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Isaiah 66:9

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 66:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut [the womb]? saith thy God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut [the womb]? saith thy God.
Isaiah 66:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 66

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompense to his enemies.
7Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.
8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut [the womb]? saith thy God.
10Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her;
11that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck [thereof]; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.
← Isaiah 66:8Isaiah 66:10 →
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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
“Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth, saith the Lord? &c.] Or, “to the place of breaking” forth of children, as in (<281313>Hosea 13:13), the womb, and the mouth of it: or, “shall I break or open” that, so somef1300 render it; lest too much should or seem to be attributed to the Church, she being said to travail in birth, and bring forth children, this is said by the Lord. The church may pray, and her ministers preach, and both be said to travail in birth, but it is the Lord that brings to it; regeneration is not the work of man, but of God; it is he that beget, again, quickens, renews, and sanctifies; it is he that begins the work of grace in regeneration, in real and…”
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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
“cause to bring forth, and shut--rather, "Shall I who beget, restrain the birth?" [LOWTH], (Isa 37:3; Hos 13:13); that is, Shall I who have begun, not finish My work of restoring Israel? (Sa1 3:12; Rom 11:1; Phi 1:6). shut--(compare Rev 3:7-8).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Shall I bring to the birth? - The sense of this verse is plain. It is, that God would certainly accomplish what he had here predicted, and for which he had made ample arrangements and preparations. He would not commence the work, and then abandon it. The figure which is used here is obvious; but one which does not render very ample illustration proper. Jarchi has well expressed it: ‘Num ego adducerem uxorem meam ad sellam partus, sc. ad partitudinem, et non aperirem uterum ejus, ut foetum suum in lucem produceret? Quasi diceret; an ego incipiam rem nec possim eam perficere?’ Shall I cause to bring forth? - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘Shall I, who begat, restrain the birth?’ This accurately…”
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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
“Shall I - I, that in the ordinary course of my providence use to give a birth to women, to whom I have given a power to conceive, shall I not give a birth to my people, whom by my promises I have made to conceive such expectations? And shut - Nor shall Zion once only bring forth, but she shall go on, her womb shall not be shut, she shall every day bring forth more and more children, and my presence shall be with my church, to the end of the world. Isaiah 66:11”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“66:9 The Lord promised that he would surely recreate his holy nation.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“bring to: Isa 37:3; Gen 18:14 cause to bring forth: or, beget Isaiah 66:10”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 66 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification