Isaiah 66

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[4]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):

• 1QIsa^a: complete
• 1QIsa^b: extant verses 1‑24
• 4QIsa^b (4Q56): extant verse 24
• 4QIsa^c (4Q57): extant verses 20‑24

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).^[5]

Verse 12

For thus saith the LORD,

Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream:

then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.^[8]

• Cross reference for "glory of the Gentiles": Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 43:6; Isaiah 49:22; Isaiah 60:3

Verse 17

They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst,

eating swine's flesh, and the detestable thing, and the mouse,

shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.^[9]

The Jerusalem Bible describes this verse as "a fragment condemning pagan mysteries" linked with verses 3 and 4.^[10]

Verse 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.^[11]

The names listed here represent the distant outposts of the world as it was known to Israel at the time.^[7] All five locations, Tarshish, Pul (or Put), Lud, Tubal, and Javan, are also mentioned in Ezekiel 27.^[12][13]

Verse 24

And they shall go forth,

and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me:

for their worm shall not die,

neither shall their fire be quenched;

and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.^[14]

This is virtually the only passage ^[where?] to speak of lasting judgment,^{[clarification needed]} and comparable to "hell", which is described by Jesus as the place "where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" in Mark 9:48.^[15]

• "Quench": Illusion of a fire which cannot be 'quenched', from the Hebrew root: k-b-h (כבה, kabah, "to be quenched or extinguished, to go out"^[16]), links this verse (the last verse of the ending chapter) to the last verse of the beginning chapter of the whole book (Isaiah 1:31: "none shall quench").^[17] Moreover, it is also used in three other places: (1) of the servant in Isaiah 42:3, that "a dimly burning wick ('smoking flax') he will not quench"; (2) that 'the fire devouring Edom "will not be quenched"' (34:10), and (3) 'those who oppose the LORD's path are "quenched like a wick"' (43:17).^[17]

Jewish

• Isaiah 66 Original Hebrew with Parallel English

Christian

• Isaiah 66 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate Archived 2017-01-16 at the Wayback Machine