Isaiah 66:13-23

13 As if a mother speaketh fair to any child (Like when a mother speaketh softly to her child), so I shall comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 Ye shall see, and your heart shall have joy, and your bones shall burgeon as an herb. And the hand of the Lord shall be known in his servants, and he shall have indignation to his enemies. (Ye shall see, and your heart shall have joy, and your bones shall burgeon like the herbs. And the hand, or the power, of the Lord shall be known, or shall be seen, among his servants, and he shall have anger toward his enemies.)

15 For lo! the Lord shall come in fire, and as a whirlwind his chariots, to yield in indignation his strong vengeance, and his blaming in the flame of fire. (For lo! the Lord shall come in fire, and his chariots like a whirlwind, to yield his strong vengeance in anger, and his rebuke in the fiery flames.)

16 For why the Lord shall deem in fire, and in his sword to each flesh; and slain men of the Lord shall be multiplied, (For the Lord shall judge all flesh, or all the people, with fire, and with his sword; and many people shall be killed by the Lord,)

17 that were hallowed, and guessed them clean, in gardens after one gate within; that eat swine's flesh, and abomination, and a mouse, they shall be wasted together, saith the Lord. (yea, they who were hallowed, and thought themselves to be clean, yet who go into gardens one gate within, that be dedicated to idols; and who eat swine's flesh, and mice, and other abominations, they all shall be destroyed, saith the Lord.)

18 Forsooth I (shall) come to gather together the works of them, and the thoughts of them, with all folks and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

19 And I shall set a sign in them, and I shall send of them that be saved to heathen men, into the sea, into Africa, and into Lydia, and to them that hold [an] arrow, into Italy, and (into) Greek land, to isles far (off), (and) to them that heard not of me, and saw not my glory. And they shall tell (of) my glory to heathen men, (And I shall give them a sign, and I shall spare some of them, and send them to the heathen, yea, to Tarshish, and to Africa, and to Lydia, and to them who hold an arrow/to Meshek, and to Rosh, and to Italy, and to Greece, and to the islands afar off, and to those who have not heard of me, and have not seen my glory. And they shall tell of my glory to the heathen,)

20 and they shall bring all your brethren (out) of all folks (as) a gift to the Lord, in horses, and [in] chariots, and in litters, and in mules, and in carts, to mine holy hill, Jerusalem, saith the Lord; as if the sons of Israel bring a gift in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. (and they shall bring out all your kinsmen from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, on horses, and in chariots, and on litters, and on mules, and in carts, to my holy hill in Jerusalem, saith the Lord; like the Israelites bring a gift in a clean vessel into the House of the Lord.)

21 And I shall take of them into priests and deacons, saith the Lord. (And I shall make some of them to be priests and Levites, saith the Lord.)

22 For as new heavens and new earth, which I make to stand before me, saith the Lord, so your seed shall stand, and your name. (For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I shall make, shall stand before me, saith the Lord, so your children, or your descendants, and your name, shall also endure.)

23 And a month shall be of (a) month, and a sabbath of (a) sabbath; each man shall come for to worship before my face, saith the Lord (and everyone shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord).

Isaiah 66:13-23 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.