Isaiah 56:6-8

6 "Also the 1foreigners * who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who 2keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant;
7 Even 3those I will bring to My 4holy mountain And 5make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on 6My altar; For 7My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples."
8 The Lord GOD, who 8gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, "Yet 9others I will gather to them, to those already gathered."

Isaiah 56:6-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 56

This chapter contains a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, and their accession to the church, and of the corrupt state of the church afterwards, especially of its rulers, which brought in men comparable to wild beasts to devour. It begins with an exhortation to the duties of judgment and justice, enforced by the nearness of Christ's salvation, and the clear relation of his righteousness in the Gospel, and by the blessedness of the man that does those duties, and lays hold on those blessings, and observes the whole of religion, instituted and moral, Isa 56:1,2, when encouragement is given to eunuchs, and strangers or Gentiles, sensible and religious persons, to hope for acceptance with God, and that they shall be welcome to his house, with an answer to their objections, and promises of special favours, Isa 56:3-7 to which is subjoined a promise or prophecy of future additions, both of Jews and Gentiles, to the church of God in the latter day, Isa 56:8 and then follows a call upon some savage people, comparable to wild beasts, to come and devour, which will be previous to the above prophecy, Isa 56:9, the reason of which is the sad corruption of the rulers of the church, their ignorance, negligence, avarice, and drunkenness, Isa 56:10-12.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Isaiah 56:3; Isaiah 60:10; Isaiah 61:5
  • 2. Isaiah 56:2, 4
  • 3. Isaiah 2:2, 3; Isaiah 60:11; Micah 4:1, 2
  • 4. Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 65:25
  • 5. Isaiah 61:10
  • 6. Isaiah 60:7
  • 7. Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46
  • 8. Isaiah 11:12
  • 9. Isaiah 60:3-11; Isaiah 66:18-21; John 10:16

Footnotes 2

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.