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About this chapterGod calls his people to maintain justice and do what is right, for his salvation is near. Blessed are those who keep the Sabbath and hold fast to the covenant. Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, and eunuchs who choose what pleases him, are promised a place in his house and a name better than sons and daughters. God's house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. He also gathers outcasts of Israel and others besides. The chapter closes with a rebuke of Israel's watchmen and shepherds, who are blind and silent like mute dogs, greedy and drunken, caring only for their own gain.

God calls his people to maintain justice and do what is right, for his salvation is near. Blessed are those who keep the Sabbath and hold fast to the covenant. Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, and eunuchs who choose what pleases him, are promised a place in his house and a name better than sons and daughters. God's house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. He also gathers outcasts of Israel and others besides. The chapter closes with a rebuke of Israel's watchmen and shepherds, who are blind and silent like mute dogs, greedy and drunken, caring only for their own gain.

Themes

  • Justice and Sabbath
  • Welcome for foreigners and outcasts
  • A house of prayer for all nations

Key verses

Audio Bible · Isaiah 56

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Isaiah 56

Berean Standard Bible12 verses · 2 min read

1This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed. 2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.” 4For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant— 5I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants— all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant— 7I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” 8Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.” 9Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest. 10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. 11Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: 12“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
Verses in Isaiah 56

Chapters of Isaiah

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