Old Testament · Prophecy

Isaiah 56

A House for All Nations

My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. The foreigner and the outcast are gathered in. The boundaries expand.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

1This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.

2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

3Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”

4For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—

5I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

6And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants— all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it and who hold fast to My covenant—

7I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

8Thus declares the Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”

9Come, all you beasts of the field; eat greedily, all you beasts of the forest.

10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

11Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

12“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Understand This

Isaiah 56, explained

What Isaiah 56 is saying

God welcomes foreigners and eunuchs—previously excluded from the assembly—into His house of prayer, which will be 'for all nations.' The chapter then pivots to condemn Israel's blind watchmen and greedy shepherds who care only for their own appetites.

The background behind it

The inclusion of eunuchs explicitly reverses the exclusion of Deuteronomy 23:1. Jesus quotes 'a house of prayer for all nations' when cleansing the temple (Mark 11:17). Chapters 56–66 ('Third Isaiah' or 'Trito-Isaiah') likely address the post-exilic community.

Themes running underneath

The boundaries of God's community are expanding. What the law excluded, grace now includes. But inclusion of outsiders contrasts sharply with the corruption of insiders—the shepherds who should protect the flock are devouring it.

Why it still matters

God's door is wider than you think. If you have ever felt excluded from the community of faith, this chapter announces that God Himself overrides the gatekeepers.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.