Isaiah 56 7

Isaiah 56:7 kjv

Even 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 56:7 nkjv

Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them 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 nations."

Isaiah 56:7 niv

these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Isaiah 56:7 esv

these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them 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."

Isaiah 56:7 nlt

I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56 verses

Isaiah 56 7 meaning

Isaiah 56:7 declares God's universal invitation to all who commit to Him, including foreigners and eunuchs, to come and worship at His holy dwelling. He promises to gather them to Zion, make them joyful in His sanctuary, and graciously accept their sacrifices. The foundational reason for this profound inclusivity is God's decree that His temple shall be known as a house dedicated to prayer for all nations, not just Israel. This prophecy broadens the scope of God's redemptive plan, foreseeing a future where the physical and ethnic barriers to worship are removed, and sincere devotion from any person is welcomed and celebrated by God.

Isaiah 56 7 Context

Isaiah 56 stands in the latter portion of the book, often reflecting the post-exilic period or looking towards it, focusing on themes of future restoration, salvation, and the character of God's redeemed community. This chapter particularly addresses the inclusion of those previously marginalized or excluded by certain Old Covenant laws—specifically eunuchs (Deut 23:1) and foreigners. Verses 1-6 set the stage by emphasizing righteousness, justice, and Sabbath-keeping as prerequisites for receiving God's blessing, promising that eunuchs and foreigners who embrace God's covenant will be granted a lasting name and place in God's house. Verse 7 then climaxes this prophetic invitation, assuring these new adherents that their worship will be fully accepted and defining the very essence of God's temple as a universal place of prayer. Historically, this countered any ethnocentric tendencies among the returned exiles, who might have been tempted to preserve their community exclusively.

Isaiah 56 7 Word analysis

• Even them (וְאוֹתָם, və’ōṯām): This emphatic "them" directly refers to the eunuchs and foreigners described in the preceding verses (v. 3-6) who hold fast to God's covenant. It signifies a profound inclusivity, welcoming those often marginalized or excluded by conventional societal or religious norms into God's presence.
• I will bring (אֲבִיאוֹתִים, ’ăḇî’ôṯîm): Denotes divine initiative. God actively, personally, and powerfully gathers these individuals. It is not their effort alone, but God's sovereign will enabling their access and bringing them into His presence.
• to My holy mountain (אֶל-הַר קָדְשִׁי, ’el-har qōḏšî): Refers to Mount Zion, Jerusalem, the site of the temple. It is "My holy mountain" because God Himself makes it sacred by His presence. This place symbolizes God's dwelling, the center of legitimate worship, and His global spiritual kingdom.
• and make them joyful (וְשׂמַחְתִּים, vəśimməḥəṭîm): God promises not merely access but an experience of profound joy. Worship in God's presence is not just a duty but a source of deep spiritual happiness and contentment, an emotional benefit provided by God.
• in My house of prayer (בְּבֵית תְּפִלָּתִי, bəḇêṯ təfillāṯî): The Temple. Identifying it specifically as a "house of prayer" (not solely sacrifices or offerings) emphasizes direct communication, petition, and communion with God. This designation elevates the spiritual aspect of worship.
• Their burnt offerings (עֹלוֹתֵיהֶם, ‘ōlôṯêhem): Voluntary whole offerings entirely consumed on the altar. Symbolized complete surrender and dedication to God. Their acceptance implies legitimacy and consecration for foreign worshippers.
• and their sacrifices (וְזִבְחֵיהֶם, vəziḇḥêhem): A general term for various animal offerings, often peace offerings or fellowship offerings, involving shared meals. Their acceptance confirms God's welcoming fellowship with these new adherents.
• Will be accepted (לְרָצוֹן, ləraṣôn - for acceptance/pleasure): Signifies divine approval and favor. Despite traditional distinctions or previous Levitical restrictions, their sincere worship and offerings are pleasing to God, implying atonement and reconciliation for them.
• on My altar (עַל מִזְבְּחִי, ‘al mizbəḥî): The central point of reconciliation and atonement in the temple cult. Placing their offerings on God's specific altar means they participate fully and legitimately in the divine cult, integrated into the worshipping community.
• For My house shall be called (כִּי בֵיתִי יִקָּרֵא, kî bêtî yiqqārê): The introductory "For" (kî) presents the theological rationale for God's inclusive actions. "Shall be called" speaks to its fundamental nature, purpose, and enduring reputation as God's design.
• a house of prayer for all nations (בֵּית-תְּפִלָּה לְכָל-הָעַמִּים, bêṯ-təfillāh ləḵol-hā‘ammîm): This climactic phrase extends the temple's ultimate purpose far beyond national Israel. "All nations" (kol-hā‘ammîm) makes its function universally applicable. Prayer, as a direct connection with God, transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries, forming a core identity for God's dwelling place.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "Even them I will bring to My holy mountain": God's active hand is seen in extending salvation and access to His sacred dwelling for previously excluded people, demonstrating His expansive love and plan.
• "and make them joyful in My house of prayer": This links two powerful benefits: the emotional and spiritual delight bestowed by God and the designated spiritual function of His temple as a place of communion through prayer.
• "Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar": God explicitly validates the worship practices of these new members, asserting His divine approval of their dedicated acts of consecration and fellowship, ensuring their legitimacy.
• "For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations": This ultimate statement profoundly redefines the Temple's identity. It solidifies God's global vision for salvation and worship, establishing that prayer—an act universally accessible and central to spiritual relationship—is the primary purpose, open to all humanity.

Isaiah 56 7 Bonus section

This verse provides the very prophecy that Jesus invoked during the purification of the temple (Matt 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46). Jesus' forceful action directly confronted the practices in the Temple courts that restricted access for Gentiles, thus undermining its universal calling as a "house of prayer for all nations." The merchants and money-changers were essentially turning the Court of the Gentiles, a designated area for foreign worshippers, into a marketplace, preventing the very purpose Isaiah prophesied. Jesus' quotation affirmed the true, expansive intention for God's dwelling. This highlights that a core purpose of God's house is not mere ritual or commerce, but intimate, accessible communication and devotion to God for everyone.

Isaiah 56 7 Commentary

Isaiah 56:7 stands as a powerful testament to God's universal, inclusive love and redemptive purpose. It shatters the narrow ethnocentric perspectives that might have limited access to God, declaring His temple as a spiritual hub for "all nations." God’s active "bringing" of the marginalized (eunuchs and foreigners) into His holy presence emphasizes His initiative and grace, ensuring their joy and the full acceptance of their sincere worship. By identifying His dwelling as primarily a "house of prayer," God highlights the direct, personal, and spiritual nature of communion He desires, which transcends ritual or lineage. This verse prophetically foreshadows the New Covenant reality where, through Christ, the dividing walls between peoples are broken down, and a global community of believers forms a spiritual temple, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.