Isaiah 65:15

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:

And ye shall leave {H3240} your name {H8034} for a curse {H7621} unto my chosen {H972}: for the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} shall slay {H4191} thee, and call {H7121} his servants {H5650} by another {H312} name {H8034}:

My chosen will use your name as a curse - 'May Adonai ELOHIM strike you dead!' But to his servants he will give another name.

You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name.

And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name:

This verse from Isaiah 65:15 is a stark declaration of judgment against the rebellious and a promise of a new identity for God's faithful servants. It concludes a section where God contrasts the persistent disobedience of a segment of Israel with the faithfulness of another group, leading into the glorious promises of the new creation.

Context

Isaiah chapter 65 presents a dialogue between God and His people. Verses 1-12 detail God's frustration with those who have forsaken Him, worshipped idols, and engaged in detestable practices. They are characterized as a people who "provoke me to anger continually to my face" (Isaiah 65:3). In contrast, verses 13-16 describe the blessed state of God's true servants, who will eat, drink, rejoice, and sing, while the rebellious will hunger, thirst, be ashamed, and cry out in sorrow. Verse 15 specifically pronounces the ultimate fate of the wicked group: their name will become synonymous with a curse, signifying their utter destruction and the complete reversal of their status, while the faithful receive a new name from God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse emphasizes God's decisive action in "slaying" the wicked, highlighting the severe consequences of rebellion and unfaithfulness.
  • Distinction of God's Servants: It sharply contrasts the fate of the rebellious with that of God's chosen, who are marked by a special blessing and a new identity.
  • A New Name/Identity: Receiving "another name" signifies a complete change in status, relationship with God, and destiny. It indicates belonging and favor, replacing the old name associated with shame and curse. This theme resonates with later promises of a new name given to believers.
  • Curse vs. Blessing: The old name becomes a curse, a byword for judgment, while the new name represents God's blessing and favor upon His servants.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Lord GOD" translates the Hebrew 'Adonai Yahweh', emphasizing God's sovereign authority and covenant faithfulness in executing both judgment and salvation. The idea of a "name" in Hebrew culture was deeply tied to identity, character, and reputation. For one's name to become a "curse" meant their very memory and legacy were associated with divine disapproval and ruin. Receiving "another name" (literally, "a new name") signifies a fundamental re-identification by God, marking a fresh start and inclusion in His redeemed community.

Reflection and Application

Isaiah 65:15 serves as a powerful reminder that our ultimate identity is determined by our relationship with God. Those who persist in rebellion face judgment and their legacy will be one of divine rejection. However, for those who turn to God and serve Him, there is the promise of a profound transformation. God gives His servants a new name, signifying His ownership, acceptance, and the beginning of a glorious future. This echoes the New Testament concept of believers being new creatures in Christ, receiving a new identity in Him, distinct from their former lives of sin and separation from God. It challenges us to consider whose "name" or identity defines us – the old self marked for judgment, or the new self belonging to God?

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 62:2

    And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

  • Romans 9:26

    And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

  • Zechariah 8:13

    And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong.

  • Acts 11:26

    And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

  • Jeremiah 29:22

    And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which [are] in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

  • Isaiah 65:9

    And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

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