Isaiah 66:1-14

The Humble and Contrite in Spirit

1 ¹Thus says the LORD: ²"Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

2 ³All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. ⁴But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

3 ⁵"He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers ⁶pig's blood; he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. ⁷These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;

4 ⁸I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring ⁹their fears upon them, ¹⁰because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; ¹¹but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight."

5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake have said, ¹²'Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy'; but it is they who shall be put to shame.

6 "The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of the LORD, ¹³rendering recompense to his enemies!

Rejoice with Jerusalem

7 ¹⁴"Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.

8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For ¹⁵as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?" says the LORD; "shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?" says your God.

10 ¹⁶"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her;

11 that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance."^[a]

12 For thus says the LORD: ¹⁷"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and ¹⁸you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforts, so ¹⁹I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; ²⁰your bones shall flourish like the grass; and ²¹the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

Isaiah 66:1-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 66

This chapter treats of the same things as the former, the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, and the regard had to them that did believe; the conversion of that people in the latter day; the calling of the Gentiles, and the happy state of the church in the last times. The causes of the rejection of the Jews were their unworthy notions of God, as if he was confined to the temple of Jerusalem, and to be pleased with external sacrifices, now both at an end under the Gospel dispensation; a better sacrifice being offered, and a more spiritual worship set up everywhere; which notions are considered, Isa 66:1-3, and because they were set upon their ways and works, and rejected the Gospel of Christ, they are threatened with ruin, Isa 66:3,4 and the disciples of Christ, whom they excommunicated and persecuted, have a promise of divine appearance for them, while vengeance shall be taken on their enemies, their city and temple, Isa 66:5,6, nevertheless, in the latter day, there will be a large and sudden conversion of this nation of the Jews, which is signified by the birth of them, which will be matter of great joy to all the true lovers of the interest of Christ, Isa 66:7-11 and what will add to the prosperity, joy, and comfort of the church of Christ at this time, will be the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles, Isa 66:12-14 at which time the vials of God's wrath will be poured out upon antichrist and his followers, Isa 66:15-17 and the chapter is concluded with a fresh account of large conversions of men of all nations, and of the union of Jews and Gentiles in one church state, which shall long remain, and be undisturbed by enemies, who will be all slain, and their carcasses looked upon with contempt, Isa 66:18-24.

Cross References

• 1. Cited Acts 7:49, 50; [1 Kings 8:27; Acts 17:24]
• 2. [Matthew 5:34, 35]
• 3. [1 Chronicles 29:14]
• 4. Isaiah 57:15; Psalms 34:18
• 5. Isaiah 1:11
• 6. See Isaiah 65:4
• 7. Jeremiah 7:24
• 8. [Isaiah 30:16]
• 9. [Isaiah 51:12]
• 10. See Isaiah 65:12
• 11. [Jeremiah 7:31]
• 12. Isaiah 5:19
• 13. Isaiah 63:4; Isaiah 65:6
• 14. See Isaiah 13:8
• 15. [See ver. 7 above]
• 16. Isaiah 65:19
• 17. [Isaiah 48:18]
• 18. Isaiah 60:16
• 19. Isaiah 51:12; [Isaiah 35:10]
• 20. Isaiah 58:11
• 21. [Ezra 8:22, 31]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or breast