Isaiah 66:16 kjv
For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isaiah 66:16 nkjv
For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many.
Isaiah 66:16 niv
For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the LORD.
Isaiah 66:16 esv
For by fire will the LORD enter into judgment, and by his sword, with all flesh; and those slain by the LORD shall be many.
Isaiah 66:16 nlt
The LORD will punish the world by fire
and by his sword.
He will judge the earth,
and many will be killed by him.
Isaiah 66 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 66:16 | For by fire the LORD will contend with all flesh, and by his sword with all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many. | Joel 3:1-2 (Judgment on nations) |
| Eze 38:22 (Fulfillment of prophecy) | And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain a torrent of rain, and hailstones, and fire, and brimstone, upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him. | Ezekiel 38-39 (Gog and Magog) |
| Rev 19:11-15 (New Testament fulfillment) | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and with righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God. And the armies of heaven, following him on white horses, clothed in white, fine linen, white and pure, surrounded him. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. | Revelation 19 (Christ's return) |
| Jer 46:10 (Divine judgment) | For that day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, so that he may avenge himself on his adversaries. The sword shall devour, and it shall be satisfied and drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord GOD of hosts has a slaughter day in the land of the north. | Jeremiah 46 (Judgment on Egypt) |
| Zeph 1:12 (Day of the LORD) | At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish men who are settled on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.” | Zephaniah 1 (Day of Judgment) |
| Heb 12:29 (God is a consuming fire) | for our God is a consuming fire. | Hebrews 12 (God's holiness) |
| 1 Pet 4:17 (Judgment begins with the house of God) | For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? | 1 Peter 4 (Suffering and judgment) |
| Isa 30:27-28 (The LORD's appearance) | Behold, the name of the LORD comes from afar, burning is his anger, and heavy is his vapor, his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire. His breath is like an overwhelming stream, that reaches up to the middle of the neck, to shake the nations with the shake of destruction, and to put a bridle in the jaws of the peoples, so as to mislead them. | Isaiah 30 (Trust in God, not Egypt) |
| Deut 32:41 (God's vengeance) | if I whet my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will return vengeance to my adversaries and repay those who hate me. | Deuteronomy 32 (Moses' song) |
| Ps 11:6 (God's righteousness) | Lest the LORD were good, we should not have believed; nor should we have perished; but His name is known for His judgments against those who worship idols. | Psalm 11 (Trust in the LORD) |
| Ps 21:8-9 (God's victory over enemies) | Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them like a fiery oven when you appear in your wrath; the LORD will swallow them up in his anger, and fire will devour them. | Psalm 21 (Praise for victory) |
| Jer 16:4 (Judgment of death) | They shall die of deadly pestilence. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried; they shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their corpses shall be food for the birds of the heavens and for the beasts of the earth. | Jeremiah 16 (Forbidden marriage and mourning) |
| Mal 4:1 (The Day of the LORD - burning wickedness) | "For behold, the day is coming, burned as an oven, when the proud and all who do wickedly will become stubble. The day is coming," says the LORD of hosts, "which will burn them up so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." | Malachi 4 (The coming Day of the LORD) |
| Zech 13:8-9 (Third part refined) | "In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and will refine it as one refines silver, and test it as gold is tested. It will call on my name, and I will answer it. I will say, 'It is my people'; and it will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" | Zechariah 13 (A fountain for sin) |
| Isa 4:4 (Spirit of burning) | when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the blood of Jerusalem from the midst of it by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. | Isaiah 4 (Remnant in Zion) |
| Jer 23:29 (Word as fire) | "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" | Jeremiah 23 (False prophets) |
| Heb 4:12 (Word of God is living and active) | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Hebrews 4 (Rest entered by faith) |
| Ps 97:3 (God's fire) | Fire goes before him and consumes his adversaries on every side. | Psalm 97 (The LORD reigns) |
| 2 Thes 1:8 (Fiery flame) | ...ready to punish with fiery vengeance those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. | 2 Thessalonians 1 (Judgment of the wicked) |
| Rev 6:8 (Pale horse) | And I saw, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. | Revelation 6 (The four horsemen) |
Isaiah 66 verses
Isaiah 66 16 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's divine judgment and the ultimate salvation and restoration He will bring about for His people. It emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God in dealing with His adversaries, revealing that He will execute righteous judgment upon all flesh through the manifestation of His Spirit and power.
Isaiah 66 16 Context
Isaiah 66 is the concluding chapter of the book of Isaiah. It contrasts God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His eternal kingdom with the continued rebellion and destruction of His enemies. The chapter begins with God proclaiming His majesty and rejecting the Temple as a means of containment. It then speaks of a new creation, a restored Zion, and the ingathering of peoples. This specific verse, Isaiah 66:16, marks a transition within the chapter. It underscores the unavoidable nature of God's judgment against those who oppose Him, emphasizing that His justice will be executed through powerful means. This judgment sets the stage for the full realization of His glorious and peaceful kingdom, which will encompass all nations who embrace His righteousness. The "sword" and "fire" represent God's complete and decisive judgment that purifies and separates.
Isaiah 66 16 Word Analysis
- "For" (Hebrew: כִּי - ki): Indicates a reason or explanation for what precedes or follows. It connects this verse to the broader theme of God's divine action.
- "by fire" (Hebrew: בָּאֵשׁ - ba'esh): Denotes the instrument or means of God's judgment. Fire is often used in Scripture to represent divine wrath, purification, and judgment.
- "the LORD" (Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal covenantal name of God, emphasizing His active involvement and authority.
- "will contend" (Hebrew: יָרִיב - yariv): Means to strive, to plead a case, to quarrel, or to fight. It signifies a legal and forceful confrontation. God will actively prosecute and deal with His adversaries.
- "with all flesh" (Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־בָּשָׂר - eth-kol-basar): "Basar" refers to flesh, encompassing humanity in its entirety, including all living beings, and often represents the frail, mortal aspect of humanity. This phrase indicates the universal scope of God's judgment.
- "and by his sword" (Hebrew: וּבְחַרְבּוֹ - u'vacharbo): "Chereb" is a sword, representing a weapon of war, bloodshed, and death. It is another instrument of God's forceful judgment.
- "with all flesh" (Hebrew: אֶת־כָּל־בָּשָׂר - eth-kol-basar): Reiteration emphasizing the comprehensive reach of His judgment by both fire and sword.
- "and the slain" (Hebrew: וּפִגְרֵי־ u'phigrei): "Pegem" refers to a corpse or carcass. It points to the outcome of the judgment – death.
- "of the LORD" (Hebrew: לַיהוָה - Yahweh): Emphasizes that the slain are those destroyed by the LORD's action, a testament to His power and justice.
- "shall be many" (Hebrew: יִרְבּוּ - yirbu): Signifies a large number, indicating the extent of God's victory over His opposition and the comprehensive nature of His judgment.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "by fire... and by his sword": This parallel structure highlights two distinct but equally effective means of divine judgment. Fire purifies and consumes, while the sword cuts and destroys. Together, they portray an overwhelming and complete judgment.
- "with all flesh": The repetition emphasizes the universality and inclusiveness of this judgment. No part of humanity will be exempt from experiencing the consequence of opposing God's reign.
- "the slain of the LORD": This phrasing suggests a sovereign, divine action leading to death. Those killed are not random victims but are brought to account by the LORD Himself. The large number underscores His ultimate power over all opposing forces.
Isaiah 66 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of "fire" and "sword" is a consistent theme throughout Scripture when depicting God's judgment and wrath against sin and rebellion. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, fire was often used to utterly destroy cities and their inhabitants, signifying complete annihilation. The sword was the primary tool of execution and warfare. By employing both, the prophet Isaiah powerfully conveys the totality and severity of God's coming judgment. This verse is a profound theological statement about God's justice, demonstrating that He is not only merciful but also a righteous judge who will hold all accountable. The outcome of this judgment, the "slain of the LORD," are those whose opposition to God is ultimately nullified by His overwhelming power, paving the way for a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
Isaiah 66 16 Commentary
Isaiah 66:16 serves as a solemn declaration of God's unyielding justice. The Lord will not idly stand by while His creation is subjected to sin and rebellion. Through potent imagery of fire and sword, His judgment is described as absolute and pervasive, affecting all who stand against Him. This is not a capricious act but a righteous purging and a victory for His people. The chapter moves from this pronouncement of judgment to a vision of an everlasting kingdom, showing that destruction of evil precedes the establishment of ultimate peace and righteousness under God's reign. This aligns with the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, whose victorious return will bring judgment upon all ungodliness and establish His eternal reign. The divine judgment described here is a purifying fire, essential for the ultimate renewal of all things.