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Isaiah 66:18-20
New English Translation
Isaiah 66:18-20
New English Translation
18 “I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming[a] to gather all the nations and ethnic groups;[b] they will come and witness my splendor. 19 I will perform a mighty act among them[c] and then send some of those who remain to the nations—to Tarshish, Pul,[d] Lud[e] (known for its archers[f]), Tubal, Javan,[g] and to the distant coastlands[h] that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor. 20 They will bring back all your countrymen[i] from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them[j] on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels[k] to my holy hill Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the Israelites bring offerings to the Lord’s temple in ritually pure containers.
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- Isaiah 66:18 tc The Hebrew text reads literally “and I, their deeds and their thoughts, am coming.” The syntax here is very problematic, suggesting that the text may need emendation. Some suggest that the words “their deeds and their thoughts” have been displaced from v. 17. This line presents two primary challenges. In the first place, the personal pronoun “I” has no verb after it. Most translations insert “know” for the sake of clarity (NASB, NRSV, NLT, ESV). The NIV has “I, because of their actions and their imaginations…” Since God’s “knowledge” of Israel’s sin occasions judgment, the verb “hate” is an option as well (see above translation). The feminine form of the next verb (בָּאָה, baʾah) could be understood in one of two ways. One could provide an implied noun “time” (עֵת, ʿet) and render the next line “the time is coming/has come” (NASB, ESV). One could also emend the feminine verb to the masculine בָּא (baʾ) and have the “I” at the beginning of the line govern this verb as well (for the Lord is speaking here): “I am coming” (cf. NIV, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT).
- Isaiah 66:18 tn Heb “and the tongues”; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV “and tongues.”
- Isaiah 66:19 tn Heb “and I will set a sign among them.” The precise meaning of this statement is unclear. Elsewhere “to set a sign” means “perform a mighty act” (Ps 78:43; Jer 32:20), “make [someone] an object lesson” (Ezek 14:8), and “erect a [literal] standard” (Ps 74:4).
- Isaiah 66:19 tn Some prefer to read “Put” (i.e., Libya).
- Isaiah 66:19 sn That is, Lydia (in Asia Minor).
- Isaiah 66:19 tn Heb “drawers of the bow” (KJV and ASV both similar).
- Isaiah 66:19 sn Javan is generally identified today as Greece (so NIV, NCV, NLT).
- Isaiah 66:19 tn Or “islands” (NIV).
- Isaiah 66:20 tn Heb “brothers” (so NIV); NCV “fellow Israelites.”
- Isaiah 66:20 tn The words “they will bring them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Isaiah 66:20 tn The precise meaning of this word is uncertain. Some suggest it refers to “chariots.” See HALOT 498 s.v. *כִּרְכָּרָה.
Isaiah 66:18-20
New International Version
Isaiah 66:18-20
New International Version
18 “And I, because of what they have planned and done,(A) am about to come[a] and gather the people of all nations(B) and languages, and they will come and see my glory.(C)
19 “I will set a sign(D) among them, and I will send some of those who survive(E) to the nations—to Tarshish,(F) to the Libyans[b] and Lydians(G) (famous as archers), to Tubal(H) and Greece,(I) and to the distant islands(J) that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.(K) They will proclaim my glory among the nations. 20 And they will bring(L) all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain(M) in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,”(N) says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.(O)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 66:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
- Isaiah 66:19 Some Septuagint manuscripts Put (Libyans); Hebrew Pul
Isaiah 66:18-20
King James Version
Isaiah 66:18-20
King James Version
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
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