Isaiah 66 Study Notes

66:1 One of the presumptions of the preexilic people of God was that the temple literally was the place where God lived (Jr 7:3-4). This attitude had no justification, especially in light of the speech King Solomon gave when he dedicated the temple (1Kg 8:27). Thus, God began the final pronouncement in the book of Isaiah by reminding his people that his presence fills heaven (my throne) and earth (my footstool). Stephen quotes vv. 66:1-2 in Ac 7:49-50 just before becoming the first Christian martyr.

66:2 God made everything. This means that people should honor and fear God, which will result in humility, submissiveness to God, and total obedience to his commands.

66:3 This verse links four legitimate ritual acts with four perverse acts. The people did both, rendering even the legitimate ritual acts abhorrent practices.

66:4 This verse repeats 65:12.

66:5-6 Trembling at God’s word (v. 2) indicates the kind of submission to God that leads to obedience. The brothers (fellow Israelites) mocked the faithful by saying Let the Lord be glorified because they did not think that would happen. God will see that the mockers get what they deserve.

66:7-8 Zion or Jerusalem has been described as Israel’s mother before (see notes at 49:14; 50:1). Here the return to Judah after the exile is described as Zion giving birth painlessly (again reversing a punishment of the fall; see note at Gn 3:16) to many sons.

66:9 In previous passages (see note at 50:1) God is imagined to be the husband of Zion. That idea might also be operative here, but he is definitely pictured as the doctor who delivered Zion’s babies.

66:10-11 Zion, the mother of the returned exiles, will not only give them birth but will succor them and give them life.

66:12 Zion (Jerusalem) will be a place of abundant (like a river) peace and overflowing (like a flood) wealth (on the wealth of nations, see 60:1-61:11). Zion, the mother, will care for and play with her children, the returned inhabitants of Jerusalem.

66:13 God, who is typically featured as the Father, speaks in the first person as the mother (a role typically played by Zion).

66:14-16 God will save his people and punish those who disobey him. While God blesses and punishes in historical time, the ultimate expression of God’s salvation and judgment will take place at the final judgment (pictured most graphically in the book of Revelation).

66:17 The wicked who receive the punishment described in vv. 14-16 are those who entered illegitimate worship sites (groves). They ate the most unclean food, defiantly rejecting God’s law for Israel.

66:18 God was never interested in Israel alone. His promise to Abraham extended to the nations (Gn 12:3). Isaiah looked forward to the day when the nations would recognize God’s glory.

66:19 The survivors, the remnant of God’s people who survive the judgment, will go out to the nations to speak of God’s glory. Among the representative nations named are those at great distance. Tarshish is modern day Spain (likely Tartessus); Put (ancient Punt) is equivalent to modern Somaliland (though some think a part of Libya; Nah 3:9 lists Libya along with Put); Tubal is an area near the Black Sea; Javan is modern Greece. The coasts and islands refer to distant lands and thus represent all the nations of the world.

66:20 The missionaries of v. 19 will bring back the fruit of their labor, all your brothers, from the nations. This would be Gentile converts coming to Jerusalem.

66:21 The most natural antecedent to them is the nations. Thus, Isaiah presented a remarkable picture of the nations producing people set apart for service to the Lord like priests and Levites.

66:22 On new heavens and new earth, see note at 65:17.

66:23 In this future day, no one will neglect the regular worship of the Lord. The New Moon festival was a monthly sacred observance (1:13; Nm 29:6; 2Kg 4:23; Ezr 3:5; Ps 81:3).

66:24 Isaiah ended his book with one last description of the fate of the wicked. If his intention was to describe a departure from Jerusalem, then perhaps he referred to the Hinnom Valley—a place where garbage was burned and bodies were left to rot. The purpose of this graphic image was to move people toward God and redemption.