Isaiah 56 (NASB2020)

Rewards for Obedience to God

1This is what the Lord says:

“Guard justice and do righteousness,

For My salvation is about to come

And My righteousness to be revealed.

2“Blessed is a man who does this,

And a son of man who takes hold of it;

Who keeps from profaning the Sabbath,

And keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,

“The Lord will certainly separate me from His people.”

Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

4For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,

And choose what pleases Me,

And hold firmly to My covenant,

5To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,

And a name better than that of sons and daughters;

I will give 56:5 As in DSS; MT himthem an everlasting name which will not be eliminated.

6¶“Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

To attend to His service and to love the name of the Lord,

To be His servants, every one who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it,

And holds firmly to My covenant;

7Even those I will bring to My holy mountain,

And make them joyful in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar;

For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

8The Lord 56:8 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares,

“I will yet gather others to 56:8 Lit himthem, to those already gathered.”

9¶All you 56:9 Lit animals of the fieldwild animals,

All you animals in the forest,

Come to eat.

10His watchmen are blind,

All of them know nothing.

All of them are mute dogs unable to bark,

Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber;

11And the dogs are 56:11 Lit strong of soul/appetitegreedy, they 56:11 Lit do not know satisfactionare never satisfied.

And they are shepherds who have no understanding;

They have all turned to their own way,

Each one to his unjust gain, 56:11 Lit from his endwithout exception.

12“Come,” they say, “56:12 As in DSS and some ancient versions; MT I willlet’s get wine, and let’s drink heavily of intoxicating drink;

And tomorrow will be like today, only more so.”

Understand Isaiah 56

Walk through Isaiah 56 verse by verse, then read what three commentaries say about the chapter. The explanations are written for new readers.