And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:

ISAIAH 65:15KJV
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Isaiah 65:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 65:15 mean?

Isaiah 65:15 says that those who have opposed God will leave behind their name as a curse, while God will put an end to them and give His chosen servants a new name. The verse points to a sharp distinction between people who rebel against God and those who serve Him, with a promise of judgment for the former and a new identity for the latter.

In this part of Isaiah, God is speaking through the prophet to people in Israel who have turned away from Him. The verse uses strong language to show that the legacy of the unfaithful will become a warning or a byword, while God’s faithful servants will be called by a new, honored name. This is part of a larger message about God’s coming judgment and the hope of renewal for those who remain loyal to Him.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 65:15

  • "Leave" (נָטַשׁ, nâṭash): This word means to abandon or forsake. Here, it emphasizes that the unfaithful will not only be gone but will leave behind a reputation or memory that is negative.
  • "Curse" (אָלָה, 'alah): This word refers to a curse or an oath of misfortune. In this context, it means that the name of the unfaithful will be used as an example of what happens to those who reject God.
  • "Chosen" (בָּחַר, bachar): This word means selected or chosen, highlighting that God’s servants are specially picked out for a different fate.
  • "Call" (קָרָא, qara): This verb means to name or summon. God giving His servants "another name" suggests a new status, identity, or destiny, different from the fate of those who turned away.

Why Isaiah 65:15 matters

  • Isaiah 65:15 clears up that God’s judgment is not just about punishment but also about making a clear distinction between those who oppose Him and those who serve Him.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of turning away from God, showing that even a person’s name or memory can become a warning to others.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the contrast between judgment and hope, setting up the promise of renewal and blessing for God’s faithful people in the verses that follow.

Where else these words appear

“chosen” Hebrew H972 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Samuel 21:6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
  • Psalms 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
  • Isaiah 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

“curse” Hebrew H7621 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
  • Joshua 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
  • Nehemiah 6:18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

“leave” Hebrew H3240 · used in 73 verses

  • Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
  • Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
  • Psalms 119:121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.