Isaiah 66:4-6

Context

66:4 So I will choose severe punishment¹ for them;

I will bring on them what they dread,

because I called, and no one responded,

I spoke and they did not listen.

They did evil before me;²

they chose to do what displeases me.”

66:5 Hear the word of the Lord,

you who respect what he has to say!³

Your countrymen,⁴ who hate you

and exclude you, supposedly for the sake of my name,

say, “May the Lord be glorified,

then we will witness your joy.”⁵

But they will be put to shame.

66:6 The sound of battle comes from the city;

the sound comes from the temple!

It is the sound of the Lord paying back his enemies.

[66:4] ¹tn The precise meaning of the noun is uncertain. It occurs only here and in 3:4 (but see the note there). It appears to be derived from the verbal root עָלַל (’alal), which can carry the nuance “deal severely.”

[66:4] ²tn Heb “that which is evil in my eyes.”

[66:5] ³tn Heb “who tremble at his word.”

[66:5] ⁴tn Heb “brothers” (so NASB, NIV); NRSV “Your own people”; NLT “Your close relatives.”

[66:5] ⁵tn Or “so that we might witness your joy.” The point of this statement is unclear.