Isaiah 56:4

For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks to eunuchs and foreigners in Isaiah 56, addressing those who fear exclusion from the assembly. The declaration occurs within a covenantal context where ritual fidelity overrides biological or ethnic status.

The words — The Hebrew כֹּה (khoh) means "thus," marking the start of Yahweh’s formal declaration. The noun סָרִיסִים (sa.ri.Sim) literally denotes eunuchs, identifying the specific group receiving the promise.

The thread — The call to deliberate covenant choice parallels Joshua 24:15, where Israel must actively select whom to serve. The assurance of an enduring memorial aligns with Isaiah 56:5’s promise of an everlasting name and the invitation in Isaiah 27:5 to claim divine protection.

Why it lands — The text commands Sabbath keeping, the choice of what pleases God, and unwavering covenant loyalty. It requires readers to accept that covenant adherence, not lineage or physical condition, determines inclusion in the divine assembly.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּי־ki-for כֹ֣ה׀khohthus אָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahweh לַסָּֽרִיסִים֙la./sa.ri.Simto the/ eunuchs אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherwho יִשְׁמְרוּ֙yish.me.Ruthey keep אֶת־'et-<obj.>שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֔יsha.be.to.Ta/isabbaths/ my וּבָֽחֲר֖וּu./va.cha.Ruand/ they choose בַּאֲשֶׁ֣רba./'a.Sher<in>/ [that] which חָפָ֑צְתִּיcha.Fa.tze.tiI desire וּמַחֲזִיקִ֖יםu./ma.cha.zi.Kimand/ [they are] keeping hold בִּבְרִיתִֽי׃bi/v.ri.T/ion/ covenant/ my

King James Version

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

Cross-references

Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Psalms 119:111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
Isaiah 27:5 Or let them lay claim to My protection; let them make peace with Me—yes, let them make peace with Me.”
Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”
2 Samuel 23:5 Is not my house right with God? For He has established with me an everlasting covenant, ordered and secured in every part. Will He not bring about my full salvation and my every desire?
Isaiah 56:6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants—all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—
Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Jeremiah 50:5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
Hebrews 6:17 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.