Isaiah 56:3-8

3 Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”

4 For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—

5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.

6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORDto minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

8 The Sovereign LORD declares— he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”

Isaiah 56:3-8 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

• 1. S Exodus 12:43; S 1 Kings 8:41; S Isaiah 11:10; Zechariah 8:20-23
• 2. Deuteronomy 23:3
• 3. S Leviticus 21:20; Jer 38:7 "fn"; Acts 8:27
• 4. Jer 38:7 "fn"
• 5. S Exodus 31:13
• 6. Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 60:18
• 7. S Numbers 32:42; 1 Samuel 15:12
• 8. S Isaiah 43:7
• 9. S Isaiah 48:19; Isaiah 55:13
• 10. S Exodus 12:43; S 1 Kings 8:41
• 11. S 1 Chronicles 22:2; Isaiah 60:7,10; Isaiah 61:5
• 12. Malachi 1:11
• 13. ver 2,4
• 14. S Isaiah 2:2; Ezekiel 20:40
• 15. S Isaiah 19:21; Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:15
• 16. Matthew 21:13*; Luke 19:46*
• 17. Mark 11:17*
• 18. S Deuteronomy 30:4; S Isaiah 1:9; S Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 60:3-11; Ezekiel 34:12; John 10:16