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.

ISAIAH 66:20KJV
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Isaiah 66:20 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 66:20 mean?

Isaiah 66:20 describes people from all nations bringing the Jewish people back to Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD, using various means of transport, just as the Israelites bring offerings in clean vessels to God's house. The verse pictures a great, joyful return to Jerusalem, emphasizing the gathering of God's people from everywhere.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking God's message to the people of Israel, looking ahead to a time when exiles will be gathered from all over the world. The language compares the return of these "brethren" to the ritual of bringing a pure offering to the temple, highlighting both the value and the holiness of this return. The scene is one of restoration and inclusion, with people from many nations participating in bringing God's people home.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 66:20

  • "Offering" (מִנְחָה, minchah): This word means a gift or tribute, often a grain offering, but here it is used to describe the returning people themselves as something precious and dedicated to God.
  • "Clean vessel" (כְּלִי טָהוֹר, keli tahor): The phrase refers to a ritually pure container used in temple worship, stressing that the returnees are being brought in a way that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
  • "Nations" (גּוֹי, goy): This word means non-Israelite peoples, showing that the gathering involves the participation of people from all over the world, not just Israel.
  • "Holy mountain" (הַר קָדְשִׁי, har kodshi): This refers specifically to Jerusalem, seen as the sacred place where God dwells and where worship is centered.

Why Isaiah 66:20 matters

  • Isaiah 66:20 clarifies that the return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem is not just a physical journey but is described in terms of worship and dedication, like an offering to God.
  • The verse highlights the involvement of "all nations," showing that God's plan includes people from every background, not just Israel, in the work of restoration.
  • This verse connects to the broader theme in Isaiah 66 of God's glory being revealed to all humanity and the ultimate unity of worship centered in Jerusalem.

Where else these words appear

“litters” Hebrew H6632 · used in 3 verses

  • Leviticus 11:29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
  • Numbers 7:3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

“mules” Hebrew H6505 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Samuel 13:29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.
  • 2 Kings 5:17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 7:68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:

“clean” Hebrew H2889 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.
  • Exodus 39:25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
  • Numbers 19:19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

“chariots” Hebrew H7393 · used in 104 verses

  • Genesis 50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
  • 1 Kings 10:26 And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.
  • 2 Chronicles 9:25 And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.