Isaiah 66 · Verse 18

Isaiah 66:18

For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Isaiah 66:18, King James Version

Isaiah 66:18 in other translations

BSB“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
WEB“For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.
ASVFor I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.
YLTAnd I--their works and their thoughts, I come to gather all the nations and tongues, And they have come and seen My honour.
DARBYAnd I, — their works and their thoughts are before me....The time cometh for the gathering of all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
BBEAnd I am coming to get together all nations and tongues: and they will come and will see my glory.
WebsterFor I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

What does Isaiah 66:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. know--not in the Hebrew. Rather, understand the words by aposiopesis; it is usual in threats to leave the persons threatened to supply the hiatus from their own fears, owing to conscious guilt: "For I ... their works and thoughts," &c.; namely, will punish [Maurer]. it shall come--the time is come that I will, &c. [Maurer]. gather ... nations--against Jerusalem, where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall fight for Jerusalem against those nations: and the survivors (Is 66:19) shall "see God's glory" (Zec 12:8, 9; 14:1-3, 9). tongues--which have been many owing to sin, being confounded at Babel, but which shall again be one in Christ (Da 7:14; Zep 3:9; Re 7:9, 10).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For I know their works - A word is here lost out of the present text, leaving the text quite imperfect. The word is יודע yodea, knowing, supplied from the Syriac. The Chaldee had the same word in the copy before him, which he paraphrases by קדמי גלן kedemi gelon, their deeds are manifest before me; and the Aldine and Complutensian editions of the Septuagint acknowledge the same word επισταμαι, which is verified by MS. Pachom. and the Arabic version. I think there can be little doubt of its being genuine. The concluding verses of this chapter refer to the complete restoration of the Jews, and to the destruction of all the enemies of the Gospel of Christ, so that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord. Talia saecla currite! Lord, hasten the time! It shall come "And I come" - For באה baah, which will not accord with any thing in the sentence, I read בא ba, with a MS.; the participle answering to יודע yodea, with which agree the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Perhaps it ought to be ובא veba, when I shall come, Syr.; and so the Septuagint, according to Edit. Ald. and Complut., and Cod. Marchal.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 66:15-24

A prophetic declaration is given of the Lord's vengeance on all enemies of his church, especially that of all antichristian opposers of the gospel in the latter days. Is. 66:19,20, set forth the abundance of means for conversion of sinners. These expressions are figurative, and express the plentiful and gracious helps for bringing God's elect home to Christ. All shall be welcome; and nothing shall be wanting for…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 66:15-24 →

Isaiah 66:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאָנֹכִ֗יve.'a.no.Khiand IH595
מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ma.'a.sei.Hemdeeds theirH4639
וּמַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔םu.mach.she.Vo.tei.Hemand thoughts theirH4284
בָּאָ֕הba.'Ah[is] comingH935
לְקַבֵּ֥ץle.ka.Betzto gatherH6908
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הַגּוֹיִ֖םha.go.Yimthe nationsH1471
וְהַלְּשֹׁנ֑וֹתve.ha.le.sho.Notand the languagesH3956
וּבָ֖אוּu.Va.'uand they will comeH935
וְרָא֥וּve.ra.'Uand they will seeH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כְּבוֹדִֽי\׃ke.vo.Diglory myH3519

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 66:18

  • Psalms 86:9

    All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

  • Revelation 11:15

    And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

  • Isaiah 2:2

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

  • John 5:42

    But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:20

    And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

  • Hebrews 4:12

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  • Romans 15:8-12

    Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. …

  • Romans 16:26

    But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

  • Ezekiel 38:10

    Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

  • Psalms 82:8

    Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

  • Amos 5:12

    For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I know.
37:28; De 31:21; Am 5:12; Joh 5:42; Re 2:2,9,13
their thoughts.
Job 42:2; Eze 38:10; Mt 9:4; 12:25; Lu 5:22; 1Co 3:20; Heb 4:12
that I.
2:2; Ps 67:2; 72:11,17; 82:8; 86:9; Joe 3:2; Ro 15:8-12; 16:26
Re 11:15
and see.
10; Eze 39:21; Joh 17:24; 2Co 4:4-6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 66:17

    They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

  • Isaiah 66:18

    For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

  • 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.

Read all of Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque yo entiendo sus obras y sus pensamientos: tiempo vendrá para juntar todas las gentes y lenguas; y vendrán, y verán mi gloria.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et moi,… leurs actes et leurs pensées sont devant moi. Le temps est venu de rassembler toutes les nations et les langues; et elles viendront et verront ma gloire.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und ich, ihre Werke und ihre Gedanken sind vor mir. Es kommt die Zeit, alle Nationen und Sprachen zu versammeln; und sie werden kommen und meine Herrlichkeit sehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ego autem opera eorum et cogitationes eorum venio ut congregem, cum omnibus gentibus et linguis: et venient, et videbunt gloriam meam.