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Ordinary Time · Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Isaiah 22:19-23

The Key of the House of David

August 23, 2026

The Prophet Isaiah (Sistine Chapel ceiling), Michelangelo Buonarroti
The Prophet Isaiah (Sistine Chapel ceiling), Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1509Sistine Chapel, Vatican
The prophet turning from his book as if someone had spoken behind him, with his name cut into the plinth below.I will call my servant Eliakim … I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut.Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo, on the ceiling, giving each prophet the moment of being interrupted.Sistine Chapel, VaticanThe Sistine Chapel, Vatican.Sistine Chapel, Vatican
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 16:13-20Mt 16:13-20
Second ReadingRom. 11:33-36Rom 11:33-36
First ReadingIsa. 22:19-23Is 22:19-23
Responsorial PsalmPs. 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 6+8 (8bc)Ps 138:1-2a, 2b-3, 6+8 (8bc)

Overview & Insights

"And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22:22)

The Lord announces that he will remove the steward Shebna from his office and clothe Eliakim with his authority. He will lay the key of the house of David on Eliakim's shoulder, giving him the power to open and to shut.

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Take it further: Isaiah 22:19-23

Commentary

Isaiah 22: Shebna Replaced by EliakimIs 22: Shebna Replaced by Eliakim Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter.

Isaiah 22:19 CommentariesIs 22:19 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries on the key of the house of David in one place.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 22Barnes' Notes on Is 22 StudyLight

Albert Barnes' notes on the whole chapter of Isaiah 22.

The Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre reads the key laid on Eliakim's shoulder alongside the keys given to Peter.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A): Readings Agape Bible Study

A Catholic reading study that ties Eliakim's stewardship to the day's Gospel of the keys.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 22 in HebrewIs 22 in Hebrew Sefaria

The Hebrew text with English alongside and classical Jewish commentaries.

Isaiah 22:19 Hebrew InterlinearIs 22:19 Hebrew Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for the giving of the key.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Isaiah 22Catena on Is 22 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on the key of the house of David.

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