“For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.
Parallel translations
- KJV For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
- BSB “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
- NKJV “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.
- NASB “For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all the nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.
- NLT “I can see what they are doing, and I know what they are thinking. So I will gather all nations and peoples together, and they will see my glory.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God, who knows all their works and thoughts, will gather all nations and languages to see his glory. It matters because it announces God's purpose to reveal his glory to the whole world.
Overview
Amid judgment, God declares his wider plan to gather peoples of every tongue to behold his glory. This universal vision moves beyond Israel to the nations, anticipating the worldwide scope of God's saving purpose. It is realized in the gospel of Christ, by which people of every nation and language are gathered to worship (Revelation 7:9).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 28
- Ps 86:9All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name.
- Rev 11:15The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
- 2 Cor 4:4–6in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
- John 5:42But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves.
- Isa 2:2It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Rom 16:26—
- Rom 15:8–12Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
- 1 Cor 3:20And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”
- Isa 37:28But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.
- Ezek 39:21I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.
- Matt 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
- Ps 72:17His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.
- Matt 9:4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
- Amos 5:12For I know how many your offenses, and how great are your sins — you who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the courts.
- Ps 72:11Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
- John 17:24Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- Isa 66:10“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;
- Luke 5:22But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
- Deut 31:21It will happen, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this song will testify before them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten out of the mouths of their descendants; for I know their ways and what they are doing today, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.”
- Ezek 38:10Thus says the Lord Yahweh: It shall happen in that day, that things shall come into your mind, and you shall devise an evil device:
- Ps 67:2That your way may be known on earth, and your salvation among all nations,
- Joel 3:2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
- Ps 82:8Arise, God, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.
- Job 42:2“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
- Rev 2:9“I know your works, oppression, and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
- Rev 2:2“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false.
- Rev 2:13“I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn’t deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 66:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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