Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 56 opens THIRD ISAIAH (chs. 56–66) with the EUNUCH-AND-FOREIGNER inclusion (vv. 3–8). Verse 7's 'my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples' is cited at all-three Synoptics in-the-Temple-cleansing (Matt 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46).
Notable Variants
56:3 'eunuch and foreigner' — anti-exclusion; 56:7 'house of prayer for all peoples' → all three Synoptics' Temple-cleansing-citation; 56:8 'I will gather others.'
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 56 = LXX Isaiah 56. 12 verses. OPENS THIRD ISAIAH (chs. 56–66).
This is what the LORD says: 'Guard justice and practice righteousness, for My salvation is near — it comes! And My righteousness is about to be revealed.'
'Thus says the LORD: Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed' tracks MT.
Blessed is the one who does this, the son of man who holds fast to it — who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and restrains his hand from every evil.
'Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil' tracks MT.
Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely separate me from His people.' And let not the eunuch say, 'I am only a dry tree.'
'Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say: The LORD will surely separate me from his people; and let not the eunuch say: Behold, I am a dry tree' tracks MT. EUNUCH-AND-FOREIGNER inclusion. Acts 8:26–40 (Ethiopian-eunuch baptized) Christologically-fulfills — eunuch-status no-longer excludes from-the-people.
For this is what the LORD says to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant:
'For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant' tracks MT.
'I will give them, within My house and within My walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.'
'I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off' tracks MT. EUNUCHS-NAME-BETTER-THAN-SONS-AND-DAUGHTERS. Matt 19:12 (Jesus on-eunuchs-for-the-kingdom) extends.
And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants — every one who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and holds fast to My covenant —
'And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant' tracks MT.
'I will bring them to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.'
Masoretic (WLC)
וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל־הַר קָדְשִׁי וְשִׂמַּחְתִּים בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתִי עוֹלֹתֵיהֶם וְזִבְחֵיהֶם לְרָצוֹן עַל־מִזְבְּחִי כִּי בֵיתִי בֵּית־תְּפִלָּה יִקָּרֵא לְכָל־הָעַמִּים
These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples
Septuagint (LXX)
εἰσάξω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄρος τὸ ἅγιόν μου καὶ εὐφρανῶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τῆς προσευχῆς μου τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ θυσίαι αὐτῶν ἔσονται δεκταὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου μου ὁ γὰρ οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς κληθήσεται πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν
I will bring them to my holy mountain, and gladden them in my house of prayer; their whole burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations
TEMPLE-CLEANSING CITATION — ALL THREE SYNOPTICS. Jesus cites this verse during-the-Temple-cleansing: MARK 11:17 ('Is it not written: MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS? But you have made it a den of robbers'); MATTHEW 21:13 (without-the-'all-nations' clause, abbreviated); LUKE 19:46 (similarly-abbreviated). Mark's-fuller-citation includes-the-key-FOR-ALL-NATIONS phrase, indicating-Jesus' Gentile-inclusion theology — the Temple-corruption is-blocking-the-Gentile-court-of-prayer's-purpose.
The Lord GOD declares — He who gathers the outcasts of Israel: 'I will gather still others to him beyond those already gathered.'
'The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares: I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered' tracks MT. GATHER-YET-OTHERS — Gentile-inclusion. John 10:16 ('I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also') Christologically-extends.
All you beasts of the field, come to devour! All you beasts in the forest!
'All you beasts of the field, come to devour — all you beasts in the forest' tracks MT.
His watchmen are blind — all of them. They know nothing. They are all mute dogs that cannot bark, dreamers lying down, lovers of sleep.
'His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber' tracks MT. SILENT-DOGS — leadership-failure.
The dogs have a mighty appetite — they never have enough. And these are shepherds! They have no understanding. They have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, every last one.
'The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all' tracks MT.
'Come,' they say, 'let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of strong drink! And tomorrow will be like today — great beyond measure!'
'Come, they say, let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure' tracks MT.