King James Version

What Does Isaiah 66:19 Mean?

Isaiah 66:19 in the King James Version says “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,... — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 66 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Isaiah 66:19 · KJV


Context

17

They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. behind: or, one after another

18

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.

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.

20

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. litters: or, coaches

21

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God explains His plan: "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." The "sign" (ot) may refer to a remnant preserved through judgment or a miraculous demonstration. The survivors become missionaries to distant nations—Tarshish (Spain), Pul/Phut (Libya/North Africa), Lud (Lydia/Asia Minor), Tubal (Asia Minor/Caucasus), Javan (Greece/Cyprus), and distant coastlands. These represent the known world's extremes. Their mission: declare God's glory to nations that "have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory." From a Reformed perspective, this prophesies the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The redeemed become missionaries, taking the gospel to every nation. Those who experience salvation declare it to others. The church's missionary expansion fulfills this—beginning in Jerusalem, extending to all nations (Acts 1:8). The gospel reaches previously unreached peoples, fulfilling God's purpose to gather elect from every tribe and tongue.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The post-exilic Jewish community had limited missionary vision—they were inward-focused, rebuilding and preserving. This prophecy looked beyond to the church age when gospel would spread globally. The early church initially struggled with this (Acts 10-11, 15), but eventually embraced God's call to reach Gentiles (Acts 13:2-3, 47). Paul's missionary journeys took the gospel to Asia Minor, Greece, and eventually Rome, with plans for Spain (Romans 15:24, 28). Throughout church history, missionaries have carried the gospel to every continent. Today, the church exists in virtually every nation, though many remain unreached. Complete fulfillment comes when the gospel is preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14), then the end comes.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does personal experience of salvation naturally lead to missionary declaration of God's glory?
  2. What does the specificity of distant nations teach about God's global redemptive plan?
  3. How are contemporary believers participating in declaring God's glory to unreached peoples?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
וְשַׂמְתִּ֨י1 of 30

And I will set

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

בָהֶ֜ם2 of 30
H0
א֗וֹת3 of 30

a sign

H226

a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc

וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֣י4 of 30

among them and I will send

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

מֵהֶ֣ם׀5 of 30
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

פְּ֠לֵיטִים6 of 30

those that escape

H6412

a refugee

אֶֽל7 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃8 of 30

among the Gentiles

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

תַּרְשִׁ֨ישׁ9 of 30

to Tarshish

H8659

tarshish, a place on the mediterranean, hence, the ephithet of a merchant vessel (as if for or from that port); also the name of a persian and of an i

פּ֥וּל10 of 30

Pul

H6322

pul, the name of an assyrian king and of an ethiopian tribe

וְל֛וּד11 of 30

and Lud

H3865

lud, the name of two nations

מֹ֥שְׁכֵי12 of 30

that draw

H4900

to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)

קֶ֖שֶׁת13 of 30

the bow

H7198

a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris

תֻּבַ֣ל14 of 30

to Tubal

H8422

tubal, a postdiluvian patriarch and his posterity

וְיָוָ֑ן15 of 30

and Javan

H3120

javan, the name of a son of joktan, and of the race (ionians, i.e., greeks) descended from him, with their territory; also of a place in arabia

הָאִיִּ֣ים16 of 30

to the isles

H339

properly, a habitable spot (as desirable); dry land, a coast, an island

הָרְחֹקִ֗ים17 of 30

afar off

H7350

remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)

אֲשֶׁ֨ר18 of 30
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹא19 of 30
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁמְע֤וּ20 of 30

that have not heard

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֶת21 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שִׁמְעִי֙22 of 30

my fame

H8088

something heard, i.e., a sound, rumor, announcement; abstractly, audience

וְלֹא23 of 30
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

רָא֣וּ24 of 30

neither have seen

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֶת25 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כְּבוֹדִ֖י26 of 30

my glory

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

וְהִגִּ֥ידוּ27 of 30

and they shall declare

H5046

properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to

אֶת28 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כְּבוֹדִ֖י29 of 30

my glory

H3519

properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness

בַּגּוֹיִֽם׃30 of 30

among the Gentiles

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 66:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 66:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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