Isaiah 66:19
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)
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This verse highlights that God's "sign" among His people isn't just for judgment, but also a beacon of hope that sends survivors out to the furthest corners of the earth. These survivors aren't just escaping; they are commissioned messengers to nations who've never known God's glory, showing that God's plan extends far beyond any one group.
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate victory and the spread of His message to all nations. Following pronouncements of judgment and restoration, God declares He will place a sign among His people and send survivors, not just to distant lands, but to nations who have never known Him. These survivors are then commissioned to declare God's glory, fulfilling the mission to bring His fame and presence to the furthest corners of the earth.
In the midst of judgment, God promises a 'sign.' What does this mean for those escaping and for the nations hearing about Him?
Isaiah 66:19 begins with God saying, 'I will set a sign among them.' The Hebrew word for 'sign' ('oth) often refers to a miraculous event or a symbol that points to God's power and presence. Think of it like a divine flag planted in the midst of His people.
What is this sign? The scholars offer a few ideas:
Regardless of the exact interpretation, the 'sign' signifies God's active intervention, His faithfulness to a remnant, and His intention to make His glory known far beyond Israel's borders.
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God doesn't just save a few; He sends them out. Who are these 'survivors,' and where are they going?
The verse doesn't just talk about people escaping judgment; it declares, 'And from them I will send survivors to the nations.' This is a powerful shift from judgment to mission.
The Survivors
These aren't just people who happened to be in the right place at the right time. They are a remnant, those chosen and preserved by God through His judgment. They carry the mark of His deliverance and are now commissioned by Him.
The Nations They Reach
The prophet lists a wide array of places: Tarshish (often seen as Spain, representing the far west), Pul and Lud (likely African regions), Tubal and Javan (regions around the Black Sea and Greece), and 'the coastlands far away.' This isn't a small, localized mission; it's a global outreach.
The Purpose: Declaring God's Glory
The crucial part is why they are sent: 'that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.' These survivors are sent to people who are unaware of God's power, His character, and His deeds. Their mission is to be witnesses, to share the good news of who God is and what He has done, spreading His fame and glory to the ends of the earth.
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 beyond the immediate judgments of exile and destruction, envisioning a future where God's glory is declared to all nations through a surviving remnant, a vision powerfully fulfilled in the spread of the gospel by the early Church.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling a large portion of its population. This event marks a significant judgment on Israel and leads to the 'lost tribes.'
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire begins deporting Jewish nobility and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This is the pinnacle of God's judgment on Judah for its disobedience.
c. 538 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, allows exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks a period of restoration and hope.
c. 1st Century AD— this verse
Early Christian Missions
The apostles and early believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit after Jesus' ascension, begin spreading the gospel to the known world, fulfilling the Great Commission.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
Roman armies destroy Jerusalem and its Second Temple in response to a Jewish revolt. This event signifies a major turning point for Judaism and the continuation of God's judgment on an unrepentant nation.
This passage speaks of a 'shoot' from Jesse rising as a banner for the nations, to which people shall seek, echoing the idea of a 'sign' in Isaiah 66:19 that gathers people.
Zechariah 14:16This verse describes survivors from all nations coming up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, mirroring the mission of the 'survivors' in Isaiah 66:19 to declare God's glory to the nations.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' command to go and make disciples of all nations directly parallels the mission described in Isaiah 66:19, where God sends survivors to declare His glory to those who have not heard.
Acts 13:46Paul and Barnabas boldly declared they were turning to the Gentiles, fulfilling Isaiah 66:19's prophecy of God's glory being declared among nations that had not yet heard His fame.
Romans 10:14This passage questions how people can believe without hearing, and how they can hear without a preacher, directly connecting to the mission in Isaiah 66:19 to send survivors to declare God's glory to those afar off.
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…
This verse highlights that God's "sign" among His people isn't just for judgment, but also a beacon of hope that sends survivors out to the furthest corners of the earth. These survivors aren't just escaping; they are commissioned messengers to nations who've never known God's glory, showing that God's plan extends far beyond any one group.
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate victory and the spread of His message to all nations. Following pronouncements of judgment and restoration, God declares He will place a sign among His people and send survivors, not just to distant lands, but to nations who have never known Him. These survivors are then commissioned to declare God's glory, fulfilling the mission to bring His fame and presence to the furthest corners of the earth.
This passage concludes Isaiah's prophecy by describing God's ultimate victory and the spread of His message to all nations. Following pronouncements of judgment and restoration, God declares He will place a sign among His people and send survivors, not just to distant lands, but to nations who have never known Him. These survivors are then commissioned to declare God's glory, fulfilling the mission to bring His fame and presence to the furthest corners of the earth.
"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…" — This verse highlights that God's "sign" among His people isn't just for judgment, but also a beacon of hope that sends survivors out to the furthest corners of the earth. These survivors aren't just…
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