This statement that “all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord” would be particularly important to Nephi. Seeing himself and his people as separated from the main body of Israel on an “isle of the sea” (see commentary accompanying 1 Nephi 19:10), the assurance that they too will be able to “see the salvation of the Lord” would be a salve for the pain of separation.
Reference: The language of verse 17 echoes Isaiah 52:10: “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” The fourfold set “nation, kindred, tongue, people,” occurs in Revelation 14:6. The related “kindred, tongue, people, nation” occurs in Revelation 5:9.