Isaiah 66:19
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
Study Note
Study Note
God declares that he will 'send survivors to the nations' — Tarshish, Pul, Lud, Tubal, Javan, and the distant coastlands — to 'declare my glory among the nations' — Isaiah 66's eschatological vision concludes with a universal missionary mandate flowing outward from the restored Zion. The list of distant nations represents the ancient world's edges: Spain, Africa, the Aegean, Asia Minor — a comprehensive geography of human diversity. The verb 'send' (shalach) applied to the survivors who become missionaries anticipates the pattern of Jesus's commission (John 20:21: 'as the Father sent me, so I send you') and Paul's missionary theology. The verse contributes to the debate about whether Israel's calling is centripetal (nations come to Zion) or centrifugal (Israel goes to the nations) — Isaiah 66 presents both: nations come (66:18) and survivors go (66:19).
Other Translations
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
And I have set among them a sign, And have sent out of them those escaping unto the nations, (Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, drawing bow, Tubal and Javan, the isles that are far off,) Who have not heard My fame, nor seen Mine honour, And they have declared Mine honour among nations.
And I will put a sign among them, and I will send those who are still living to the nations, to Tarshish, Put, and Lud, Meshech and Rosh, Tubal and Javan, to the sea-lands far away, who have not had word of me, or seen my glory; and they will give the knowledge of my glory to the nations.
Cross References
The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; …
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time …