Isaiah 66

True Worship versus False Sacrifice Isaiah 66:3–4

³Verse 3. He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man;he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck;he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood;he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol.Yes, they have chosen their own ways,and their soul delights in their abominations:⁴Verse 4. I also will choose their delusions,and will bring their fears on them;because when I called, no one answered;when I spoke, they didn’t listen;but they did that which was evil in my eyes,and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”

Response to Persecution Isaiah 66:5–6

⁵Verse 5. Hear Yahweh’s word,you who tremble at his word:“Your brothers who hate you,who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said,‘Let Yahweh be glorified,that we may see your joy;’but it is those who shall be disappointed.⁶Verse 6. A voice of tumult from the city,a voice from the temple,a voice of Yahweh that repays his enemies what they deserve.

The Birth of Zion's Children Isaiah 66:7–9

⁷Verse 7. “Before she travailed, she gave birth.Before her pain came, she delivered a son.⁸Verse 8. Who has heard of such a thing?Who has seen such things?Shall a land be born in one day?Shall a nation be born at once?For as soon as Zion travailed,she gave birth to her children.⁹Verse 9. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says Yahweh.“Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God.

Joy and Comfort for Jerusalem Isaiah 66:10–14

¹⁰Verse 10. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her.Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;¹¹Verse 11. that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts;that you may drink deeply,and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”¹²Verse 12. For Yahweh says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;and you will nurse.You will be carried on her side,and will be dandled on her knees.¹³Verse 13. As one whom his mother comforts,so will I comfort you.You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”¹⁴Verse 14. You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice,and your bones will flourish like the tender grass.Yahweh’s hand will be known among his servants;and he will have indignation against his enemies.

Judgment and Gathering of Nations Isaiah 66:15–19

¹⁵Verse 15. For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. ¹⁶Verse 16. For Yahweh will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by Yahweh will be many. ¹⁷Verse 17. “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the middle, eating pig’s meat, abominable things, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says Yahweh. ¹⁸Verse 18. “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.

¹⁹Verse 19. “I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.

New Creation and Final Judgment Isaiah 66:20–24

²⁰Verse 20. They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Yahweh’s house. ²¹Verse 21. Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Yahweh. ²²Verse 22. “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,” says Yahweh, “so your offspring and your name shall remain. ²³Verse 23. It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before me,” says Yahweh.

²⁴Verse 24. “They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”