Isaiah 65:15 Meaning Explained

Isaiah 65:15

You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord GOD will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name,

English Standard Version (ESV)

This verse reveals that the unbelieving Jews' very name will become a curse for God's chosen people, used as a formula of imprecation. In contrast, God will bless His faithful servants by calling them by a new, honorable name, signifying their redemption from forsakenness and their intimate relationship with Him.

What Isaiah 65:15 means

This passage appears in a section where God contrasts His faithful servants with those who have forsaken Him. He speaks of a future restoration for His chosen people, who will be blessed and given a new name, while those who reject Him will face destruction and become a curse. The verses immediately preceding detail the blessings for God's faithful servants (eating, drinking, rejoicing) versus the fate of the unfaithful (hunger, thirst, shame).

Names as Symbols of Divine Judgment

Have you ever thought about how powerful a name can be? In Scripture, names are more than just labels; they can carry immense weight, signifying identity, destiny, and even divine judgment.

Names and Identity

In Isaiah 65:15, the people who reject God are told they will 'leave your name for a curse.' This isn't just about being disliked; it means their very identity will become synonymous with divine displeasure. Their name will be invoked when people want to express a deep curse or a terrible fate.

A Proverbial Curse

Think of how names like 'Sodom' or 'Gomorrah' are used even today to signify utter destruction and wickedness. This is what Isaiah is describing: the names of these disobedient people will become proverbial, used by God's chosen ones as the ultimate example of what happens when one rejects the Lord.

Divine Rejection Made Manifest

This is a profound declaration of divine judgment. God is not only bringing destruction upon them, but He is ensuring that their legacy is one of shame and condemnation. Their name, once perhaps a source of pride, will become a mark of their cursed status.

The Radical New Identity of God's Servants

In stark contrast to the curse placed upon the unfaithful, God promises something astonishing for His faithful followers. It’s a transformation so profound it redefines who they are.

A Name of Belonging

The verse concludes with a powerful promise: 'but his servants he will call by another name.' This isn't just a minor change; it signifies a complete re-creation and a new relationship with God.

Beyond Forgetting and Forsaking

Those who have forsaken God are left with a name of cursing. But God's servants, who have sought Him, will receive a name that speaks of redemption, acceptance, and intimate belonging. This new name signifies that they are no longer defined by their past failures or by the world's labels, but by God's own declaration of who they are in Him.

Understand the original words

Original language

chosenבָּחִיר

bachir · Hebrew Adjective/Noun

Those whom God has graciously set apart or selected for His own possession, purpose, and blessing, distinct from the world.

Historical context

Written: Likely between the late 8th century BC and the early 6th century BC.
Author: Traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah, though scholarly debate exists regarding the unity of the book.
Location: Written from Jerusalem to the people of Judah.
Genre: Prophecy with elements of poetic lament and vision; notable for its vivid imagery and dualistic portrayal of judgment and restoration.

Historical background

This prophecy speaks to the deep divisions within post-exilic Israel: those who remained faithful and became God's 'chosen' remnant, and those who clung to old ways or had forsaken God. It foreshadows a future where God's true servants will be recognized by a new identity, distinct from the cursed fate of the unfaithful.

c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Jewish elites and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile. This period saw the loss of national sovereignty and religious practices.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II destroy Jerusalem and its First Temple, the central place of worship for Israel. This event intensifies the exile and a sense of divine abandonment for many.
538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great of Persia, a decree allows Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The rebuilt Second Temple is dedicated in Jerusalem, symbolizing a partial restoration of worship and national identity. However, many Jews remained in exile or chose not to return.

Key themes

01Divine judgment and vindication
02Identity through names
03Chosen people's fate

Cross-references

Jeremiah 29:22

This passage echoes Isaiah's imagery by describing the exiles' names being used as a curse, illustrating how their suffering became a benchmark for imprecation.

Isaiah 62:2

This verse directly parallels Isaiah 65:15 by promising that God's servants will be called by a new and glorious name, contrasting with the curse mentioned in our verse.

Acts 11:26

This New Testament passage shows the fulfillment of the 'another name' prophecy, as followers of Christ were first called Christians, signifying a new identity for God's people.

Revelation 2:17

This passage speaks of God giving a 'new name' to those who overcome, aligning with the theme of a transformed identity for God's faithful servants mentioned in Isaiah.

Deuteronomy 32:21

This earlier scripture prophesies God provoking Israel with a 'foolish nation,' setting a precedent for the contrast between those who forsake God and those He chooses, similar to Isaiah 65:15.

Scholarly commentary

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:"

Shall slay thee "Shall slay you" - For והמיתך vehemithecha, shall slay thee, the Septuagint and Chaldee read והמיתכם vehemithechem, shall slay you, plural.
clarke

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:"

Verse 15. - Ye shall leave your name for a curse (comp. Jeremiah 29:22). In their formulas of imprecation the Jews were in the habit of saying, "The Lord make thee like" this or that person, or this or that class of persons. The name of the exiles should be used in this manner. Unto my chosen (see the comment on ver. 9). The Lord God shall slay thee (…
pulpit

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What Isaiah 65:15 means

Historical context

Written: Likely between the late 8th century BC and the early 6th century BC.
Author: Traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah, though scholarly debate exists regarding the unity of the book.
Location: Written from Jerusalem to the people of Judah.
Genre: Prophecy with elements of poetic lament and vision; notable for its vivid imagery and dualistic portrayal of judgment and restoration.

Historical background

c. 605 BC

First Deportation to Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Jewish elites and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile. This period saw the loss of national sovereignty and religious practices.

586 BC

Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple

Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II destroy Jerusalem and its First Temple, the central place of worship for Israel. This event intensifies the exile and a sense of divine abandonment for many.

538 BC

Return from Exile

Following the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Great of Persia, a decree allows Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the Second Temple period.

c. 516 BC

Dedication of the Second Temple

The rebuilt Second Temple is dedicated in Jerusalem, symbolizing a partial restoration of worship and national identity. However, many Jews remained in exile or chose not to return.