Isaiah 56 Study Notes

56:1 Salvation here is equivalent to victory or rescue since it envisions release from Babylonian bondage. This verse does not call for obedience that earns salvation. Obedience is a response to the promise of God’s coming deliverance, not a way to earn his favor.

56:2 God pronounces happy (see Ps 1) those who are obedient and who avoid evil. The Sabbath commandment (Ex 20:8-11; Dt 5:12-15) is singled out because it was considered the epitome (the “sign”) of the Mosaic covenant (Ex 31:13).

56:3 God reminds his people that foreigners who convert to the Lord are not excluded from worship. Isaiah is not at odds with Ezekiel (Ezk 44:6-9) or Ezra (Ezr 4:1-3), because they addressed the issue of foreigners who had not converted. Indeed, Ex 12:43 states in regard to the Passover meal that “no foreigner may eat it,” but Ex 12:48-49 then makes it clear that if a foreigner converted and was circumcised, then he could partake.

56:4 Eunuchs were typically excluded from worship, according to Dt 23:1: “No man whose testicles have been crushed or whose penis has been cut off may enter the Lord’s assembly.” That law pointed out that gender and sex were divine gifts that should not be intentionally altered. However, this verse describes an obedient eunuch and thus one who had become a eunuch accidentally or who had converted to worship of God after becoming a eunuch. Such devout eunuchs were invited to join in the worship of God.

56:5 Eunuchs could not have children and thus lacked progeny who would perpetuate their names. God proclaims that he will provide a memorial for them.

56:6 This verse gives the positive word regarding foreigners, matching the negative in v. 3.

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.