The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

ISAIAH 56:8KJV
Know the Bible

Isaiah 56:8 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 56:8 mean?

Isaiah 56:8 says that the Lord GOD, who brings together the scattered people of Israel, promises to gather even more people to Himself, beyond those already gathered. This verse shows that God's invitation and care extend not just to Israel's outcasts but also to others outside that group.

In this verse, the speaker is the Lord GOD, addressing the people of Israel during a time when many were scattered or excluded. The situation is one of hope and widening welcome, as God declares He will bring in others in addition to those already restored. The verse hints at a broader inclusion, suggesting God's plan reaches beyond just the physical descendants of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 56:8

  • "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, 'Adonai') and "GOD" (יְהוִה, YHWH) are both used together here, emphasizing God's supreme authority and covenant faithfulness in making this promise.
  • "Gathereth" (קָבַץ, qavats) is used for bringing people together from scattered places, highlighting God's active role in restoring and uniting people who have been separated.
  • "Outcasts" (נָדַח, nadach) refers to those who have been driven away or excluded, showing God's special concern for those on the margins.
  • "Israel" (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el) is named directly, but the promise to "gather others" shows that God's care is not limited to one nation.

Why Isaiah 56:8 matters

  • Isaiah 56:8 clarifies that God's plan of gathering is not exclusive to Israel but is open to others, challenging any narrow view of who belongs in God's people.
  • This verse connects to the wider chapter, which welcomes foreigners and eunuchs, showing that God's mercy and inclusion break traditional boundaries.
  • The emphasis on "others" being gathered helps explain later biblical themes of Gentile inclusion and the global reach of God's salvation.

Where else these words appear

“outcasts” Hebrew H1760 · used in 10 verses

  • Psalms 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
  • Psalms 118:13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
  • Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

“gathereth” Hebrew H6908 · used in 121 verses

  • Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Jeremiah 31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.