Isaiah 66:15

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 66:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Isaiah 66:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 66

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, &c.] Either with material fire, with which mystical Babylon or Rome shall be burnt, (<661808>Revelation 18:8), or with indignation and wrath, which shall be poured out like fire, and be as intolerable and consuming as that: and with his chariots like a whirlwind; making a great noise, and striking great terror; alluding to chariots in which men used formerly to fight: to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire; a heap of words, to show the fierceness of his wrath, and how severe his rebuke of enemies will be; which will be not a rebuke in love, as of his own people, but in a way of vindictive wrath.”
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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
“(Isa 9:5; Psa 50:3; Hab 3:5; Th2 1:8; Pe2 3:7). chariots . . . whirlwind-- (Jer 4:13). render--as the Hebrew elsewhere (Job 9:13; Psa 78:38) means to "allay" or "stay wrath." MAURER translates it so here: He stays His anger with nothing but fury," &c.; nothing short of pouring out all His fiery fury will satisfy His wrath. fury--"burning heat" [LOWTH], to which the parallel, "flames of fire," answers.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For behold, the Lord will come with fire - The Septuagint reads this ‘As fire’ (ὡς πύρ hōs pur). Fire is a common emblem to denote the coming of the Lord to judge and punish his enemies Psalms 50:3 : Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; A fire shall devour before him, And it shall be very tempestuous round about him. So Habakkuk 2:5 : Before him went the pestilence, And burning coals went forth at his feet. So Psalms 97:3 : A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his enemies round about. So it is said 2 Thessalonians 1:8, that the Lord Jesus will be revealed ‘in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God’ (compare Hebrews 10:27; 2 Peter 3:7). So Yahweh is said to…”
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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
“With fire - With terrible judgments, or with fire in a proper sense, understanding it of the fire with which enemies use to consume places brought under their power. Whirlwind - With a sudden sweeping judgment. Fury - That is, with fervour; for fury properly taken is not in God. Rebukes - They had contemned the rebukes of the law, now God will rebuke them with fire, and sword. Isaiah 66:16”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“66:15-16 the Lord is coming with fire: God will appear with furious judgment against his enemies (see Ps 7:13). By contrast, he will reveal his glory to his people (see Isa 40:5, 10). • God will judge all creation as a part of the process of renewing the earth (see 24:1-4; 65:17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Isa 30:27, Isa 30:28, Isa 30:33; Psa 11:6, Psa 21:9, Psa 50:3, Psa 97:3; Amo 7:4; Mat 22:7; Th2 1:6-9; Pe2 3:10-12 with his: Jer 4:3; Dan 11:40 Isaiah 66:16”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The prophecy now takes a new turn with the thought expressed in the words, "and fiercely does He treat His enemies." The judgment of wrath, which prepares the way for the redemption and ensures its continuance, is described more minutely in Isa 66:15 : "For behold Jehovah, in the fire will He come, and His chariots are like the whirlwind, to pay out His wrath in burning heat, and His threatening passeth into flames of fire." Jehovah comes bâ'ēsh, in igne (Jerome; the lxx, on the contrary, render it arbitrarily ὡς πῦρ kâ'ēsh), since it is the fiery side of His glory, in which He appears, and fire pours from Him, which is primarily the intense excitement of the powers of destruction…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification