Isaiah 65:15 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 65:15 kjv
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Isaiah 65:15 nkjv
You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name;
Isaiah 65:15 niv
You will leave your name for my chosen ones to use in their curses; the Sovereign LORD will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name.
Isaiah 65:15 esv
You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord GOD will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name,
Isaiah 65:15 nlt
Your name will be a curse word among my people,
for the Sovereign LORD will destroy you
and will call his true servants by another name.
Isaiah 65 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 62:2 | The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name... | New name/glory for God's people |
| Rev 2:17 | To him who overcomes... I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on it... | New name as a reward for the faithful |
| Rev 3:12 | He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God... and I will write on him My God's name, and the name of the city of My God... and My own new name. | God's name/new name for the victorious |
| Jer 24:9 | I will make them a horror and an evil to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach... and a curse... | The unfaithful as a curse to others |
| Jer 29:22 | Because of them a curse will be used by all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon, saying... | Examples of cursed names |
| Zech 8:13 | So will I save you, and you will become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong. | Turning from a curse to a blessing |
| Mal 3:18 | Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. | God's distinction between faithful/unfaithful |
| Ps 1:6 | For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish. | Distinct fates for righteous and wicked |
| Hos 1:9 | Then the LORD said, “Name him Lo-Ammi, for you are not My people and I will not be your God.” | Rejection leading to loss of identity |
| Matt 25:41 | Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire... | Judgment for the unrighteous |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession... who were formerly not a people, but now you are the people of God... | New identity as God's chosen people |
| Eph 2:19-20 | So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household. | New citizenship and belonging for believers |
| Deut 28:37 | You will become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD sends you. | Disgrace and curse for disobedience |
| Isa 41:8-9 | But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen... I have chosen you and not rejected you. | Israel as God's chosen servant |
| Isa 44:1 | But now listen, Jacob, My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. | God's affirmation of His chosen servant |
| Ps 5:12 | For You, LORD, will bless the righteous; You will surround him with favor as with a shield. | Blessing for the righteous |
| Isa 66:24 | And they will go out and look at the corpses of the people who rebelled against Me... they will be an abhorrence to all mankind. | The wicked become a horrifying spectacle |
| Heb 6:8 | But if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and in the end it will be burned. | Consequences for spiritual unfruitfulness |
| Rom 9:26 | And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ | From "not My people" to "sons of God" |
| Gal 3:27-29 | For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ... there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. | New identity and heirship in Christ |
| Acts 11:26 | And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. | New name for Christ's followers |
Isaiah 65 verses
Isaiah 65 15 meaning
Isaiah 65:15 proclaims a stark contrast in destiny: the unfaithful, those who forsook the Lord for idolatry, will have their name become a byword for divine judgment and a form of a curse among God's truly chosen people. This signifies utter rejection and a dreadful legacy. Conversely, the Lord GOD Himself will decisively execute this judgment upon them, while simultaneously bestowing a new, blessed identity and a transformed status upon His faithful servants, marking His favor and a renewed covenant relationship.
Isaiah 65 15 Context
Isaiah chapter 65 begins with God expressing His readiness to be found by those who did not seek Him (gentiles), contrasting sharply with Israel's persistent rebellion despite His continuous invitation (vv. 1-2). The chapter vividly details the idolatry and hypocrisy of a significant portion of Israel, who worshipped other gods, engaged in pagan rituals, and yet professed adherence to the Lord (vv. 3-7, 11-12). God declares that He will repay their iniquities directly. Amidst this judgment, a clear distinction is made: God will preserve a faithful remnant, His chosen ones, for whom He will act differently (vv. 8-10). Verse 15 specifically highlights this divine differentiation, focusing on the contrasting destinies and identities of the apostates and the loyal servants. Historically, this prophecy speaks to the post-exilic community where some continued syncretistic practices, failing to learn from past judgments, while a core of faithful ones anticipated true restoration. It also speaks to the broader prophetic understanding of a spiritual Israel vs. a mere national/ethnic Israel.
Isaiah 65 15 Word analysis
- You shall leave (וְהִנַּחְתֶּ֣ם - vehinnaḥtem): From the Hebrew verb נָתַן (nathan), meaning to give, put, set. Here in the Hiphil stem, it implies causation – 'cause to be left' or 'appoint/designate.' It denotes a definitive act by the rebellious people, yet framed by divine orchestration. They will actively leave, or God will cause them to leave, their own names as a legacy of judgment.
- your name (שְׁמְכֶ֤ם - shemekhem): Refers to one's reputation, identity, legacy, or enduring memory. It encompasses their entire being and how they are remembered. Their very identity becomes the byword of destruction.
- for a curse (לִשְׁבוּעָה֙ - lishvu'ah): From שְׁבוּעָה (shvu'ah), meaning 'oath' or 'curse.' In this context, it implies that their name will be used by others when making an oath invoking divine judgment (e.g., "May God do to me what He did to them!"). It denotes becoming an object lesson, a public example of God's wrath, the very antithesis of blessing.
- to My chosen ones (לִבְחִירַ֖י - livchîray): The faithful remnant, distinct from the rebellious majority. This emphasizes God's discernment and special regard for those who remain loyal to Him. It establishes the perspective from which the cursed name will be invoked.
- for the Lord GOD (כִּ֣י אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִה - ki Adonai Yehovah): "Lord" (Adonai) signifies absolute sovereignty, while "GOD" (Yehovah) represents the covenant-making, self-existent God. This powerful dual title stresses His ultimate authority and certainty in executing judgment and covenant promises.
- will slay you (וְהֵמִיתְךָ֖ - vehemîtkha): From מֵת (muth), meaning 'to die.' In the Hiphil, 'to cause to die,' or 'to put to death.' This signifies God's direct, definitive, and terminal judgment upon the apostate. It can be literal death or the cessation of their identity as a viable community under His favor.
- but He will call (וְלַעֲבָדָ֛יו יִקְרָ֥א - vela'avādv yiqra): "But He will call" is implied by the syntax with "to His servants." The verb קָרָא (qara) means 'to call,' 'to name,' or 'to proclaim.' It is an authoritative divine act, bestowing a new identity.
- His servants (עֲבָדָיו֙ - ʿavādâv): Refers to those who truly worship, serve, and obey Him. These are the faithful, loyal ones, the contrast to the rebellious mentioned earlier in the verse.
- by another name (בְּשֵׁ֥ם אַחֵֽר - beshem aḥêr): "Another name" signifies a complete transformation of identity, status, and destiny. This new name implies honor, blessing, a renewed relationship with God, and association with His glorious future, distinguishing them from the cursed. It's not just a label but a new being.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "You shall leave your name for a curse": This phrase details the dreadful legacy of the rebellious. Their very identity, their remembrance, will not be for honor but as a byword used in solemn declarations of divine wrath. It is a reversal of blessing, becoming a public warning and example.
- "to My chosen ones, for the Lord GOD will slay you": This clarifies both the audience and the agent of the judgment. The "chosen ones" are God's loyal community, who will understand and uphold this judgment. The "Lord GOD" emphasizes that this is not human revenge but sovereign, righteous divine execution, affirming His distinction between faithful and unfaithful.
- "but He will call His servants by another name": This acts as a profound contrast. While the wicked lose their favored identity and face destruction, the faithful are divinely redefined. A "new name" denotes a radical transformation of status, implying honor, acceptance, and a secure place in God's renewed covenant and future plans, directly linking to the new heavens and new earth promised later in the chapter.
Isaiah 65 15 Bonus section
The concept of a "new name" or being known "by another name" holds profound theological weight throughout Scripture. In the context of Isaiah 65:15, it moves beyond a simple designation to embody a complete renewal of relationship and identity. This new name granted to God's servants is a marker of covenant faithfulness and inclusion into God's ultimate plan of restoration. It's often associated with honor, blessing, and intimacy with God, contrasting starkly with the old name linked to sin and judgment. This spiritual renaming signifies belonging to God's renewed creation and participating in His glorious future, echoing the later promises of the new heavens and new earth. It points towards an inward transformation and an outward recognition of divine acceptance, providing a new purpose and destiny.
Isaiah 65 15 Commentary
Isaiah 65:15 encapsulates the ultimate divergence of destinies for two groups within Israel: the idolatrous apostates and the loyal remnant. It presents God's righteous judgment against those who forsake Him for pagan worship (like Gad and Meni in earlier verses), whose names will become a perpetual emblem of divine retribution—a terrifying example used in oaths or curses by God's faithful. This is not merely an insult but a judicial sentence that fixes their legacy in infamy. Critically, it is "the Lord GOD," the sovereign and covenant-keeping God, who decisively brings about their demise, asserting His unchallengeable authority over both history and individual lives. In vivid contrast, the same Divine authority pledges a glorious new identity for His faithful servants. This "other name" symbolizes a complete spiritual transformation, signifying divine favor, a renewed covenant relationship, and an entirely new, blessed standing before Him, untainted by past sin and poised for the future blessings of God's new creation. This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to distinguish between genuine faith and rebellious hypocrisy, delivering ultimate judgment to the latter and enduring blessing to the former.