Isaiah 61:6 · Bible study
Isaiah 61:6 Commentary: Called Priests, Fed by Nations
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study of Isaiah 61:6: the promise that God's people will be called priests, consume wealth of nations, and boast in their glory.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God's people will be given priestly status, sustained by wealth from the nations, and share in their splendor.
- Key words: priests (כֹּהֵן, kohen), called (Niphal), wealth (חֵיל, cheil), boast (Hithpael hapax תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ).
- Main debate: Literal fulfillment for Israel vs. spiritual fulfillment in the Church; meaning of 'boast' as exchange or exalt.
- Theological theme: Priesthood of all believers; reversal of shame; eschatological abundance.
- Best use: Exploring identity, provision, and calling; connecting OT promise to NT ecclesiology.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But you will be called Yahweh’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
KJV King James Version 1769
But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And ye are called `Priests of Jehovah,' `Ministers of our God,' is said of you, The strength of nations ye consume, And in their honour ye do boast yourselves.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But as for you, ye shall be called priests of Jehovah; it shall be said of you: Ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and into their glory shall ye enter.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But you shall be called the priests of the Lord: to you it shall be said: Ye ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and you shall pride yourselves in their glory.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y vosotros seréis llamados sacerdotes de Jehová, ministros del Dios nuestro seréis dichos: comeréis las riquezas de las gentes, y con su gloria seréis sublimes.
Porém vós sereis chamados sacerdotes do SENHOR; chamarão a vós de trabalhadores a serviço de nosso Deus; comereis dos bens das nações, e da riqueza deles vós vos orgulhareis.
Mais vous, on vous appellera sacrificateurs de l’ Éternel,
Ihr aber sollt Priester des HERRN heißen, und man wird euch Diener unsers Gottes nennen, und ihr werdet der Heiden Güter essen und in ihrer Herrlichkeit euch rühmen.
Doch gijlieden zult priesters des HEEREN heten, men zal u dienaren onzes Gods noemen; gij zult het vermogen der heidenen eten, en in hun heerlijkheid zult gij u roemen.
Ma voi sarete chiamati “sacerdoti dell’Eterno”, e la gente vi dirà “ministri del nostro Dio”; voi mangerete le ricchezze delle nazioni, e a voi toccherà la loro gloria.
Ale wy kapłanami Pańskimi nazwani będziecie, sługami Boga naszego zwać was będą; majętności pogan używać będziecie, a w sławie ich wywyższeni będziecie.
А вы будете называться священниками Господа, служителями Бога нашего будут именовать вас; будете пользоваться достоянием народов и славиться славою их.
你們 倒要稱為 耶和華 的祭司；人必稱 你們為我們 神 的僕役。你們必吃用 列國 的財物，因得他們的榮耀 自誇。
But you will be named the priests of the Lord, the servants of our God: you will have the wealth of the nations for your food, and you will be clothed with their glory.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 61:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Isaiah 61:6 describes a future elevation of God's people to priestly status, building on Exodus 19:6: 'a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.' Barnes reads the verse as picturing a time when Israel’s business is the service of Yahweh, freed from agriculture by the labor of strangers. The Cambridge Bible notes that this does not mean all Israelites will serve in the Temple, but that in relation to the nations they will enjoy the privileged access that priests once had within Israel. Gill applies the verse to converted Jews joining Gentile believers as a royal priesthood. All agree the 'eating of the wealth of the nations' (cf. Isaiah 60:5-11) symbolizes the material and spiritual abundance that flows into the people of God. The rare verb תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ (tit.yamaru, 'you will boast') is debated: most understand it as 'exchange yourselves into' their splendor (Maurer, supported by Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) or 'exalt yourselves in' it (Gill, Keil). The common thread is that the glory of the nations becomes the possession of God's people, not as conquest but as joyful inheritance.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Priesthood fulfilled in the Church: 1 Peter 2:9, Exodus 19:6 applied to Christians; the NT redefines the covenant community.
- Future restoration for Israel: Literal reading of OT promises; Romans 11:25-27 shows a distinct future for ethnic Israel.
- Symbolic spiritual blessing for all believers: Wealth and glory metaphors for Christ's riches (Ephesians 1:18; Colossians 2:3); not tied to a specific millennial reign.
What is clear: God's people will be granted a unique status of nearness to Him, sustained by His provision, and that status involves joyful participation in what was once the world's splendor.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Fulfillment of the priesthood | God's people will have intimate access to God and represent Him before others. | Some Christians see fulfillment in the Church now (1 Peter 2:9); others expect a future role for ethnic Israel (Romans 11:25-27). |
| Wealth of the nations | Symbolizes God's generous provision for His people in the age of restoration. | Literal material prosperity (as in post-exilic rebuilding) vs. spiritual treasures in Christ (Colossians 2:3). |
| Meaning of 'boast' (תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ) | The word implies possession and enjoyment of the nations' splendor. | Substitution (taking their place, Maurer) vs. exaltation (priding oneself, Gill); the hapax allows both. |
| Identity of 'you' | The verse addresses God's redeemed people, the recipients of the prophecy. | Refers exclusively to ethnic Israel in a future earthly kingdom, or typologically to the Church as spiritual Israel. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 61:6 belongs to the third major section of the book (chapters 56, 66), often called the 'new exodus' or 'restoration' prophecy. The immediate context (chapters 60, 62) overflows with images of light, wealth, and reversal. Verses 1, 3 introduce the figure of the anointed servant who proclaims liberty; verses 4, 9 unpack the results: ruined cities rebuilt, foreigners serving Israel, and the people themselves elevated.
The phrase 'priests of the LORD' echoes Exodus 19:6, the founding charter of Israel as a priestly nation. In the Hebrew Bible, priests (כֹּהֲנִים, kohanim) were set apart for access to God and ministry on behalf of others. Here, the entire restored community takes that role. The Qumran community also read this as a promise for the eschatological congregation. The 'wealth of the nations' (חֵיל גּוֹיִם, cheil goyim) appears earlier in Isaiah 60:5, where the abundance of the sea and nations flows to Zion. The verb תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ (tit.yamaru) is a hapax legomenon in the Hithpael stem. Cognate evidence (Jeremiah 2:11, where the Hiphil means 'exchange') suggests the root ימר means 'to exchange.' The Hithpael may mean 'to substitute oneself' or 'to pride oneself.' Context tips toward the first: they will 'exchange themselves into' the nations' glory, i.e., occupy their place and enjoy what was once theirs.
Poole's notes describe the reversal: 'you shall be greatly valued as the priests were wont to be.' The surrounding passage (vv. 7, 9) promises double portion and an everlasting covenant, reinforcing that this is a complete transformation from shame to honor.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 61:6. The main interpretive challenge is the hapax legomenon תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ (Hithpael of ימר), which is a lexical difficulty rather than a manuscript variation. The Masoretic text is stable.
Reception History
Early Christian writers, including the author of 1 Peter, saw this verse as a promise fulfilled in the Church’s 'royal priesthood' (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). During the Reformation, it became a cornerstone for the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, used by Luther and Calvin to argue that every Christian has direct access to God, not just ordained clergy. In Jewish tradition, the verse was often read as describing Israel’s role in the age to come, when the restored nation would serve as priests for the nations. The Qumran community seems to have applied a similar idea to their own covenant fellowship. Modern interpreters generally agree that the verse speaks of a transformed status, whether realized in the post-exilic community or still awaited in the eschaton.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Identity shift: From shame to title, 'you will be called priests of Yahweh.' God renames His people, giving them a new public identity.
- Provision shift: From labor to abundance, 'you will eat the wealth of the nations.' The resources that once served the world now sustain God's kingdom work.
- Perspective shift: From loss to boast, 'you will boast in their glory.' The splendor of the world, once a source of envy, becomes the inheritance of the people of God, reoriented toward His praise.
Five-point outline
- The call: 'But you' contrasts with the strangers of v.5. God distinguishes His people for a special role.
- The title: 'Priests of the LORD', direct access to God, representing others before Him.
- The service: 'Ministers of our God', practical, devoted service, not ceremonial only.
- The provision: 'Eat the wealth of the nations', God supplies through unexpected channels.
- The response: 'Boast in their glory', joyfully receive what God transfers from the world to the Church.
Illustration hooks
- The refugee lawyer: A person who fled persecution, stripped of status, later becomes a citizen and is appointed as a judge in the new country. What was loss becomes a platform for service.
- The farmer at the king's feast: A farmer who has spent years feeding others is invited to the king's table and given a seat among the royal court. He eats what others produced.
- The family heirloom restored: An old, broken mirror that was stored away is restored and hangs in the most honored room of the house. What was shame becomes glory.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this promise mean Christians should expect to become financially wealthy? How do we interpret 'wealth of the nations' today?
- How can we live as 'priests' if we don't work in a church building? What does everyday priestly ministry look like?
- What does it mean to 'boast' in something? Is boasting acceptable for Christians?
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 61:6 is a promise that redefines identity. The people who once bore shame are now given a title that puts them in God's inner circle. As you study this verse, think about what it means to be called, not by your past or your failures, but by God's purpose. The group will explore how this Old Testament picture shapes our understanding of the Church's role in the world.
Discussion questions
- What do you think it felt like for the original audience, exiles returning from Babylon, to hear that they would be called 'priests of the LORD'? How does that compare with how you see your own identity as a Christian?
- Read Exodus 19:6. How does Isaiah 61:6 echo that verse? What has changed, and what has been added?
- The Hebrew word for 'wealth' here (חֵיל, cheil) can also mean 'strength' or 'army.' How does that nuance change or deepen your understanding of 'eating the wealth of the nations'?
- Verse 6 includes a rare verb for 'boast' (תִּתְיַמָּֽרוּ). Some scholars think it means 'exchange yourselves', you will step into the nations' splendor. Others think it means 'exalt yourselves.' Which interpretation fits the context better, and why?
- How does the New Testament pick up on the idea that believers are a 'royal priesthood' (1 Peter 2:9)? What aspects of Isaiah 61:6 seem fulfilled in the early church, and what parts might still be awaiting fulfillment?
- If we are all priests, how does that affect the way we treat our jobs, our money, and our relationships? What would change if you truly believed you had direct access to God on behalf of others?
- Think of a situation where you felt shame or a loss of status. How might the promise of verse 6, 'instead of your shame, double' (v.7), speak into that area of your life?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 19:6 | and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” |
| Isaiah 23:18 | Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before Yahweh, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. |
| Isaiah 60:5 | Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you. |
| Isaiah 60:7 | All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house. |
| Isaiah 60:10 | “Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will serve you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. |
| Isaiah 60:11 | Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. |
| Isaiah 60:16 | You will also drink the milk of the nations, and will nurse from royal breasts. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. |
| Isaiah 60:17 | For bronze I will bring gold; for iron I will bring silver; for wood, bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make peace your governor, and righteousness your ruler. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets the promise as spiritual prosperity so complete that God's people, freed from ordinary labor, can devote themselves wholly to religion like a kingdom of priests. He finds a distinctive nuance in the Hebrew word meaning to exchange: the church does not merely receive the Gentiles' wealth but takes their place, enjoying their splendor as its own.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary emphasizes Israel's future role as a priestly nation mediating between God and the Gentiles. It pictures a graded system of access to God, with priests, Levites, ordinary Israelites, and Gentiles forming concentric circles. The prophet here gives the clearest formulation of Israel's supremacy as a kingdom of priests.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
But ye shall be named the Priestes of the Lord, and men shall say vnto you, The ministers of our God, Ye shall eate the riches of the Gentiles, and shalbe exalted with their glorie.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets this verse as pointing to the future conversion of the Jews, when the old distinction between priests and common people will vanish and all believers will serve as a royal priesthood. He explains that converted Jews will share with Gentiles the spiritual riches of Christ, finding their glory not in ancestry but in Christ himself.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws attention to the dramatic reversal: strangers will handle Israel's daily labor so that God's people can focus entirely on serving Him as priests. Their new role is not farming but worship, and they will inherit the wealth and splendor of the nations as their rightful portion.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that the prophecy does not envision a permanent hierarchical separation between Israel and converted Gentiles. The Old Testament imagery of Israel being served by the nations is a figure of speech, a contrast-inverted picture seen through the lens of the present. All this finds its true fulfillment in the New Testament, where Israel's spiritual riches become the wealth of the Gentiles.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the speaker in this chapter is the Messiah, not the prophet Isaiah. Only the Servant of Jehovah could both announce and effect complete salvation and judgment. The work described is far too great for any mere human to accomplish.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry interprets these promises as extending beyond Israel's literal restoration to the spiritual deliverance Christ brings. The rebuilding of wasted cities pictures how Christianity repaired the ruins of natural religion, restoring piety and honesty after generations of decay. This is the gospel church's inheritance.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley applies the promise of a royal priesthood to every believer under the gospel, not just a select few. He asserts that all the faithful are now as near to God as the Old Testament priests once were, making the whole body of Christians a priesthood.