Isaiah 66 21

Isaiah 66:21 kjv

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 66:21 nkjv

And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites," says the LORD.

Isaiah 66:21 niv

And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the LORD.

Isaiah 66:21 esv

And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

Isaiah 66:21 nlt

"And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Isaiah 66 verses

Isaiah 66 21 meaning

Isaiah 66:21 prophesies a radical new future wherein God declares He will choose some individuals from the Gentile nations (who have come to worship Him) to serve as priests and Levites. This is a profound shift from the traditional Mosaic law, which strictly limited these roles to the descendants of Aaron and the tribe of Levi, demonstrating God's plan for a universal priesthood and the full inclusion of all nations in His service.

Isaiah 66 21 Context

Isaiah 66:21 appears as a climatic statement at the very end of the book of Isaiah, following profound prophecies about God's future judgment and restoration. Chapter 66 begins by contrasting hypocritical worship (Isa 66:1-4) with true reverence. It then shifts to an emphasis on the renewed Jerusalem and the rapid spiritual birth of a nation (Isa 66:7-14), promising comfort for Zion and judgment for those who have forsaken the Lord. The passage immediately preceding verse 21 (Isa 66:18-20) declares that God will gather all nations, and from those "survivors" He will send missionaries to distant lands to declare His glory among the Gentiles. These very Gentiles will then bring God's scattered people back to Jerusalem as an offering, signifying a worldwide movement of worship and reunion. Therefore, verse 21 follows the prophecy of an ingathering of the nations to God's presence, signifying a radical new era where some of these formerly excluded Gentiles will be chosen for direct, sacred service. Historically and culturally for the original Jewish audience, this promise would have been astonishing and potentially unsettling, as it directly contradicted the foundational Mosaic system of hereditary, ethnically exclusive priesthood. It subtly serves as a polemic against the assumption that proximity to God or sacred service was inherently tied to bloodline or specific ritual adherence rather than divine calling and genuine worship.

Isaiah 66 21 Word analysis

• And I will also take:

  • וְגַם֙ (ve'gam): "And also" or "even." The gam emphasizes addition or inclusion, specifically highlighting something unexpected or a departure from the norm. It underscores that this action is alongside other previously mentioned acts of God's favor and justice, amplifying its significance.
  • מֵהֶ֤ם (mehem): "from them." This pre-qualifier refers back to the "survivors from among the nations" mentioned in Isa 66:19-20. It signifies selection from a specific group—the Gentiles who have experienced God's glory and returned with the Jewish exiles.

• some of them:

  • Reiterates מֵהֶ֤ם (mehem), indicating a selection, not all Gentiles, but a chosen portion. It shows God's sovereign choice is at play in distributing roles and responsibilities.

• for priests:

  • לַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים (lakkohenim): "for priests." The Hebrew kohen refers to a sacred minister, a priest. In the Mosaic covenant, priesthood was exclusively reserved for the sons of Aaron, within the tribe of Levi (Exod 28:1; Num 3:10). The appointment of Gentiles to this role is a profound theological innovation, demonstrating a future order where divine service is not limited by Israelite ethnicity or lineage. It points towards a universal and spiritual priesthood.

• and for Levites:

  • וְלַלְוִיִּ֖ם (velallewiyim): "and for Levites." The Levites were descendants of the tribe of Levi, assigned to assist the Aaronic priests in temple service, carry the Tabernacle, and serve as religious teachers (Num 3:6-7; Deut 33:8-10). Including Gentiles in the Levitical role further reinforces the dissolution of ethnic and familial boundaries for sacred service, indicating full integration into the spiritual structure of God's worship.

• ” says the LORD.":

  • אָמַ֖ר יְהוָֽה (amar YHWH): A quintessential prophetic formula, meaning "Thus says the LORD." This phrase authenticates the declaration as a direct, authoritative, and irrevocable word from God Himself, YHWH, the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God of Israel. It removes any doubt about the certainty and divine origin of this astonishing prophecy.

• "And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites”: This phrase announces a monumental shift in the established religious order. The previous verses speak of God gathering and sending Gentile messengers, and the response of these nations bringing an offering (the scattered Israelites) to the LORD. This verse extends their participation to include actual sacerdotal roles. It signifies not merely their acceptance as worshippers but their direct and authorized involvement in the spiritual leadership and service of God. This prophetic declaration shatters the exclusivity of the Aaronic and Levitical priesthood, foreshadowing a new dispensation where those from all nations, chosen by God, will minister to Him. This points toward the spiritual priesthood of all believers under the New Covenant, where ethnic barriers are removed and all who are in Christ have direct access to God and are called to serve Him.

Isaiah 66 21 Bonus section

This verse offers a glimpse into the glorious future kingdom where the strict, ceremonial laws governing the Israelite priesthood will be redefined, not abolished without purpose, but expanded in scope to embrace all humanity in worship. The inclusion of Gentiles as priests and Levites anticipates a direct and unmediated relationship between all peoples and God, established through the work of Messiah. It prefigures a unified, global family of God where ethnic distinctions in sacred service are erased, and competence in ministry is a gift of the Holy Spirit rather than an accident of birth. This aligns with the New Testament concept of every believer being a minister and having direct access to God through Christ, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Israel itself being a "kingdom of priests" (Exod 19:6), but now in an exponentially inclusive and spiritual way. The choice of the specific terms "priests" and "Levites" for these Gentiles implies not just general worship, but active, functional roles within a consecrated service structure, whether literal in the Millennial Kingdom or spiritual in the Church Age, highlighting their full integration into the Lord's service.

Isaiah 66 21 Commentary

Isaiah 66:21 encapsulates a revolutionary promise for a future epoch of universal worship under God's sovereignty. It heralds a dismantling of the exclusive Mosaic priesthood, revealing God's intent to select and appoint individuals from the Gentile nations to sacred priestly and Levitical duties. This unprecedented inclusion of "outsiders" signifies a new covenantal order where God's favor and calling extend beyond the physical lineage of Israel. This prophecy finds its profound fulfillment in the New Testament, particularly with the establishment of the Church. Here, through Christ's perfect high-priestly sacrifice, all believers, both Jew and Gentile, become a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9). The New Covenant supersedes the old order, breaking down ethnic barriers and offering direct access to God for all who believe, enabling them to offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim His excellencies. The verse underscores that God's plan has always encompassed a global family, demonstrating that genuine service to Him is a matter of divine election and calling, rather than birthright or ethnicity.