Isaiah 66:16-24

16 For the LORD will execute judgment by ¹fire And by His ²sword on all flesh, And those slain by the LORD will be many.

17 "Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go to the ³gardens, Following one in the center, Who eat ⁴swine's flesh, detestable things and mice, Will ⁵come to an end altogether," declares the LORD.

18 "For I know their works and their ⁶thoughts; the time is coming to ⁷gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.

19 "I will set a ⁸sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: ⁹Tarshish, Put, ¹⁰Lud, Meshech, ¹¹ Tubal and Javan, to the distant ¹² coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will ¹³ declare My glory among the nations.

20 "Then they shall ¹⁴bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My ¹⁵holy mountain Jerusalem," says the LORD, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a ¹⁶clean vessel to the house of the LORD.

21 "I will also take some of them for ¹⁷priests and for Levites," says the LORD.

22 "For just as the ¹⁸new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your ¹⁹offspring and your ²⁰name will endure.

23 "And it shall be from ²¹new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to ²²bow down before Me," says the LORD.

24 "Then they will go forth and look On the ²³corpses of the men Who have ²⁴transgressed against Me. For their ²⁵worm will not die ²⁶And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an ²⁷abhorrence to all mankind."

Isaiah 66:16-24 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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 30:30; Ezekiel 38:22
• 2. Isaiah 65:12; Ezekiel 38:21
• 3. Isaiah 1:29; Isaiah 65:3
• 4. Leviticus 11:7; Isaiah 65:4
• 5. Isaiah 1:28, 31
• 6. Isaiah 59:7; Isaiah 65:2
• 7. Isaiah 45:22-25; Jeremiah 3:17
• 8. Isaiah 11:10, 12; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 62:10
• 9. Isaiah 2:16; Isaiah 60:9
• 10. Ezekiel 27:10
• 11. Genesis 10:2
• 12. Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 24:15; Isaiah 60:9
• 13. 1 Chronicles 16:24; Isaiah 42:12
• 14. Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 60:4
• 15. Isaiah 2:2, 3; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 65:11, 25
• 16. Isaiah 52:11
• 17. Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5, 9
• 18. Isaiah 65:17; Hebrews 12:26, 27; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1
• 19. Isaiah 61:8, 9; Isaiah 65:22, 23; John 10:27-29; 1 Peter 1:4, 5
• 20. Isaiah 56:5
• 21. Isaiah 1:13, 14; Ezekiel 46:1, 6
• 22. Isaiah 19:21, 23; Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah 49:7
• 23. Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 34:3
• 24. Isaiah 1:28; Isaiah 24:20
• 25. Isaiah 14:11; Mark 9:48
• 26. Isaiah 1:31; Matthew 3:12
• 27. Daniel 12:2

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "After"
• [b] So with Gr; Heb omits "know"
• [c] Lit "it is coming"
• [d] So with Gr; Heb "Pul"
• [e] So with Gr; Heb "those who draw the bow"
• [f] I.e. Greece
• [g] Lit "flesh"
• [h] Or "rebelled"
• [i] Lit "flesh"