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)
The verse contrasts those who curse with those who are blessed. It's not just that the disobedient's name will be used in imprecations, but that their very identity will be deemed accursed by God's chosen, leading to their destruction and the naming of God's servants with a new, redemptive identity.
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 passage is part of a larger prophecy contrasting the fate of God's faithful servants with those who have abandoned Him for idolatry. While the preceding verses detail the blessings awaiting the faithful, this verse pronounces judgment on the unfaithful, declaring their name will become a curse for God's chosen people. It foreshadows a future where God will not only reject the disobedient but also bestow a new, distinguishing name upon His true servants.
Ever heard someone say, 'May God make you like so-and-so' as a curse? Names can hold incredible power, carrying the weight of reputation, history, and even divine judgment.
In Isaiah's day, names could become symbols of utter disgrace. The people who rejected God and followed idols would become so reviled that their names would be used in curses. When someone wanted to wish the worst upon another, they might say, 'May the Lord make you like them!' This wasn't just a mild insult; it invoked divine judgment and a terrible fate.
Think about how names like Sodom and Gomorrah are used today – they immediately bring to mind utter destruction and divine wrath. This is exactly the kind of weight the names of these disobedient Israelites would carry. Their legacy would be one of curse, a stark warning to God's chosen people.
What happens when God decides to completely change the narrative around His people? It’s more than just a new nickname; it’s a divine redefinition.
The verse contrasts the cursed names of the disobedient with a powerful promise for God's faithful servants: 'his servants he will call by another name.' This isn't just about shedding a negative reputation; it's about receiving a new identity bestowed by God Himself.
Throughout Scripture, God gives new names to signify new roles, new covenants, and new destinies. Think of Abram becoming Abraham, Jacob becoming Israel, or even the promise of a new name for believers in Revelation. This 'other name' signifies being set apart, redeemed, and intimately known by God in a way that banishes the curse and brings blessing. It's a sign that God's people are no longer defined by their failures or the world's condemnations, but by His own gracious affirmation.
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Understand the original words
bachir · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those whom God has graciously set apart or selected for His own possession, purpose, and blessing, distinct from the world.
This verse speaks to a profound shift in identity. For those who rejected God, their very name became a symbol of cursing, a stark contrast to the new identity found in God's service, highlighting the ongoing tension between old allegiances and new life in God's people.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Deportations
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria, and many of its citizens were deported to other parts of the empire, marking a significant loss of national and religious identity.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, and a portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, were exiled to Babylon. This began a period of significant distress and questioning of God's covenant.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a mass deportation of the remaining population. This event was a profound crisis for Jewish identity and faith, as their city and central place of worship were gone.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Following the Persian conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great allowed the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marked a turning point, but the community faced challenges and internal divisions.
c. AD 40-50— this verse
Early Christian Spread to Gentiles
The Gospel message, initially proclaimed to Jews, began to be widely accepted by Gentiles, leading to the formation of mixed Jewish and Gentile Christian communities. This expansion challenged existing identity markers.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple resulted in another dispersal of Jewish people and further solidified the separation between Judaism and the burgeoning Christian movement.
This passage speaks of the exiles in Babylon being used as a curse, where their names would be invoked to wish ill upon others, paralleling Isaiah's point about the wicked leaving their name as a curse.
Zechariah 8:13Zechariah echoes Isaiah's theme by stating that the name of Judah would be used for a blessing instead of a curse, highlighting the radical transformation God brings for His chosen people.
Isaiah 62:2This verse directly connects to Isaiah 65:15 by promising that God's people will be called by a new name, a name of blessing and honor, contrasting sharply with the curse mentioned in our passage.
Acts 11:26This New Testament passage shows the fulfillment of God calling His servants by another name, referring to the early followers of Christ being called 'Christians' for the first time in Antioch.
Revelation 2:17This verse speaks of God giving a new name to His faithful servants in the church at Pergamum, reinforcing the concept found in Isaiah that God's redeemed will be distinguished by a new and glorious name.
clarkeIsaiah 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.
pulpitIsaiah 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 (…
The verse contrasts those who curse with those who are blessed. It's not just that the disobedient's name will be used in imprecations, but that their very identity will be deemed accursed by God's chosen, leading to their destruction and the naming of God's servants with a new, redemptive identity.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy contrasting the fate of God's faithful servants with those who have abandoned Him for idolatry. While the preceding verses detail the blessings awaiting the faithful, this verse pronounces judgment on the unfaithful, declaring their name will become a curse for God's chosen people. It foreshadows a future where God will not only reject the disobedient but also bestow a new, distinguishing name upon His true servants.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy contrasting the fate of God's faithful servants with those who have abandoned Him for idolatry. While the preceding verses detail the blessings awaiting the faithful, this verse pronounces judgment on the unfaithful, declaring their name will become a curse for God's chosen people. It foreshadows a future where God will not only reject the disobedient but also bestow a new, distinguishing name upon His true servants.
"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," — The verse contrasts those who curse with those who are blessed. It's not just that the disobedient's name will be used in imprecations, but that their very identity will be deemed accursed by God's c…
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Last reviewed October 2026