Bible Strands
Isaiah 66:18
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Judah immediately after condemning those who consecrate themselves to forbidden groves and consume unclean animals. He declares that He knows their actions and intentions, and He is arriving to assemble every ethnic group and language.
The words — The Hebrew מַחְשְׁבֹתֵי/הֶם (mach.she.Vo.tei./Hem) translates literally as "their thoughts," standing parallel to מַעֲשֵׂי/הֶם (ma.'a.sei./Hem) for "their deeds." These terms establish divine foreknowledge as the direct precondition for the gathering action.
The thread — The text's promise that all peoples will come to witness divine glory runs parallel to Psalms 86:9 and Revelation 11:15. It also aligns with Isaiah 2:2, where the mountain of the LORD is established as the chief of the mountains for all nations.
Why it lands — The passage states that divine knowledge precedes and drives the collection of all peoples, who will then see His glory. It requires readers to abandon isolationist piety and prepare to witness or proclaim what they previously did not know.
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
King James Version
For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Cross-references
- Psalms 86:9 All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
- Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
- Isaiah 2:2 In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
- John 5:42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Romans 15:8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,
- Romans 16:26 but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—
- 1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Deuteronomy 31:21 And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants. For I know their inclination, even before I bring them into the land that I swore to give them.”