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17 “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards,[a] those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice[b]—they will all be destroyed together,”[c] says the Lord. 18 “I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming[d] to gather all the nations and ethnic groups;[e] they will come and witness my splendor. 19 I will perform a mighty act among them[f] and then send some of those who remain to the nations—to Tarshish, Pul,[g] Lud[h] (known for its archers[i]), Tubal, Javan,[j] and to the distant coastlands[k] that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 66:17 tn Heb “the ones who consecrate themselves and the ones who purify themselves toward the orchards [or “gardens”] after the one in the midst.” The precise meaning of the statement is unclear, though it is obvious that some form of idolatry is in view.
  2. Isaiah 66:17 tn Heb “ones who eat the flesh of the pig and the disgusting thing and the mouse.”
  3. Isaiah 66:17 tn Heb “together they will come to an end.”
  4. Isaiah 66:18 tc The Hebrew text reads literally “and I, their deeds and their thoughts, am coming.” The syntax here is very problematic, suggesting that the text may need emendation. Some suggest that the words “their deeds and their thoughts” have been displaced from v. 17. This line presents two primary challenges. In the first place, the personal pronoun “I” has no verb after it. Most translations insert “know” for the sake of clarity (NASB, NRSV, NLT, ESV). The NIV has “I, because of their actions and their imaginations…” Since God’s “knowledge” of Israel’s sin occasions judgment, the verb “hate” is an option as well (see above translation). The feminine form of the next verb (בָּאָה, baʾah) could be understood in one of two ways. One could provide an implied noun “time” (עֵת, ʿet) and render the next line “the time is coming/has come” (NASB, ESV). One could also emend the feminine verb to the masculine בָּא (baʾ) and have the “I” at the beginning of the line govern this verb as well (for the Lord is speaking here): “I am coming” (cf. NIV, NCV, NRSV, TEV, NLT).
  5. Isaiah 66:18 tn Heb “and the tongues”; KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV “and tongues.”
  6. Isaiah 66:19 tn Heb “and I will set a sign among them.” The precise meaning of this statement is unclear. Elsewhere “to set a sign” means “perform a mighty act” (Ps 78:43; Jer 32:20), “make [someone] an object lesson” (Ezek 14:8), and “erect a [literal] standard” (Ps 74:4).
  7. Isaiah 66:19 tn Some prefer to read “Put” (i.e., Libya).
  8. Isaiah 66:19 sn That is, Lydia (in Asia Minor).
  9. Isaiah 66:19 tn Heb “drawers of the bow” (KJV and ASV both similar).
  10. Isaiah 66:19 sn Javan is generally identified today as Greece (so NIV, NCV, NLT).
  11. Isaiah 66:19 tn Or “islands” (NIV).

17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens,(A) following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs,(B) rats(C) and other unclean things—they will meet their end(D) together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.

18 “And I, because of what they have planned and done,(E) am about to come[a] and gather the people of all nations(F) and languages, and they will come and see my glory.(G)

19 “I will set a sign(H) among them, and I will send some of those who survive(I) to the nations—to Tarshish,(J) to the Libyans[b] and Lydians(K) (famous as archers), to Tubal(L) and Greece,(M) and to the distant islands(N) that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.(O) They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 66:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
  2. Isaiah 66:19 Some Septuagint manuscripts Put (Libyans); Hebrew Pul