Isaiah 65:15 Meaning: The Curse and the New Name

You will leave your name for a curse to my chosen, and the Lord Yahweh will kill you. He will call his servants by another name,

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Meaning in one sentence

Isaiah 65:15 shows the stark contrast: the wicked leave a curse, but God gives His servants a new name. Discover what this means for you.

Isaiah Old Testament Hebrew

Context

Isaiah 65 presents a striking picture of two groups within God's people. One group has turned away, sacrificing to false gods and ignoring the Lord's call. The other group, called 'my servants,' remains faithful. The chapter lists five stark contrasts between them, ending with a promise of new heavens and a new earth. Verse 15 sits in the middle of these contrasts. Those who abandoned God will leave their name behind as a byword for judgment, and God will put them to death. Meanwhile, He will give His servants a new name, one that carries honor instead of shame. The chapter makes clear that God's judgment separates those who reject Him from those who trust Him, and the new future He creates begins with a new identity for His faithful ones.

Key Words

Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The word for 'curse' (shevu'ah, H7621) actually means 'oath' or 'swearing.' It is the same word used in Deuteronomy for a binding promise. Here, the name of the wicked becomes a formula people use when they swear: 'May God make you like them.' It is a judicial warning, not casual name-calling.

The word for 'name' (shem, H8034) goes beyond a label. It means reputation, identity, and legacy. Proverbs 10:7 says the memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked rots. In this verse, the name of the rebellious rots into a curse, while God's servants get a fresh name that will not rot.

The word for 'another' (acher, H0312) means different, other, or new. It is not a small tweak but a complete replacement. God gives His servants an entirely new identity, one not stained by the sins of the past. This is the hope at the heart of the verse: God does not just clean up old names; He gives new ones.

How Christians Read This Verse

Christians across traditions have found different meanings in this 'other name.' Many Protestant commentators, like Barnes and Gill, see it as the name 'Christian' given to believers in Acts 11:26, marking the new covenant people of God. Others, like the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, understand it as a new name for faithful Israel, restored after judgment, as promised in Isaiah 62:2. The Cambridge Bible warns against taking the 'other name' too literally, suggesting it points to a new, honored status rather than a different label. Both readings agree that God replaces dishonor with honor. The verse assures all who serve Him that their identity rests securely in His hands, not in their past.

A common misunderstanding

Some readers think the 'curse' in this verse means the wicked simply become a swear word people use in anger. In fact, the Hebrew word shevu'ah points to a formal oath, not casual speech. Their name becomes a solemn example in legal formulas: 'May God make you like them.' This is what Jeremiah 29:22 shows, where the names of two false prophets are used as a curse among the exiles. It is a judicial warning, not just a slur.

Living This Out

This week, think about the name you are living under. Maybe you feel stuck with old labels: failure, sinner, overlooked. God offers a new name for those who serve Him. You do not have to carry the shame of your past. He renames you: child, servant, chosen.

But the verse also warns. If we turn away from God, our lives can become a warning for others. Our choices leave a legacy. For those who trust Him, that legacy becomes a new name, one that speaks of His grace. Live today as someone God has renamed, and let that new name shape how you see yourself and how you treat others.

Main takeaway: God gives a new name to those who serve Him, while the names of the rebellious become a lasting warning.

For Families

For ages 5, 8

God gives His friends a new name. When we follow Jesus, we get a fresh start. Our old mistakes do not have to stick.

For ages 9, 12

Isaiah 65:15 shows that God makes a clear difference between those who serve Him and those who do not. The people who turned away became a warning for others; their name was used like a curse. But God's servants get a new name, which means a fresh identity. For us, this means when we belong to God, He gives us a new start and a new purpose. We are no longer just who we used to be; we are chosen and loved.

Questions People Ask

What does it mean that the wicked leave their name for a curse?

In the Bible, a 'curse' here (shevu'ah) means an oath or imprecation. Their name becomes a formula used in swearing: 'May God make you like them.' It is a way of saying their punishment is so well-known that people invoke it as a warning. This is seen in Jeremiah 29:22, where the names of two false prophets become a curse.

What is the 'another name' God gives His servants?

The Hebrew word 'acher' means different, other, or new. Many Christians have understood this as the name 'Christian' given to believers (Acts 11:26). Others see it as a new, honored identity for faithful Israel. The point is that God replaces the shame of the wicked with a name of honor for His servants. It is not about a literal name change but a transformed reputation.

Does this verse teach that God literally kills people?

The Hebrew verb 'mut' (to die) is used. In context, God is pronouncing judgment on those who persistently reject Him. Historically, this was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion. The New Testament also speaks of spiritual death. The verse emphasizes that God's judgment is real, but it is not a command for believers to execute; it is a prophetic declaration of consequences.

How does this verse relate to the new heavens and new earth in Isaiah 65?

Isaiah 65:15 is part of a larger passage that culminates in the promise of new heavens and a new earth (verse 17). Before that new creation, God separates the faithful from the rebellious. The new name is a foretaste of the new order where 'former troubles are forgotten.' The verse shows that the new creation involves a new identity for God's people.

Is this verse about Jews and Gentiles?

In its original context, the 'servants' and the 'chosen' are primarily the faithful remnant within Israel. However, many Christian interpreters see a foreshadowing of the church composed of both Jews and Gentiles. The contrast is not ethnic but based on faithfulness. All who serve God, regardless of background, receive His new name.

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