- Gen 8:8–11Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
- Isa 45:22Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
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.