Isaiah 66:6-16

6 "A voice of uproar from the city, a voice from the temple, The voice of the LORD who is ¹rendering recompense to His enemies.

7 "Before she travailed, ²she brought forth; Before her pain came, ³she gave birth to a boy.

8 "⁴Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once *? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons.

9 "Shall I bring to the point of birth and ⁵not give delivery?" says the LORD. "Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?" says your God.

Joy in Jerusalem's Future

10 "Be ⁶joyful with Jerusalem and rejoice for her, all you who ⁷love her; Be exceedingly ⁸glad with her, all you who mourn over her,

11 That you may nurse and ⁹be satisfied with her comforting breasts, That you may suck and be delighted with her ¹⁰bountiful bosom."

12 For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend ¹¹peace to her like a river, And the ¹²glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be ¹³carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.

13 "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will ¹⁴comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem."

14 Then you will ¹⁵see this, and your ¹⁶heart will be glad, And your ¹⁷bones will flourish like the new grass; And the ¹⁸hand of the LORD will be made known to His servants, But He will be ¹⁹indignant toward His enemies.

15 For behold, the LORD will come in ²⁰fire And His ²¹chariots like the whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For the LORD will execute judgment by ²²fire And by His ²³sword on all flesh, And those slain by the LORD will be many.

Isaiah 66:6-16 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. Isaiah 59:18; Isaiah 65:6; Joel 3:7
• 2. Isaiah 37:3; Isaiah 54:1
• 3. Revelation 12:5
• 4. Isaiah 64:4
• 5. Isaiah 37:3
• 6. Deuteronomy 32:43; Isaiah 65:18; Romans 15:10
• 7. Psalms 26:8; Psalms 122:6
• 8. Psalms 137:6
• 9. Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:16; Joel 3:18
• 10. Isaiah 60:1, 2; Isaiah 62:2
• 11. Psalms 72:3, 7; Isaiah 48:18
• 12. Isaiah 60:5; Isaiah 61:6
• 13. Isaiah 60:4
• 14. Isaiah 12:1; Isaiah 40:1, 2; Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 51:3; 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4
• 15. Isaiah 33:20
• 16. Zechariah 10:7
• 17. Proverbs 3:8; Isaiah 58:11
• 18. Ezra 7:9; Ezra 8:31
• 19. Isaiah 10:5; Isaiah 13:5; Isaiah 34:2
• 20. Isaiah 10:17; Isaiah 30:27, 33; Isaiah 31:9
• 21. Psalms 68:17; Isaiah 5:28; Habakkuk 3:8
• 22. Isaiah 30:30; Ezekiel 38:22
• 23. Isaiah 65:12; Ezekiel 38:21

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "travailed with"
• [b]. Lit "nurse"
• [c]. Lit "side"