Isaiah 66:23 · Bible study
Isaiah 66:23 Commentary: Universal Worship in the New Creation
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Isaiah 66:23's vision of all nations worshipping God regularly. Is it literal or symbolic? Commentator insights and study guide.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A vision of universal, perpetual worship of Yahweh in the new creation, with regular rhythm.
- Key words: new moon, Sabbath, all flesh, bow down.
- Main debate: Literal continuation of Jewish festivals vs. OT language for unending Christian worship.
- Theological theme: The fulfillment of God's plan to draw all nations into worship.
- Best use: To anchor hope for the consummation of worship, and to encourage faithful weekly gathering now.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before me,” says Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it hath been from month to month, And from sabbath to sabbath, Come do all flesh to bow themselves before Me, Said Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it shall come to pass from new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, saith Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And there shall be month after month, and sabbath after sabbath: and all flesh shall come to adore before my face, saith the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y será que de mes en mes, y de sábado en sábado, vendrá toda carne á adorar delante de mí, dijo Jehová.
E será que, desde uma lua nova até a outra, e desde um sábado até o outro, todos virão para adorar perante mim,diz o SENHOR.
A chaque nouvelle lune et à chaque sabbat,
Und alles Fleisch wird einen Neumond nach dem andern und einen Sabbat nach dem andern kommen, anzubeten vor mir, spricht der HERR.
En het zal geschieden, dat van de ene nieuwe maan tot de andere, en van den enen sabbat tot den anderen, alle vlees komen zal om aan te bidden voor Mijn aangezicht, zegt de HEERE.
E avverrà che, di novilunio in novilunio e di sabato in sabato, ogni carne verrà a prostrarsi dinanzi a me, dice l’Eterno.
I stanie się, że od nowiu miesiąca do nowiu miesiąca, i od sabatu do sabatu przychodzić będzie wszelkie ciało, aby się kłaniało przed oblicznością moją, mówi Pan.
Тогда из месяца в месяц и из субботы в субботу будет приходить всякая плоть пред лице Мое на поклонение, говорит Господь.
每逢 月朔、 安息日，凡 有血氣 的必來 在我面前 下拜。這是耶和華 說的。
And it will be, that from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh will come to give worship before me, says the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 66:23
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 66:23 points to a future time when all humanity will worship Yahweh with regular, periodic rhythm. The key interpretive question is whether the language of new moons and Sabbaths should be taken literally or as Old Testament imagery for Christian worship. Barnes argues it 'cannot be taken literally' as monthly journeys to Jerusalem; rather it means that 'at set times… the worship of God would yet be celebrated in all lands.' Gill sees New Testament worship expressed in Old Testament terms: new moons represent monthly meetings (perhaps the Lord's Supper) and Sabbaths represent weekly worship on the Lord's Day. Matthew Henry and Wesley concur that the gospel church will have 'as constant and settled a course of worship as ever was in the Jewish church.' Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, however, asserts that the mention of Sabbath shows it is 'perpetually obligatory on earth.' Keil and Delitzsch take the passage more literally, envisioning all flesh journeying to Jerusalem every new moon and Sabbath. Despite these differences, all agree on the core: the new creation will see perpetual, universal worship of God.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Symbolic of perpetual Christian worship: Old Testament language used to express New Covenant worship; parallels to Colossians 2:16–17; supported by Barnes, Gill, Wesley.
- Literal continuation of Sabbath and new moons: The phrase 'new heavens and new earth' suggests a restoration that includes these festivals; supported by Keil & Delitzsch, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, and Zechariah 14:16.
What is clear: All flesh will come to worship before Yahweh in the new creation, with a regular, periodic rhythm that is not interrupted.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation of 'new moon' and 'Sabbath' | These terms indicate regular, periodic worship before God. | Some (Barnes, Gill, Wesley) see them as OT language for Christian forms (monthly Lord's Supper, weekly Lord's Day). Others (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Keil & Delitzsch) take them as literal observances in the new creation. |
| Location of worship | Worship is directed 'before me', in the presence of Yahweh. | Barnes says it cannot mean literal travel to Jerusalem; rather worship will be 'in all lands.' Keil & Delitzsch insist on a literal journey to Jerusalem on the new and old earth. |
| Scope of 'all flesh' | It includes people from every nation, not only Israel. | Barnes and Gill understand it as representative of all the redeemed. Some early interpreters (not cited here) read it as universal in a every-person sense. |
| The place of the Sabbath in the new creation | There will be a rhythm of rest and worship. | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown holds the Sabbath is 'perpetually obligatory' as a seventh-day. Wesley and Gill see it as a type for the Christian Lord's Day or eternal rest. |
Historical & Cultural Context
New moon festivals and Sabbaths were central markers of Israel's religious calendar. The new moon (Rosh Chodesh) was a day of sacrifice and sacred assembly (Numbers 28:11, 15), often marked by trumpet blasts (Psalm 81:3). The Sabbath was a weekly day of rest and worship, rooted in creation (Exodus 20:8, 11). These observances set Israel apart from surrounding nations and structured their rhythm of life.
Isaiah 66 closes the book of Isaiah with a sweeping vision of judgment and restoration. Verses 15, 18a depict the Lord coming with fire and sword to judge 'all flesh.' Then the scene shifts: those who escape declare God's glory among the nations (v.19), and people from every nation are brought to Jerusalem as an offering (v.20). God promises to select priests and Levites from the Gentiles (v.21), and the new heavens and new earth will remain forever (v.22).
In this context, verse 23 announces that 'all flesh', people of every nation, not just Israel, will come to worship 'before me' at recurring intervals. The Hebrew idiom midei chodesh bechadsho (literally 'from the sufficiency of new moon in its new moon') indicates a rhythm of month by month. The same structure applies to Sabbaths. This language echoes earlier prophetic visions of nations streaming to Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2, 4, Zechariah 14:16). The question is whether these festivals continue in their literal Jewish form or serve as an idiom for regular, perpetual worship in the age to come.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 66:23. The Masoretic Text is consistent across manuscripts, and the major ancient translations (LXX, Syriac, Targum) render the verse with the same sense. The Hebrew construction midei chodesh bechadsho is unusual but well-attested.
Reception History
In the early church, Irenaeus and other millennialist writers saw this verse as supporting a literal earthly reign of Christ with reestablished temple worship. Augustine, by contrast, interpreted the new moons and Sabbaths spiritually as the perpetual praise of the saints in heaven. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther read the prophecy as fulfilled in the spread of the gospel through the church age, with the festivals symbolizing constant worship. Many later Protestant commentators (Barnes, Gill, Henry) followed this symbolic interpretation. In more recent centuries, dispensational and literalist traditions have kept alive the reading of a future millennium with literal Sabbath and new moon observance. The verse has also been used to argue for the perpetuity of a weekly day of worship, whether Saturday or Sunday.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The certainty of God's promise: 'It shall happen' (v.23a). The new heavens and new earth are as sure as God's Word. This gives hope that worship will never cease.
- The rhythm of worship: From new moon to new moon, Sabbath to Sabbath. Worship will be regular and frequent, not occasional, but the pulse of eternal life.
- The scope of worship: 'All flesh', every nation, language, and people. The dividing wall is gone; God's house will be a house of prayer for all nations.
Five-Point Outline
- God gathers His people from every nation (vv.19, 21).
- God establishes a new creation that endures forever (v.22).
- Worship will be perpetual: new moon to new moon, Sabbath to Sabbath.
- Worship will be universal: 'all flesh' will come.
- Worship will be humble and reverent: 'to bow down before me.'
Illustration Hooks
- A weekly family dinner: Like a regular meal that anchors the week, the Sabbath rhythm grounds our worship now and points to the eternal feast.
- A monthly community clean-up day: The new moon festival was a set time for gathering. Similarly, our fixed times of worship build unity and anticipation.
- The Olympics opening ceremony: Nations from around the world gather under one roof. The prophecy foresees a greater gathering, not for competition, but to bow together before the Creator.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Will we really observe new moons in heaven? Or is that language symbolic for something else?
- If the Sabbath is 'perpetually obligatory,' does that mean Christians must keep Saturday as holy?
- How does this verse apply to our worship now? Does it change how often we gather?
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 66:23 paints a breathtaking picture of the future: people from every nation streaming to worship God on a regular, recurring basis. As you discuss, wrestle with what is literal and what is symbolic, and what both readings teach us about God's heart for worship and for the nations.
Discussion Questions
- What does the phrase 'all flesh' suggest about God's plan for humanity? (See also Psalm 65:2; 86:9.)
- Why does the prophet mention 'new moon' and 'Sabbath' specifically? What did these mean for Israel?
- Some commentators say this language is symbolic for Christian worship (e.g., monthly Communion, weekly Lord's Day). Others take it as literal observance in the new creation. What evidence supports each view?
- How does the context (vv.19, 22) help us understand the scene in v.23?
- If this verse is about the new heavens and new earth, how should it shape our view of worship now?
- Is there a sense in which we already experience 'from Sabbath to Sabbath' worship? How can we cultivate that rhythm?
- What would it look like for your church community to anticipate this future worship more intentionally?
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)
| II Kings 4:23 | He said, “Why would you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon or a Sabbath.” She said, “It’s all right.” |
| Psalms 65:2 | You who hear prayer, all men will come to you. |
| Psalms 81:3 | Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. |
| Psalms 81:4 | For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. |
| Psalms 86:9 | All nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord. They shall glorify your name. |
| Isaiah 1:13 | Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations— I can’t stand evil assemblies. |
| Isaiah 1:14 | My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. |
| Isaiah 19:21 | Yahweh will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know Yahweh in that day. Yes, they will worship with sacrifice and offering, and will vow a vow to Yahweh, and will perform it. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads this prophecy figuratively, since literal monthly or yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem by all nations is impossible. His point is that it predicts regular, periodic worship of Yahweh established everywhere, with the Sabbath holding special importance as a creation ordinance of perpetual moral obligation that true religion will spread worldwide.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools note a peculiar Hebrew idiom in this phrase: it literally reads "as often as there is a new-moon on its new-moon," meaning each separate new moon and sabbath. This stresses that worship at Jerusalem will be a fixed, recurring event month by month and week by week. Meanwhile the corpses of rebellious Israelites will remain a horrifying spectacle to all who come.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And from moneth to moneth, and from Sabbath to Sabbath shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the new moons and sabbaths as Old Testament language for New Testament worship. He says believers will gather monthly for the Lord's Supper and weekly on the Lord's Day, with a fuller fulfillment in the New Jerusalem state of perfect rest and glorious light.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads this as a prophecy that the new moon festival will be observed monthly and the Sabbath perpetually, both remaining obligatory on earth. He interprets "all flesh" as all nations coming to worship before God at Jerusalem, citing Psalms for support.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the periodical phrase "from new moon to new moon" carries a specific meaning: it refers to each occurrence at its proper, fitting time, rather than a simple series. The Hebrew word they highlight implies that worship happens as often as each new moon or Sabbath is due to arrive, in an unbroken succession of one after another.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that in this prophecy, future events from widely separated eras are compressed into a single vision without chronological order. He identifies the sign set among the people as the Messiah, and the escaped ones as the New Testament church carrying salvation to the Gentiles. For him, the radical new order finally abolishes the old barriers, with Gentiles serving alongside Jews as priests and Levites.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Christian worship, though different in nature from Jewish ceremonies, is just as constant and settled. The key shift is frequency: while Israel was required only three annual appearances at Jerusalem, the gospel church worships God every Sabbath, from one to the next.