Isaiah 66:19
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
Original Language Analysis
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י
And I will set
H7760
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י
And I will set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 30
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
א֗וֹת
a sign
H226
א֗וֹת
a sign
Strong's:
H226
Word #:
3 of 30
a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣י
among them and I will send
H7971
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣י
among them and I will send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
4 of 30
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃
among the Gentiles
H1471
בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃
among the Gentiles
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
8 of 30
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ
to Tarshish
H8659
תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ
to Tarshish
Strong's:
H8659
Word #:
9 of 30
tarshish, a place on the mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a persian and of an i
פּ֥וּל
Pul
H6322
פּ֥וּל
Pul
Strong's:
H6322
Word #:
10 of 30
pul, the name of an assyrian king and of an ethiopian tribe
מֹ֥שְׁכֵי
that draw
H4900
מֹ֥שְׁכֵי
that draw
Strong's:
H4900
Word #:
12 of 30
to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
קֶ֖שֶׁת
the bow
H7198
קֶ֖שֶׁת
the bow
Strong's:
H7198
Word #:
13 of 30
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
וְיָוָ֑ן
and Javan
H3120
וְיָוָ֑ן
and Javan
Strong's:
H3120
Word #:
15 of 30
javan, the name of a son of joktan, and of the race (ionians, i.e., greeks) descended from him, with their territory; also of a place in arabia
הָאִיִּ֣ים
to the isles
H339
הָאִיִּ֣ים
to the isles
Strong's:
H339
Word #:
16 of 30
properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island
הָרְחֹקִ֗ים
afar off
H7350
הָרְחֹקִ֗ים
afar off
Strong's:
H7350
Word #:
17 of 30
remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 30
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 30
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמְע֤וּ
that have not heard
H8085
שָׁמְע֤וּ
that have not heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
20 of 30
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
21 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שִׁמְעִי֙
my fame
H8088
שִׁמְעִי֙
my fame
Strong's:
H8088
Word #:
22 of 30
something heard, i.e., a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
23 of 30
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
רָא֣וּ
neither have seen
H7200
רָא֣וּ
neither have seen
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
24 of 30
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
25 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כְּבוֹדִ֖י
my glory
H3519
כְּבוֹדִ֖י
my glory
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
26 of 30
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
וְהִגִּ֥ידוּ
and they shall declare
H5046
וְהִגִּ֥ידוּ
and they shall declare
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
27 of 30
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
28 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Isaiah 52:15So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.Romans 15:21But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.Isaiah 55:5Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.Ezekiel 27:10They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.Isaiah 60:9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.Isaiah 62:10Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.1 Chronicles 16:24Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.Isaiah 42:4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.Isaiah 65:1I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.Isaiah 18:3All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
Historical Context
The post-exilic Jewish community had limited missionary vision—they were inward-focused, rebuilding and preserving. This prophecy looked beyond to the church age when gospel would spread globally. The early church initially struggled with this (Acts 10-11, 15), but eventually embraced God's call to reach Gentiles (Acts 13:2-3, 47). Paul's missionary journeys took the gospel to Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually Rome, with plans for Spain (Romans 15:24, 28). Throughout church history, missionaries have carried the gospel to every continent. Today, the church exists in virtually every nation, though many remain unreached. Complete fulfillment comes when the gospel is preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14), then the end comes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does personal experience of salvation naturally lead to missionary declaration of God's glory?
- What does the specificity of distant nations teach about God's global redemptive plan?
- How are contemporary believers participating in declaring God's glory to unreached peoples?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God explains His plan: "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles." The "sign" (ot) may refer to a remnant preserved through judgment or a miraculous demonstration. The survivors become missionaries to distant nations—Tarshish (Spain), Pul/Phut (Libya/North Africa), Lud (Lydia/Asia Minor), Tubal (Asia Minor/Caucasus), Javan (Greece/Cyprus), and distant coastlands. These represent the known world's extremes. Their mission: declare God's glory to nations that "have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory." From a Reformed perspective, this prophesies the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The redeemed become missionaries, taking the gospel to every nation. Those who experience salvation declare it to others. The church's missionary expansion fulfills this—beginning in Jerusalem, extending to all nations (Acts 1:8). The gospel reaches previously unreached peoples, fulfilling God's purpose to gather elect from every tribe and tongue.