📖 Isaiah — Chapter 56 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Isaiah 56:1 Thus saith the LORD, RKeep ye Tjudgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
Isaiah 56:2 RBlessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
Isaiah 56:3 Neither let Rthe son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
Isaiah 56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and Rchoose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
Isaiah 56:5 Even unto them Rwill I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that Rjoin 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;
Isaiah 56:7 Even Rthem 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.
Isaiah 56:8 The Lord GOD, Rwhich gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, Tbeside those that are gathered unto him.
Isaiah 56:9 All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.
Isaiah 56:10 His Rwatchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; Tsleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 56:11 RYea, they are Tgreedy dogs which Tcan never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Isaiah 56:12 Come ye, say they, RI will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 56:1–4 — Justice, Sabbath, and welcome for the excluded
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord calls for judgment, justice, and Sabbath faithfulness. Foreigners and eunuchs are told not to assume exclusion when they join themselves to him and hold his covenant.
Key Truth: Practice justice without dismissing those at the margins.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye ____ , and do justice: for my salvation is near to …” (Isaiah 56:1)
Find it in Isaiah 56:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the ____ of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the …” (Isaiah 56:2)
Find it in Isaiah 56:2 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For ____ saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, …” (Isaiah 56:4)
Find it in Isaiah 56:4 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 56:5–8 — A name and a house of prayer for all people
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The promise grants eunuchs an enduring name and welcomes faithful foreigners into joyful worship. The Lord who gathers Israel’s outcasts will gather others also.
Key Truth: Let worship reflect God’s gathering welcome.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Even unto them will I ____ in mine house and within my walls a place and …” (Isaiah 56:5)
Find it in Isaiah 56:5 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Even them will I ____ to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my …” (Isaiah 56:7)
Find it in Isaiah 56:7 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will …” (Isaiah 56:8)
Find it in Isaiah 56:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 56:9–12 — Blind watchmen and self-serving shepherds
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The imagery turns to watchmen who cannot warn and shepherds who pursue private gain. Their drunken confidence in an abundant tomorrow exposes careless leadership.
Key Truth: Guard those entrusted to you with sobriety and care.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “All ye ____ of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts …” (Isaiah 56:9)
Find it in Isaiah 56:9 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Yea, they are ____ dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds …” (Isaiah 56:11)
Find it in Isaiah 56:11 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will …” (Isaiah 56:12)
Find it in Isaiah 56:12 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Mark 11:17 — Jesus quotes the house of prayer for all nations.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Who might you wrongly assume does not belong in God’s welcome?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What response accompanies the nearness of salvation?
2. What qualities are named in the promise to eunuchs?
3. How are the sons of the stranger described when welcomed?
4. What breadth is assigned to the house of prayer?
5. What failure do blind watchmen and silent dogs expose?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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