Isaiah 66:18

“For I know their works, and their thoughts, &c.] That is, of the persons before described; their evil works and thoughts, which are known to Christ the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, whose eyes are as a flame of fire to pierce and penetrate into them, (<660218>Revelation 2:18,23) or, “as for mef1317, their works and their thoughts”; as I know them, and abhor them, I will take vengeance on them for them, for what they have devised and done against me and mine: “and it shall come”; that is, it shall come to pass, or the time shall come: that I will gather all nations and tongues; not against Jerusalem in the war of Gog and Magog, as the Jewish commentators, Aben Ezra,…”

“know--not in the Hebrew. Rather, understand the words by aposiopesis; it is usual in threats to leave the persons threatened to supply the hiatus from their own fears, owing to conscious guilt: "For I . . . their works and thoughts," &c.; namely, will punish [MAURER]. it shall come--the time is come that I will, &c. [MAURER]. gather . . . nations--against Jerusalem, where the ungodly Jews shall perish; and then the Lord at last shall fight for Jerusalem against those nations: and the survivors (Isa 66:19) shall "see God's glory" (Zac 12:8-9; Zac 14:1-3, Zac 14:9). tongues--which have been many owing to sin, being confounded at Babel, but which shall again be one in Christ (Dan 7:14; Zep 3:9;…”

“For I know their works - The word ‘know,’ says Lowth, is here evidently left out of the Hebrew text, leaving the sense quite imperfect. It is found in the Syriac; the Chaldee evidently had that word in the copy of the Hebrew which was used; and the Aldine and Complutensian editions of the Septuagint have the word. Its insertion is necessary in order to complete the sense; though the proof is not clear that the word was ever in the Hebrew text. The sense is, that though their abominable rites were celebrated in the deepest recesses of the groves, yet they were not concealed from God. That I will gather all nations and tongues - They who speak all languages (compare Revelation 7:9; Revelation…”

“Come - It shall come to pass that I will cast them off, and then l will gather all nations, &c. My glory - My oracles, my ordinances, which hitherto have been locked up in the church of the Jews, and been their glory, shall be published to the Gentiles. Isaiah 66:19”

“66:18-23 When God reveals his glory to all people, the nations join in God’s plan of redemption; they can even serve as priests and Levites before him. The godly from all nations last from generation to generation as they serve the living God.”

“I know: Isa 37:28; Deu 31:21; Amo 5:12; Joh 5:42; Rev 2:2, Rev 2:9, Rev 2:13 their thoughts: Job 42:2; Eze 38:10; Mat 9:4, Mat 12:25; Luk 5:22; Co1 3:20; Heb 4:12 that I: Isa 2:2; Psa 67:2, Psa 72:11, Psa 72:17, Psa 82:8, Psa 86:9; Joe 3:2; Rom 15:8-12, Rom 16:26; Rev 11:15 and see: Isa 66:10; Eze 39:21; Joh 17:24; Co2 4:4-6 Isaiah 66:19”

“The prophecy now marks out clearly the way which the history of Israel will take. It is the same as that set forth by Paul, the prophetic apostle, in Rom 9-11 as the winding but memorable path by which the compassion of God will reach its all-embracing end. A universal judgment is the turning-point. "And I, their works and their thoughts - it comes to pass that all nations and tongues are gathered together, that they come and see my glory." This v. commences in any case with a harsh ellipsis. Hofmann, who regards Isa 66:17 as referring not to idolatrous Israelites, but to the idolatrous world outside Israel, tries to meet the difficulty by adopting this rendering: "And I, saith Jehovah, when…”