Isaiah 66:7-24

Mother Zion

7 Before she was in labor, she gave birth. Before her pangs came upon her, she delivered a boy.

8 Whoever heard of such a thing? Whoever saw such things as these? Can a land come to birth in one day? Can a nation be born all at once? Yet as soon as birth pangs came, Zion bore her children.

9 Will I open the womb and not bring to birth? says the LORD. Will I, who create life, close the womb? says your God.

10 Celebrate with Jerusalem; be happy with her, all you who love her! Rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her,

11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts, that you may drink and be refreshed from her full breasts.

12 The LORD says: Look, I'm extending prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse and be carried on the hip and bounced upon the knee.

13 As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you will be comforted.

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice; your entire being will flourish like grass. The LORD's power will be known among his servants, but his fury among his enemies.

15 The LORD will come with fire, God's chariots like a windstorm, to repay in hot anger, to rebuke with fiery flames.

16 With fire and with sword the LORD will judge all humanity; many will be slain by the LORD.

17 Those who became holy and purify themselves, following their leader into the gardens, who eat pork, detestable animals, and mice, will meet their end together, says the LORD.

Worshippers gathered from the nations

18 Because of their actions and thoughts, I'm coming to gather all nations and cultures. They will come to see my glory.

19 I will put a sign on them, by sending out some of the survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, and to the archers of Cilicia and Greece—distant coastlands that haven't heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will declare my glory among the nations.

20 They will bring your family members from all nations as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels—to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, like Israelites bringing an offering in purified containers to the LORD's house.

21 I will select some of them as priests and Levites, says the LORD.

22 As the new heavens and the new earth that I'm making will endure before me, says the LORD, so your descendants and your name will endure.

23 From month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all humanity will come to worship me, says the LORD.

24 They will go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me, where their worm never dies, where their fire is never extinguished. They will be a horror to everyone.

Isaiah 66:7-24 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb uncertain