Jacob begins quoting Isaiah from the end of Isaiah 49. This chapter was recorded in its entirety in 1 Nephi 21. Jacob begins by quoting verses 22-23 and then commenting on them. Nephi also gave an explanation of their meaning in 1 Nephi 22:6-9. Nephi explains that this prophecy has both a temporal and a figurative, or spiritual, meaning. The temporal meaning is that the Gentiles will gather the house of Israel to the lands of their inheritance (1 Nephi 22:6). The spiritual meaning is that the gospel will be restored through the Gentiles and be taken to all the house of Israel:
The Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles…And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders…unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.