Isaiah 66:20
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
יָבִיאוּ֩
And they shall bring
H935
יָבִיאוּ֩
And they shall bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 29
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
3 of 29
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם
all your brethren
H251
אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם
all your brethren
Strong's:
H251
Word #:
4 of 29
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
מִכָּל
H3605
מִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 29
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֣ם׀
out of all nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֣ם׀
out of all nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
6 of 29
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
הַמִּנְחָ֛ה
an offering
H4503
הַמִּנְחָ֛ה
an offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
7 of 29
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּ֠בָרֶכֶב
and in chariots
H7393
וּ֠בָרֶכֶב
and in chariots
Strong's:
H7393
Word #:
10 of 29
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
וּבַצַּבִּ֨ים
and in litters
H6632
וּבַצַּבִּ֨ים
and in litters
Strong's:
H6632
Word #:
11 of 29
a species of lizard (probably as clinging fast)
וּבַפְּרָדִ֜ים
and upon mules
H6505
וּבַפְּרָדִ֜ים
and upon mules
Strong's:
H6505
Word #:
12 of 29
a mule (perhaps from his lonely habits)
וּבַכִּרְכָּר֗וֹת
and upon swift beasts
H3753
וּבַכִּרְכָּר֗וֹת
and upon swift beasts
Strong's:
H3753
Word #:
13 of 29
a dromedary (from its rapid motion as if dancing)
עַ֣ל
H5921
עַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
14 of 29
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַ֥ר
mountain
H2022
הַ֥ר
mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
15 of 29
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
קָדְשִׁ֛י
to my holy
H6944
קָדְשִׁ֛י
to my holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
16 of 29
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
17 of 29
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
19 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
20 of 29
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָבִיאוּ֩
And they shall bring
H935
יָבִיאוּ֩
And they shall bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
21 of 29
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בְנֵ֨י
as the children
H1121
בְנֵ֨י
as the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
22 of 29
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
23 of 29
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
24 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמִּנְחָ֛ה
an offering
H4503
הַמִּנְחָ֛ה
an offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
25 of 29
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
בִּכְלִ֥י
vessel
H3627
בִּכְלִ֥י
vessel
Strong's:
H3627
Word #:
26 of 29
something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
טָה֖וֹר
in a clean
H2889
טָה֖וֹר
in a clean
Strong's:
H2889
Word #:
27 of 29
pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense)
Cross References
Isaiah 56:7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.Isaiah 65:11But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.Isaiah 43:6I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;Isaiah 65:25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.Isaiah 11:9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.Romans 15:16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Historical Context
Post-exilic Judaism struggled with Gentile inclusion—Ezra and Nehemiah emphasized separation (Ezra 9-10, Nehemiah 13:23-30). This prophecy looked beyond ethnic exclusivism to gospel inclusivism. The early church struggled similarly until the Spirit revealed that Gentiles are co-heirs (Acts 10-11, 15, Ephesians 2:11-22, 3:6). Paul's ministry brought Gentiles as acceptable offerings to God (Romans 15:16). Throughout church history, missionaries have brought converts from every nation into God's presence. Complete fulfillment comes when the full number of Gentiles is brought in (Romans 11:25) and the great multitude from all nations stands before God's throne (Revelation 7:9-10).
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean that Gentile converts are brought as an 'offering' to God?
- How does the imagery of 'clean vessels' address questions about Gentile acceptability?
- In what ways are we participating in bringing our 'brethren' from all nations to God?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The mission continues: "And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD." Multiple transportation modes—horses, chariots, litters, mules, swift beasts—emphasize the comprehensive ingathering from diverse nations. The "brethren" are brought as an "offering" (minchah)—like the grain offering, they're presented to God. "To my holy mountain Jerusalem" grounds this eschatologically. The comparison: "as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel"—the Gentile converts are ceremonially clean, acceptable offerings to God. From a Reformed perspective, this prophesies Gentile inclusion in the covenant. Paul calls Gentile converts his "offering" to God (Romans 15:16). The imagery emphasizes that Gentile believers are not second-class but fully acceptable offerings, presented to God through Christ's mediation. The church becomes the true Israel, incorporating both Jews and Gentiles into one acceptable sacrifice of praise.