Justice, Inclusion, and Sabbath Observance
Isaiah 56:1-8
Isa.56.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שמרו: VERB,qal,imper,2,m,pl
- משפט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- צדקה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- קרובה: ADJ,f,sg
- ישועתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
- לבוא: VERB,qal,inf
- וצדקתי: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- להגלות: VERB,qal,inf
Parallels
- Micah 6:8 (thematic): Summarizes what the LORD requires—doing justice and loving mercy—echoing Isaiah 56:1’s injunction to ‘keep justice and do righteousness.’
- Amos 5:24 (thematic): Calls for justice and righteousness to flow like waters, paralleling Isaiah’s demand that justice and righteousness be practiced as evidence of imminent salvation.
- Jeremiah 22:3 (verbal): Uses very similar language—‘do justice and righteousness’—linking moral action with prophetic admonition and promise, closely mirroring Isaiah 56:1’s command.
- Isaiah 62:11 (allusion): Announces that salvation is coming (‘behold, salvation comes’), paralleling Isaiah 56:1’s statement that God’s salvation is near and his righteousness will be revealed.
- Isaiah 1:17 (thematic): Commands learning to do good, seeking justice, and defending the oppressed—an earlier Isaianic call that parallels the ethical imperative of Isaiah 56:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: Keep justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
- Thus says the LORD: Keep justice; do righteousness, for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isa.56.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשרי: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אנוש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יעשה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- ובן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יחזיק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שבת: VERB,qal,inf
- מחללו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ושמר: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מעשות: VERB,qal,inf
- כל: DET
- רע: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Exodus 20:8-11 (quotation): The Decalogue's Sabbath command—'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy'—provides the law underlying Isaiah's injunction to keep the Sabbath and not profane it.
- Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (quotation): A parallel Sabbath command in the covenant tradition (with a different rationale, remembering the exodus) that likewise commands cessation of work and prohibition of profaning the day.
- Isaiah 58:13-14 (thematic): A later prophetic exposition urging proper Sabbath observance—turning from private pursuits and finding delight in the holy day—echoing Isaiah 56’s call to keep the Sabbath and refrain from evil.
- Ezekiel 20:12, 20 (allusion): Ezekiel emphasizes the Sabbath as a sign and commands Israel to keep it; the prophetic stress on Sabbath observance and obedience parallels Isaiah 56’s moral and cultic demand.
- Isaiah 56:4-7 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter: promises made to foreigners and eunuchs who 'hold fast' to the covenant and keep the Sabbath—directly linked thematically and verbally to 56:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed is the man who does this, the son of man who holds fast to it: who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
- Blessed is the one who does this, the son of man who holds fast to it: who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and restrains his hand from doing every evil.
Isa.56.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנכר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הנלוה: PARTCP,nifal,ptc,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הבדל: PART,INT
- יבדילני: VERB,hifil,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- הסריס: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הן: PART
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- עץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יבש: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 56:4-5 (structural): Immediate continuation: answers v.3’s fears by promising honor, a memorial name, and an everlasting covenant for the eunuch who keeps God’s sabbaths and chooses what pleases him.
- Isaiah 56:6-8 (structural): Directly parallels the foreigner motif in v.3 by extending covenant membership and worship rights to foreigners who join themselves to the LORD and seek Him.
- Deuteronomy 23:1 (verbal): Legal background: the Deuteronomic prohibition bars certain emasculated persons from the assembly of the LORD; Isaiah 56 confronts and reverses that exclusion by promising inclusion for eunuchs.
- Acts 8:26-39 (allusion): Narrative fulfillment/illustration: the Ethiopian eunuch—an outsider and eunuch—receives instruction and baptism, illustrating the inclusion Isaiah announces.
- Ephesians 2:14-19 (thematic): New Testament parallel: the breaking down of dividing walls and inclusion of Gentiles as fellow citizens echoes Isaiah’s theme that foreigners and marginalized persons are admitted into God’s people.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people,” nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
- Let not the foreigner who joins himself to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely separate me from his people'; nor let the eunuch say, 'Behold, I am a dry tree.'
Isa.56.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לסריסים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ישמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- שבתותי: NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss1,sg
- ובחרו: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- באשר: CONJ
- חפצתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,-,sg
- ומחזיקים: CONJ+VERB,qal,ptc,mp,pl
- בבריתי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss1,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 56:3 (structural): Immediate context addressing eunuchs—verse 3 introduces the issue (discouraging prophetic promise if they say they are 'unclean'), which verse 4 begins to answer.
- Isaiah 56:6–7 (structural): Continuation and expansion of the same promise: foreigners and eunuchs who keep the Sabbath and hold God’s covenant are welcomed into God's house and given a place.
- Exodus 31:13 (verbal): Links Sabbath-keeping with covenant identity—God commands Israel to keep the Sabbaths as a sign of the covenant, echoing 'keep my Sabbaths' and 'hold fast my covenant' language.
- Deuteronomy 23:1 (allusion): Law that excludes certain persons (including those emasculated) from the assembly—Isaiah 56 confronts and revises that exclusion by promising inclusion for eunuchs who are faithful.
- Acts 8:26–39 (thematic): The Ethiopian eunuch’s conversion and baptism illustrates the prophetic promise realized—an actual eunuch (a foreigner) receives inclusion in the people of God after confessing faith.
Alternative generated candidates
- For thus says the LORD to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths and choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant,
- For thus says the LORD to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what I desire and hold fast to my covenant:
Isa.56.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- בביתי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,sg
- ובחומתי: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+1,sg
- יד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- מבנים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומבנות: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- שם: ADV
- עולם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- יכרת: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 56:4 (structural): Immediate context — same promise to foreigners and eunuchs: granting a place/name in God’s house (continuation and close parallel within the same passage).
- Ezekiel 37:25-27 (thematic): God’s future dwelling with his people and an everlasting covenant: promises of habitation in God’s presence and enduring relationship (parallels 'in my house… an everlasting name').
- Genesis 17:7 (thematic): God’s pledge of an 'everlasting covenant' with Abraham and his offspring — related language of enduring status and divine remembrance ('everlasting').
- Psalm 72:17 (verbal): Prayer that a king’s name 'endure forever' and be continued as long as the sun — language of an enduring name parallels 'a name… that shall not be cut off.'
- Hebrews 2:11-13 (allusion): The New Testament theme of believers admitted into God’s family and Jesus calling them 'brothers' (and declaring God’s name among them) echoes Isaiah’s promise of place and a lasting name in God’s house.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will give them in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
- I will give them in my house and within my walls a memorial and a good name, better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
Isa.56.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ובני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הנכר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הנלוים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,pl,def
- על: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לשרתו: VERB,qal,inf,3,m,sg
- ולאהבה: CONJ+VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- שם: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- להיות: VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- לעבדים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כל: DET
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שבת: VERB,qal,inf
- מחללו: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,sg
- ומחזיקים: VERB,qal,ptc,NA,m,pl
- בבריתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 56:4-5 (structural): Immediate context: the same unit promises inclusion—eunuchs and others who join the LORD receive acceptance and a lasting name, framing foreigners’ welcome.
- Isaiah 56:7 (thematic): Continues the theme of universal worship—God’s house called ‘a house of prayer for all peoples,’ allowing foreigners to bring offerings and worship.
- Exodus 31:13 (verbal): Establishes the Sabbath as a sign of God’s covenant with his people; Isaiah 56:6 links foreigners’ keeping the Sabbath with holding God’s covenant.
- Leviticus 19:33-34 (thematic): Commands Israel to treat the sojourner/alien as native and to love them; parallels Isaiah’s emphasis on foreigners who attach themselves to YHWH and serve him.
- Acts 10:34-35 (allusion): Peter’s declaration that God shows no partiality and accepts those from any nation who fear him and do right echoes Isaiah’s inclusion of foreigners who join and serve the LORD.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the LORD to serve him and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants—every one who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it and holds fast to my covenant,
- And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to serve him and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants— all who keep the Sabbath from profaning it and hold fast to my covenant—
Isa.56.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והביאותים: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,impf,1,sg
- אל: NEG
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- קדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ושמחתים: CONJ+VERB,hiphil,impf,1,sg
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- תפלתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss1s
- עולתיהם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss3mp
- וזבחיהם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss3mp
- לרצון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- מזבחי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- כי: CONJ
- ביתי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1cs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תפלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יקרא: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- לכל: PREP
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Mark 11:17 (quotation): Jesus cites Isaiah 56:7 when cleansing the temple: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations,' directly quoting the verse's language and universalizing the temple's purpose.
- Matthew 21:13 (quotation): Matthew records Jesus' declaration in the temple, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' echoing Isaiah 56:7 and applying its temple theology to his critique of temple misuse.
- Luke 19:46 (quotation): Luke preserves Jesus' temple citation combining Isaiah 56:7's 'house of prayer' formula with condemnation of the temple's corruption, linking Isaiah's inclusive vision to Jesus' action.
- Isaiah 2:2-3 (thematic): Both passages portray the Lord's mountain as a center for nations' worship—Isaiah 2 anticipates all nations streaming to Zion to learn the ways of the Lord, paralleling 56:7's 'house... for all peoples.'
- Malachi 1:11 (thematic): Malachi speaks of pure offerings and the Lord's name honored 'from the rising of the sun to its setting' among the nations, resonating with Isaiah 56:7's theme of accepted sacrifices and worship extending to all peoples.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
- I will bring to my holy mountain, and make 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.
Isa.56.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מקבץ: VERB,qal,ptcp,ms
- נדחי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עוד: ADV
- אקבץ: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- לנקבציו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ps.147:2 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language — 'The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel' — a close verbal parallel to Isaiah's claim that God gathers Israel's outcasts.
- Isa.11:12 (thematic): Speaks of raising a banner for the nations and gathering the dispersed of Judah/Israel from the four corners of the earth; shares the theme of regathering exiles and inclusion of others.
- Isa.43:5-6 (thematic): God promises to bring and gather his people from east and west and beyond; echoes the promise of divine regathering and restoration of those scattered.
- Ezek.34:11-16 (thematic): God as shepherd seeks, rescues and gathers his scattered sheep/Israel; parallels the imagery and purpose of gathering the outcasts for restoration and care.
- Jer.23:3 (thematic): God declares he will gather the remnant of his flock and watch over them; connects to the promise in Isaiah of collecting Israel's outcasts and ensuring their future.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: I will gather still others to him—yes, I will gather them to those already gathered.
- Thus says the LORD, the God who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will yet gather others to him besides those already gathered.
Thus says the LORD: Keep justice, do what is right; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Blessed is the one who does this, the son of man who holds fast to it: who keeps my Sabbaths, not profaning them, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
Let not the foreigner who joins 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.”
For thus says the LORD to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths and choose what I delight in and hold fast to my covenant:
I will give them—within my house and inside my walls—a memorial and a good name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to serve him and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants—everyone who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and holds fast to my covenant—
I 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 shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the LORD GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather others to him besides those already gathered.