Isaiah 66:19-23

66:19 I will perform a mighty act among them¹ and then send some of those who remain to the nations – to Tarshish, Pul,² Lud³ (known for its archers⁴), Tubal, Javan,⁵ and to the distant coastlands⁶ that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor. 66:20 They will bring back all your countrymen⁷ from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them⁸ on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels⁹ to my holy hill Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the Israelites bring offerings to the Lord’s temple in ritually pure containers. 66:21 And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites,” says the Lord. 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me,” says the Lord, “so your descendants and your name will remain. 66:23 From one month¹⁰ to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, all people¹¹ will come to worship me,”¹² says the Lord.

¹tn 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).

²tn Some prefer to read “Put” (i.e., Libya).

³sn That is, Lydia (in Asia Minor).

⁴tn Heb “drawers of the bow” (KJV and ASV both similar).

⁵sn Javan is generally identified today as Greece (so NIV, NCV, NLT).

⁶tn Or “islands” (NIV).

⁷tn Heb “brothers” (so NIV); NCV “fellow Israelites.”

⁸tn The words “they will bring them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁹tn The precise meaning of this word is uncertain. Some suggest it refers to “chariots.” See HALOT 498 s.v. *כִּרְכָּרָה.

¹³tn Heb “new moon.” The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

¹⁴tn Heb “all flesh” (so KJV, ASV, NRSV); NAB, NASB, NIV “all mankind”; NLT “All humanity.”

¹⁵tn Or “bow down before” (NASB).