Isaiah 66:18

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. For I (knew) - know is not in the Hebrew. Rather, understand the words by Aposiopesis: it is usual in threats to leave the persons threatened to supply the hiatus from their own fears, owing to conscious guilt: 'For I ... their works and thoughts'-namely, will punish (Maurer.) It shall come that I will - the time is come that I will, etc. Gather all nations - against Jerusalem where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall Gather all nations - against Jerusalem, where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall fight for Jerusalem against those nation; and the survivors () shall "see God's glory" (Zechariah 12:8;...

18._For I _—_their works, and their thoughts. _(228) He confirms what he said in the preceding verse; namely, that punishment shall be executed on all the ungodly, in order that, although the Lord permit them for a time to sin with impunity, yet believers, being convinced that they shall one day be punished, may guard against following their example. The Lord here testifies that he sees and observes their works, and that one day he will actually manifest that none can be concealed from his eyes. Others understand by it that the ungodly can accomplish nothing without God’s permission. That statement is indeed true, but is not applicable to this passage; for everybody sees that it is unnatural, and at variance with the context of the Prophet, who merely confirms what he formerly said, that hypocrites and wicked men shall not finally escape with impunity, because God perceives all their act...

15-24 A prophetic declaration is given of the Lord's vengeance on all enemies of his church, especially that of all antichristian opposers of the gospel in the latter days. Ver...

Verse Isaiah 66:18. _FOR I_ KNOW _THEIR WORKS_] A word is here lost out of the present text, leaving the text quite imperfect. The word is יודע _yodea, knowing_, supplied from the _Syriac_. The _Chaldee_ had the same word in the copy before him, which he paraphrases by קדמי גלן _kedemi gelon_, their deeds _are manifest before me_; and the Aldine and Complutensian editions of the _Septuagint_ acknowledge the same word επισταμαι, which is verified by MS. _Pachom_. and the _Arabic_ version. I think there can be little doubt of its being genuine. The concluding verses of this chapter refer to the complete restoration of the Jews, and to the destruction of all the enemies of the Gospel of Christ, so that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord. Talia saecla currite! Lord, hasten the time!...

FOR I KNOW THEIR WORKS - The word ‘know,’ says Lowth, is here evidently left out of the Hebrew text, leaving the sense quite imperfect. It is found in the Syriac; the Chaldee evidently had that word in the copy of the Hebrew which was used; and the Aldine and Complutensian editions of the Septuagint have the word. Its insertion is necessary in order to complete the sense; though the proof is not clear that the word was ever in the Hebrew text. The sense is, that though their abominable rites were celebrated in the deepest recesses of the groves, yet they were not concealed from God. THAT I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AND TONGUES - They who speak all languages (compare Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11;...

SECTION XII.—FINAL THREATENINGS AND PROMISES (Isaiah 66:1.). EXPOSITION ISAIAH 66:1 THE UNGODLY EXILES REBUKED. Israel, being about to return from the Captivity, had the design of rebuilding the temple and re-establishing the temple worship. God rebukes this design in persons devoid of any spirit of holiness, and warns them that mere formal outward worship is an abomination to him (Isaiah 66:1). In Isaiah 66:4 he threatens them wi

FOR I KNOW THEIR WORKS, AND THEIR THOUGHTS,.... That is, of the persons before described; their evil works and thoughts, which are known to Christ the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, whose eyes are as a flame of fire to pierce and penetrate into them, Revelation 2:18 or, "as for me l, their works and their thoughts"; as I know them, and abhor them, I will take vengeance on them for them, for what they have devised and done against me and mine: "and it shall come"; that is, it shall come to pass, or the time shall come: THAT I WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AND TONGUES; not against Jerusalem in the war of Gog and Magog, as the Jewish commentators, Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it, illustrating it by Zechariah 14:2 but to Christ and his church, by the preach

CHAPTER 66 The Finale: The Two Classes and the Prophecy of Isaiah in a Retrospect 1. _The apostates and their wicked worship (Isaiah 66:1) _ 2. _The remnant suffering and encouraged (Isaiah 66:5) _ 3. _The sudden manifestation of the Lord (Isaiah 66:6) _ 4. _The nation's rebirth (Isaiah 66:7) _ 5. _Jerusalem's supremacy and glory (Isaiah 66:10) _ 6. _The warning of judgment (Isaiah 66:15) _ 7. The regathering after judgment ...

ISAIAH 66. Here divisions are hard to define. The theme the coming punishment of the apostates and the coming glory of the pious is pursued now on one side, now on the other. ISAIAH 66:1. AN ATTACK ON THE PROJECTORS OF A RIVAL TEMPLE. Those Jews who refused to accept the reformed religion apparently proposed to set up a rival temple. Yahweh scornfully demands of them in what manner of building they would house Him, whose habitation is the universe. These things a temple and a resting-place He has already made for Himself, on Zion; for despite His loftiness He ever considers the humble and obedient worshipper. As for these rebels who combine forbidden with legitimate rites, such as human sacrifice, the sacrifice of a dog without effusion of blood, the sacrificial use of swine's blood, and honouring of images, just as they choose their own perverse ways so will He choose to make t

THOUGHTS. devices. I WILL GATHER. Compare Joel 3:2.Zephaniah 3:8. SIGN. See note on Isaiah 7:11 SEND: as missionaries. THOSE THAT ESCAPE: i.e. the remnant of saved Israel TARSHISH. put for the far west. PUL. LUD. Phut. Lud, put for African peoples. They are mentioned together, as serving in the Egyptian armies (Ezekiel 30:5). TUBAL. the Scythian tribes. JAVAN. Put for the Greeks settled in Asia Minor. ISLES. maritime countries. See note on Isaiah 11:11.