Isaiah 66:15-17

66:15 For look, the Lord comes with fire,

his chariots come like a windstorm, ¹ 

to reveal his raging anger,

his battle cry, and his flaming arrows. ² 

66:16 For the Lord judges all humanity ³ 

with fire and his sword;

the Lord will kill many. ⁴ 

66:17 “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, ⁵  those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice ⁶  – they will all be destroyed together,” ⁷  says the Lord.

[66:15]  ¹ sn Chariots are like a windstorm in their swift movement and in the way that they kick up dust.

[66:15]  ² tn Heb “to cause to return with the rage of his anger, and his battle cry [or “rebuke”] with flames of fire.”

[66:16]  ³ tn Heb “flesh” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NIV “upon all men”; TEV “all the people of the world.”

[66:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “many are the slain of the Lord.”

[66:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “the ones who consecrate themselves and the ones who purify themselves toward the orchards [or “gardens”] after the one in the midst.” The precise meaning of the statement is unclear, though it is obvious that some form of idolatry is in view.

[66:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “ones who eat the flesh of the pig and the disgusting thing and the mouse.”

[66:17]  ⁷ tn Heb “together they will come to an end.”