The big picture
Isaiah 56 opens in verse 1 with “Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 6 with “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD , to serve him, and to…”, and closes in verse 12 with “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, house, hold, keepeth, name. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 12Isaiah 56:1-6
1–6: Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation…
Isaiah 56:1–6 opens with “Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my…” and reaches “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD , to serve him, and to love the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 56 develops its own movement around LORD, house, hold, keepeth, name, with particular weight carried by LORD, hold, keepeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be…” Naming Keep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting…” Naming Blessed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 56:1-6
King James Version1Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD , speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD , to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD , to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
Isaiah 56:7-12
7–12: Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my…
Isaiah 56:7–12 opens with “Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their…” and reaches “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 56 develops its own movement around LORD, house, hold, keepeth, name, with particular weight carried by house, beasts, dogs.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 56:7-12
King James Version7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
8The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
9All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
10His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 56:1 begins with “Thus saith the LORD , Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 56:6 forms a natural hinge: “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD , to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD , to be his servants, every one that…”
The final note
Isaiah 56:12 leaves the reader with “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, house, hold, keepeth, name, beasts help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.