Isaiah 56 Study Notes

56:7 God will not turn away anyone who desires to worship him, even foreigners and eunuchs. His house, the temple, will be a place where everyone can come to pray. This verse is quoted in Mt 21:13; Mk 11:17; and Lk 19:46.

56:8 The dispersed of Israel refers to those Israelites who were removed from the land of Israel as a result of foreign invasions (Assyrian and Babylonian) that God sent as punishment against his people.

56:9-10 Watchmen were supposed to keep wild animals away from the crops, but these watchmen—Israel’s leaders—were ineffective, silent (mute dogs), and asleep.

56:11 In v. 10 the watchmen were called “mute dogs.” This verse picks up on that image to describe their voracious appetites. The verse also compares the leaders to shepherds, but corrupt shepherds, exploiting their followers.

56:12 The leaders were totally self-indulgent. They were in it for themselves.