It’s easy to read this verse as God sending survivors out to the nations. But notice it says "those that escape of them," meaning a remnant from the very nations God is judging. These are people from the very places that had no clue about God, who will now be sent to other equally clueless places to share the good news.
and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate triumph and the far-reaching spread of His glory. Following a dramatic account of God's coming judgment and cosmic renewal, this verse reveals that survivors of this divine action will be sent as witnesses to distant, unreached nations. These messengers will declare God's fame and glory to people across the known world, from Tarshish in the west to Tubal and Javan (Greece) in the north, and to all the remote coastlands.
Imagine a world shrouded in judgment, but amidst the devastation, a clear signal appears. What is this sign, and how does it guarantee survival?
In Isaiah 66:19, God declares, 'I will set a sign among them.' This 'sign' isn't a passive symbol but an active declaration of God's power to save and to mark His people. Scholars suggest it could be a miraculous event, a divine standard, or even the Messiah Himself (Luke 2:34).
Whatever its specific form, this sign serves a crucial purpose:
What happens to the people who survive God's judgment? Do they hide away, or do they have a new, urgent purpose?
The incredible part of Isaiah 66:19 is where God sends the survivors: 'And from them I will send survivors to the nations...' This isn't about a chosen few being whisked away; it's about a saved remnant becoming a saving force.
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Think about it:
Understand the original words
ʾôt · Hebrew Noun
A mark, miracle, or divine token intended to serve as a proof or signal of God's power, presence, or intent to humanity. It is meant to evoke awe and recognition of His sovereign action.
This prophecy looks far beyond the immediate historical context of Judah's judgment and exile. It envisions a future where God's glory will be declared not only to the returning exiles but also to distant nations, pointing towards the universal scope of the Gospel message spread by the early church.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during a time of geopolitical tension in the ancient Near East, serving kings of Judah like Uzziah and Jotham.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites and a stark warning about God's judgment.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, besieging Jerusalem. Though the city is miraculously spared, it highlights Judah's precarious position and the divine protection offered to a faithful remnant.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling much of the remaining Jewish population. This event fulfills earlier prophecies of judgment for disobedience.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Later Prophecies
In the latter part of his ministry, or during the Babylonian exile, Isaiah offers visions of future restoration and the global proclamation of God's glory, looking beyond the immediate devastation.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Edict
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon and issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
1st Century AD onwards
The Apostolic Mission
The apostles and early Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, embark on a mission to spread the gospel to all nations, fulfilling the prophecy of declaring God's glory among the Gentiles.
This passage describes a future time when survivors from all nations will come up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, echoing the idea of people from distant lands hearing about God's glory.
Malachi 1:11This verse foretells that from the rising to the setting of the sun, God's name will be great among the nations, and incense and pure offerings will be offered, aligning with the theme of God's glory being declared far and wide.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission directly commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, which is a clear fulfillment of the mission described in Isaiah to spread God's fame to those who haven't heard.
Acts 13:47Quoting Isaiah 49:6, Paul declares that the apostles have been appointed as a light to the Gentiles, so that they might bring salvation to the ends of the earth, directly linking the mission of proclaiming God's glory to distant peoples.
Romans 10:18This verse references Psalm 19:4 to show that the apostles' message has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world, paralleling the sending out of survivors to declare God's glory to remote nations.
barnesIsaiah 66:19: "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles."
And I will set a sign among them - (See the notes at Isaiah 11:12 ; Isaiah 18:3 ). On the meaning of the word 'sign' (אות 'ôth), see the notes at Isaiah 7:11 . What is its meaning here is…
clarkeIsaiah 66:19: "And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles."
That draw the bow - I much suspect that the words משכי קשת moshechey kesheth, who draw the bow, are a corruption of the word משך meshek, Moschi, the name of a nation situated between the E…
It’s easy to read this verse as God sending survivors out to the nations. But notice it says "those that escape of them," meaning a remnant from the very nations God is judging. These are people from the very places that had no clue about God, who will now be sent to other equally clueless places to share the good news.
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate triumph and the far-reaching spread of His glory. Following a dramatic account of God's coming judgment and cosmic renewal, this verse reveals that survivors of this divine action will be sent as witnesses to distant, unreached nations. These messengers will declare God's fame and glory to people across the known world, from Tarshish in the west to Tubal and Javan (Greece) in the north, and to all the remote coastlands.
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate triumph and the far-reaching spread of His glory. Following a dramatic account of God's coming judgment and cosmic renewal, this verse reveals that survivors of this divine action will be sent as witnesses to distant, unreached nations. These messengers will declare God's fame and glory to people across the known world, from Tarshish in the west to Tubal and Javan (Greece) in the north, and to all the remote coastlands.
"and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall…" — It’s easy to read this verse as God sending survivors out to the nations. But notice it says "those that escape of them," meaning a remnant from the very nations God is judging. These are peopl…
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Last reviewed October 2026
