18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.
Here is an interesting difference between the Book of Mormon
and the Bible versions of this verse. The Bible version (Isaiah 49: 18) does
have some minor differences from The Book of Mormon version, but the cross
references indicate related but different meanings. The footnote to the word
“gather” in 1 Nephi is a cross reference to Micah 4: 11 (11–13). These verses
very definitely refer to “many nations…gathered against thee (Israel).” It also
says that those who are gathered against Zion shall be gathered “as the sheaves
into the floor,” and that Zion shall “thresh” and “beat in pieces many people.”
This sounds like a violent gathering of Israel. The Bible’s version of Isaiah’s
prophecy has the footnote to the word “gather” as a reference to the Topical
Guide, “Israel, Gathering of,” which does not include a reference to Micah 4:
11. So the same verse in two different places has different footnotes, which
lead to somewhat different meanings.
One interpretation of this verse might be seen if I render it
in more modern language, something like this: “Look around and notice all the
people who are gathering themselves and aligning themselves to you, Israel. (I
think this reference must be to scattered Israel and converted Gentiles) As
surely as I live, says the Lord, you will accept these into the house of
Israel, and they will be a blessing to you.” If we take the last phrase to mean
the “bride” of their Redeemer, the “Bridegroom” (imagery used often throughout
the scriptures), then this gathered Israel could be the means through which the
Jews are finally converted. This is also indicated in the allegory of the olive
tree in Jacob chapter 5. The fruit was not good until all the scattered
branches were grafted back in to the main tree.
