Gentile Nations

Isaiah 56:6-8

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;”
King James Version · the opening — all 3 verses are below
More of Isaiah 56 on this siteIsaiah 56:7

Foreigners fully included in God's house of prayer, quoted by Jesus when cleansing the temple.

Read the whole passage — all 3 verses (KJV)

56:6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

56:7Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

56:8The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Fulfillment References

Mark 11:17 Acts 10:34-35 Ephesians 2:13-14

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal'Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people' (v. 7) — the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD are welcomed to His altar. Jesus quoted this in cleansing the temple (Mark 11:17), and Peter learned it at Cornelius's house: 'God is no respecter of persons' (Acts 10:34-35). The middle wall is broken down in Christ (Eph. 2:13-14); the one God gathers Jew and Gentile into one house — His own body, the Lord Jesus.
JewishA remarkable opening of the covenant to the foreigner and the eunuch who keep the LORD's sabbath and covenant; the temple as a house of prayer for all peoples.
CatholicThe inclusion of the Gentiles in God's house, fulfilled in Christ and the Church gathered from all nations (Eph. 2).
ProtestantThe temple as a house of prayer for all nations, fulfilled as the gospel brings Gentiles near in Christ (Eph. 2:13-14).
AcademicA strikingly inclusive post-exilic oracle admitting foreigners and eunuchs (contrast Deut. 23:1-3); Jesus' temple-cleansing cites v. 7.
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