Isaiah 66:19 - “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.
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What does "Isaiah 66:19" mean?
Isaiah 66:19 describes a future time when God will perform a significant sign (likely related to the restored Israel mentioned in the surrounding verses) and, as a result, will send survivors from among the Israelites to various nations. Let's break down the verse piece by piece:
"I will set a sign among them..." This refers to a miraculous event or demonstration of God's power that will be evident among the people. This sign will serve as a testimony to God's truth and faithfulness. The exact nature of the sign is debated, but given the context of the chapter, it is often linked to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel after a period of judgment or exile.
"...and I will send those who escape of them to the nations..." After this sign, God will send survivors from the people of Israel to other nations. "Those who escape" implies a preceding period of turmoil, judgment, or scattering. These survivors are being sent as messengers.
"...to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands..." This lists several specific nations and regions known in Isaiah's time (around the 8th century BC). These are scattered geographically, representing a wide reach.
Tarshish: Generally thought to be a city or region in Spain, known for its trading and wealth.
Pul and Lud: These are more difficult to pinpoint definitively. Some scholars suggest Pul refers to Libya or an African nation. Lud is often associated with Lydia in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), also known for its skilled archers.
Tubal and Javan: Tubal is often linked to a region in modern-day Turkey/Russia. Javan is the Hebrew name for Greece.
Far-away islands: This is a general phrase referring to distant lands, likely maritime regions beyond the immediate known world.
"...who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory..." This is crucial. The people in these regions are ignorant of God. They haven't witnessed His power or heard about His reputation.
"...and they shall declare my glory among the nations." This is the purpose of sending the survivors. They are to be missionaries, proclaiming God's glory and truth to those who have never heard of Him. Their testimony will be a powerful witness, based on the sign they witnessed and the experiences they have had.
In Summary:
Isaiah 66:19 speaks of a future event where God will demonstrate His power through a significant sign among the Israelites. As a result, He will send survivors from Israel to various nations—nations that have never heard of Him—to proclaim His glory. This highlights God's universal concern and His desire for all nations to know Him. It has been interpreted as a prophecy of the missionary work of the church, after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Key Themes:
God's Universalism: The verse underscores God's desire to be known by all nations, not just Israel.
Missionary Mandate: The survivors are commissioned to be witnesses, sharing God's glory with those who have never heard of Him.
Restoration and Renewal: The context of the chapter suggests that this missionary activity will follow a period of restoration and renewal for Israel.
The verse is a powerful reminder of God's redemptive plan for all humanity.
Isaiah 66:19 - “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.
What does "Isaiah 66:19" mean?
Isaiah 66:19 describes a future time when God will perform a significant sign (likely related to the restored Israel mentioned in the surrounding verses) and, as a result, will send survivors from among the Israelites to various nations. Let's break down the verse piece by piece:
"I will set a sign among them..." This refers to a miraculous event or demonstration of God's power that will be evident among the people. This sign will serve as a testimony to God's truth and faithfulness. The exact nature of the sign is debated, but given the context of the chapter, it is often linked to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of Israel after a period of judgment or exile.
"...and I will send those who escape of them to the nations..." After this sign, God will send survivors from the people of Israel to other nations. "Those who escape" implies a preceding period of turmoil, judgment, or scattering. These survivors are being sent as messengers.
"...to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands..." This lists several specific nations and regions known in Isaiah's time (around the 8th century BC). These are scattered geographically, representing a wide reach.
Tarshish: Generally thought to be a city or region in Spain, known for its trading and wealth.
Pul and Lud: These are more difficult to pinpoint definitively. Some scholars suggest Pul refers to Libya or an African nation. Lud is often associated with Lydia in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), also known for its skilled archers.
Tubal and Javan: Tubal is often linked to a region in modern-day Turkey/Russia. Javan is the Hebrew name for Greece.
Far-away islands: This is a general phrase referring to distant lands, likely maritime regions beyond the immediate known world.
"...who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory..." This is crucial. The people in these regions are ignorant of God. They haven't witnessed His power or heard about His reputation.
"...and they shall declare my glory among the nations." This is the purpose of sending the survivors. They are to be missionaries, proclaiming God's glory and truth to those who have never heard of Him. Their testimony will be a powerful witness, based on the sign they witnessed and the experiences they have had.
In Summary:
Isaiah 66:19 speaks of a future event where God will demonstrate His power through a significant sign among the Israelites. As a result, He will send survivors from Israel to various nations—nations that have never heard of Him—to proclaim His glory. This highlights God's universal concern and His desire for all nations to know Him. It has been interpreted as a prophecy of the missionary work of the church, after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Key Themes:
God's Universalism: The verse underscores God's desire to be known by all nations, not just Israel.
Missionary Mandate: The survivors are commissioned to be witnesses, sharing God's glory with those who have never heard of Him.
Restoration and Renewal: The context of the chapter suggests that this missionary activity will follow a period of restoration and renewal for Israel.
The verse is a powerful reminder of God's redemptive plan for all humanity.