And I will fasten him like a peg in a sure place is a simile of Eliakim’s dependability and stability. The Hebrew text uses a metaphor rather than a simile, saying “And I will fasten him a peg in a sure place.” A metaphor tends to have a stronger impact than a simile. I will fasten him renders the Hebrew verb for hammering something in place. The Hebrew word translated peg may refer to a tent peg (Jdg 4.21; 5.26) or a wall peg (Ezek 15.3). The reference to it in verse 25 indicates a wall peg is meant here. A sure place is literally correct, but this phrase probably means the peg is set firmly in place rather than the place itself is firm. For this whole clause Revised English Bible has “I shall fasten him firmly in place like a peg.”

And he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house: This is the result of Eliakim’s stability. A throne of honor (literally “a throne of glory”) is a metaphor for the honor Eliakim will bring to his family. His father’s house refers to the family of his father Hilkiah. This clause may be rendered “and he will hold a position/place that brings honor to his father’s family.” Good News Translation is helpful with “and he will be a source of honor to his whole family.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• And I will set him in place firmly like a peg in a wall,
and he will hold a position that brings honor to his father’s family.

• And I will fix him firmly in place like a peg (nail),
and his position will bring honor to his father’s family.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .