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Isaiah 61:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 61:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isaiah 61:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 61

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.
4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.
6But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7Instead of your shame [ye shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.
← Isaiah 61:5Isaiah 61:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But ye shall be named the priests of the Lord, &c.] Or, “and ye shall be named”, &c. which Jerom understands of the builders of cities, pastors of flocks, the ploughmen and vinedressers, the strangers and the sons of the alien, that these also should be called priests: but rather it designs the Jews, when they shall be called and converted, and when there will be no more the distinction of priests and common people, but they shall all be kings and priests unto God, a royal priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices to him, all ceremonial ones being at an end: men shall call you the ministers of our God; Christian men shall call, own, and acknowledge you to be the servants of Christ, of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But ye--as contrasted with the strangers. Ye shall have no need to attend to your flocks and lands: "strangers" will do that for you; your exclusive business will be the service of Jehovah as His "priests" (Exo 19:6, which remains yet to be realized; compare as to the spiritual Israel, Isa 66:21; Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:9; Rev 1:6; Rev 5:10). Ministers-- (Eze 44:11). eat . . . riches of . . . Gentiles-- (Isa 60:5-11). in their glory . . . boast yourselves--rather, "in their splendor ye shall be substituted in their stead"; ye shall substitute yourselves [MAURER].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But ye shall be named - The idea here literally is, ‘There will be no need of your engaging in the business of agriculture. All that will be done by others; and you, as ministers of God, may engage wholly in the duties of religion. The world shall be tributary to you, and you shall enjoy the productions of all lands; and you may, therefore, devote yourselves exclusively to the service of Yahweh, as a kingdom of priests.’ A similar promise occurs in Exodus 19:6 : ‘And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.’ The idea is, that there would be a degree of spiritual prosperity, as great as if they were permitted to enjoy all the productions of other climes; as if all menial…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The priests - The whole body of them shall now be as near to God as the priests were formerly, and shall be a royal priesthood. This is most certainly true of all the faithful under the gospel. Isaiah 61:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“61:6 priests . . . ministers: The nation would fulfill its original calling (Exod 19:6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“named: Isa 60:17, Isa 66:21; Exo 19:6; Rom 12:1; Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:9; Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10, Rev 20:6, called, Eze 14:11; Co1 3:5, Co1 4:1; Co2 6:4, Co2 11:23; Eph 4:11, Eph 4:12 ye shall eat: Isa 23:18, Isa 60:5-7, Isa 60:10, Isa 60:11, Isa 60:16, Isa 66:12; Act 11:28-30; Rom 15:26, Rom 15:27 Isaiah 61:7”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 61 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification