Isaiah 56:3 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 56:3 mean?

Isaiah 56:3 tells people who are not native Israelites (“the son of the stranger”) and those who are eunuchs not to believe they are excluded from God’s people or blessings just because of their background or physical condition. The verse reassures them that joining themselves to the LORD means they are not cut off or useless.

Isaiah is speaking to those who might feel like outsiders—foreigners and eunuchs—at a time when belonging to Israel was often tied to ancestry and physical wholeness. The verse directly addresses their fears, using their own imagined words, and counters them with God’s welcome. This sets the stage for the wider passage, which promises that God’s acceptance is broader than many expected.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 56:3

• “stranger” (נֵכָר, nekar): This word refers to someone who is not an Israelite by birth, often a foreigner. Here, it highlights that God’s invitation is not limited by ethnicity.
• “joined” (לָוָה, lavah): This word means to attach or bind oneself closely. The verse uses it to describe people who have chosen to commit themselves to the LORD, showing that belonging is about relationship, not just heritage.
• “eunuch” (סָרִיס, saris): This term refers to a man who has been castrated, often seen as unable to have descendants. Mentioning the eunuch directly addresses those who, by ancient law and custom, might have felt permanently excluded.

Why Isaiah 56:3 matters

• Isaiah 56:3 makes clear that God’s welcome is not limited by ancestry or physical condition, correcting the idea that only certain people can belong.
• The verse prepares the reader for the following promises in Isaiah 56, where God describes the blessings He will give to those who were once outsiders.
• By naming the specific fears of foreigners and eunuchs, Isaiah 56:3 shows God’s awareness of personal struggles and reassures those who feel left out.