Isaiah 66:5 Meaning: When Family Rejects You for God's Name
Hear Yahweh’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed.
Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, Let Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy; but it is they that shall be put to shame.
Hear a word of Jehovah, Ye who are trembling unto His word, Said have your brethren who are hating you, Who are driving you out, for My name's sake: `Honoured is Jehovah, and we look on your joy,' But they are ashamed.
Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let Jehovah be glorified, and let us see your joy! but they shall be ashamed.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 66:5 meaning: God addresses those who tremble at His word, promising that persecutors who mock their hope will be put to shame.
Context
This verse comes near the end of Isaiah's prophecy. The chapter opens with God declaring that heaven is His throne and earth His footstool, He does not dwell in houses made by human hands. He turns instead to the person who is humble and contrite, who trembles at His word. But the surrounding verses describe a people who go through religious motions while rejecting God's ways. In verse 5, the prophet speaks directly to the faithful remnant, those who take God's word seriously. They are being persecuted by their own countrymen, brothers by blood, who claim to be serving God by pushing them out. The passage holds out a promise: God sees this injustice, and He will turn the tables.
Key Words
The word for tremble here (chared) is not ordinary fear. It carries the sense of reverent awe, the kind that makes you listen carefully and obey. In verse 2, God says He looks to the one who trembles at His word, so this address marks these people as the ones God treasures. The phrase cast you out comes from the Hebrew nadah, which means to push away or exclude. In later Jewish usage it referred to excommunication. These faithful ones are being cut off from their own community, treated as unclean, for the sake of God's name. Finally, the word behind shall be disappointed (or ashamed) is bosh, the sense of having your hopes collapse. The persecutors mocked them, saying they wanted to see God put on a show for their joy. But God promises the mockers themselves will be the ones left empty-handed, while the faithful will see His appearing and find their joy fulfilled.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have understood this verse in various settings. Barnes' Notes (a Protestant commentary) sees it pointing to the apostles and early disciples who were excommunicated by Jewish leaders for believing in Jesus. The Geneva Bible simply calls it an address to 'all ye that tremble at his word.' Lange's Commentary (Reformed) places it in the exile, with apostate Jews mocking those who stayed faithful. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown connects it to Christ's first coming and also to the end times, when the believing remnant will again be few and persecuted. Across these views, all agree: God promises to vindicate those who are rejected for His name, and the mockers will be put to shame.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think that the persecutors' words, 'Let the Lord be glorified', are spoken in sincerity, as if they genuinely want God to be honored. In fact, it is a taunt. They are saying, 'If God is so great, let Him show up and make you happy, then we'll see it.' The sarcasm matches the tone in Isaiah 5:19, where people mockingly challenge God to hurry up and act. God knows their mockery, and He promises to turn it back on them.
Living This Out
Maybe this week you have felt pushed aside by people who should stand with you, family, church members, old friends, all because you take your faith seriously. Their words can cut deep, especially when they wrap their rejection in religious language, as if they are serving God by keeping distance from you. This verse calls you by name: 'you who tremble at my word.' That is your identity. You are not alone. The promise is not that the pain will vanish instantly, but that the last word belongs to God. He will appear to your joy. You do not need to defend yourself or prove them wrong. You can simply hold on to the hope that God sees, and He will not let their mockery stand forever.
Main takeaway: God knows when you are rejected for His name and promises that your persecutors' mockery will turn to shame while He Himself becomes your joy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
In the Bible, some people were teased or left out because they loved God. God told them He saw what was happening and He would take care of them. When you feel lonely because you follow Jesus, remember God sees you too.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes people, even family members, might make fun of you or leave you out because you believe in God. In this verse, God calls people who take His word seriously 'you who tremble at my word.' That's a special name. He promises that those who mock you will eventually be ashamed, and He will bring you real joy. You don't have to fight back; God fights for you, and He never forgets you.
Questions People Ask
Who are the 'brothers' in Isaiah 66:5?
They are fellow Israelites, people of the same nation and heritage. The verse is about conflict within the covenant community, not outsiders, but those who shared the same history and religious background but rejected the faithful remnant.
What does 'tremble at his word' mean?
It means to approach God's word with reverent awe, humility, and a readiness to obey. It is the posture described in verse 2 as 'poor and contrite of spirit.' This trembling is not terror but deep respect that changes how you live.
Is this verse about excommunication?
Yes, in a sense. The Hebrew word for 'cast you out' (nadah) was later used for excommunication from the synagogue. The persecutors are pushing the faithful out of the community, claiming they are too impure to worship with them. Jesus warned His disciples this would happen (John 16:2).
Why do the persecutors say 'Let the Lord be glorified'?
They are speaking sarcastically. It is a taunt: 'Let God show Himself glorious by coming to help you, then we'll see your joy.' They do not believe God will act. The verse is God's answer to that mockery: He will indeed appear, and the mockers will be ashamed.
Does this verse promise immediate revenge on persecutors?
No. It promises ultimate vindication, but not necessarily right away. The faithful in every age have had to wait for God's timing. The early church lived under persecution for generations before seeing the Roman Empire's reversal. The promise is that God's justice will come, and the final outcome is secure.
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