Isaiah 66:5

¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Hear {H8085} the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, ye that tremble {H2730} at his word {H1697}; Your brethren {H251} that hated {H8130} you, that cast you out {H5077} for my name's {H8034} sake, said {H559}, Let the LORD {H3068} be glorified {H3513}: but he shall appear {H7200} to your joy {H8057}, and they shall be ashamed {H954}.

Hear the word of ADONAI, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers, who hate you and reject you because of my name, have said: 'Let ADONAI be glorified, so we can see your joy.' But they will be put to shame."

You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”

Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, Let Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy; but it is they that shall be put to shame.

Isaiah 66:5 is a powerful prophetic word addressing the faithful remnant of God's people, promising divine vindication against those within their own community who persecute them under the guise of religious zeal.

Context

This verse comes near the very end of the book of Isaiah, within a section (chapters 65-66) that contrasts the destiny of the faithful with that of the rebellious. It speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, but also addresses the immediate realities of God's people. Here, the Lord speaks directly to those who truly honor His word, distinguishing them from others who, despite being "brethren," act with hostility and hypocrisy. This prophecy anticipates a time of judgment and separation, where God will clearly distinguish between those who genuinely serve Him and those who merely claim to.

Key Themes

  • Reverence for God's Word: The verse begins by addressing those who "tremble at his word." This signifies a deep respect, obedience, and awe for God's commands and revelation. It sets apart a faithful core who are truly devoted to the Lord, contrasting them with superficial religiosity.
  • Persecution from Within: A stark reality is presented: the faithful are hated and "cast out" by their own "brethren." This internal persecution, carried out "for my name's sake," highlights the hypocrisy of the persecutors who claim to act in God's glory while opposing those truly devoted to Him. This theme resonates with later biblical accounts of religious intolerance, such as when Jesus warned His disciples that they would be put out of synagogues.
  • Divine Vindication and Shame: The core promise of the verse is God's intervention. He "shall appear to your joy," bringing comfort and triumph to the persecuted. Conversely, those who persecuted them will be "ashamed," facing the consequences of their actions and the revelation of their false piety. This speaks to God's ultimate justice, where He will right all wrongs and reveal His true servants, as promised in passages like Malachi 4:3 regarding the day of the Lord.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "tremble" (חָרֵד, chared) implies not just physical shaking, but a profound reverence, awe, and cautious obedience. It describes someone who takes God's word seriously and is deeply affected by it. The phrase "for my name's sake" (לְמַעַן שְׁמִי, lema'an shmi) underscores that the persecution was ostensibly done in the name of God, making the persecutors' hypocrisy even more egregious.

Practical Application

Isaiah 66:5 offers profound encouragement to believers facing adversity, particularly from those within religious communities who may misrepresent God's will. It reminds us:

  • Authentic Faith is Reverent: True faith is characterized by a deep respect and obedience to God's word, not just outward religious observance.
  • Persecution is Not New: The experience of being misunderstood, rejected, or even hated for genuine faith is a recurring theme throughout biblical history and continues today.
  • God is the Ultimate Vindicator: Despite present injustices, God promises to appear and bring joy to His faithful ones, while those who acted wickedly will face shame. This promise provides hope and strengthens perseverance. Trust in God's timing and His perfect justice, knowing that vengeance belongs to the Lord.
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.

  • John 15:18

    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.

  • John 15:20

    Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

  • Matthew 5:10

    Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  • Matthew 5:12

    Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • Isaiah 66:2

    For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

  • Psalms 38:20

    They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is].

  • Matthew 10:22

    And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

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