Isaiah 66:18
New International Version
“And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.

New Living Translation
“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.

English Standard Version
“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,

Berean Standard Bible
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“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.

New American Standard Bible
“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.

NASB 1995
“For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.

NASB 1977
“For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.

Legacy Standard Bible
“And I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.

Amplified Bible
“For I know their works and their thoughts. The time is coming to gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory.

Christian Standard Bible
“Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see my glory.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see My glory.

American Standard Version
For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

Contemporary English Version
I know everything you do and think! The time has now come to bring together the people of every language and nation and to show them my glory

English Revised Version
For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Because of their actions and their thoughts, I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They will come and see my glory.

Good News Translation
I know their thoughts and their deeds. I am coming to gather the people of all the nations. When they come together, they will see what my power can do

International Standard Version
"But as for me, I know their actions and their thoughts. Come and gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.

NET Bible
"I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor.

New Heart English Bible
"For I know their works and their thoughts. I am coming to gather all nations and languages; and they will come and see my glory.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

World English Bible
“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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“And I—their works and their thoughts, "" I come to gather all the nations and tongues, "" And they have come and seen My glory.

Young's Literal Translation
And I -- their works and their thoughts, I come to gather all the nations and tongues, And they have come and seen My honour.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I come to gather together all nations and tongues, their works and their purposes; and they came and saw my glory.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I know their works, and their thoughts: I come that I may gather them together with all nations and tongues: and they shall come and shall see my glory.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But I know their works and their thoughts. I am arriving, so that I may gather them together with all nations and languages. And they will approach, and they will see my glory.

New American Bible
I am coming to gather all nations and tongues; they shall come and see my glory.

New Revised Standard Version
For I know their works and their thoughts, and I am coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and shall see my glory,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For I know their works and their thoughts; when I come to gather all nations and tongues, they shall come and see my glory.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I know their works and their thoughts when I have come to gather all the nations and tongues. And they shall come and they shall see my glory
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For I [know] their works and their thoughts; [the time] cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see My glory.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I know their works and their imagination. I am going to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Final Judgments Against the Wicked
17“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD. 18“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. 19I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.…

Cross References
Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 15:14-17
Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. / The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: / ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, ...

Zechariah 8:22-23
And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Malachi 1:11
For My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place, incense and pure offerings will be presented in My name, because My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Romans 15:9-12
so that the Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to Your name.” / Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” / And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.” ...

Psalm 22:27-28
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him. / For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.

Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

John 12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”

Micah 4:1-2
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. / And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 16:19
O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.

Zephaniah 3:9-10
For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder. / From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers, My scattered people, will bring Me an offering.

Daniel 7:14
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Romans 9:24-26
including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles? / As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,” / and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

I know

Isaiah 37:28
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.

Deuteronomy 31:21
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

Amos 5:12
For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.

their thoughts

Job 42:2
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

Ezekiel 38:10
Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:

Matthew 9:4
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

that I

Isaiah 2:2
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Psalm 67:2
That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Psalm 72:11,17
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him…

and see

Isaiah 65:10
And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

Ezekiel 39:21
And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.

John 17:24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

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Actions Gather Glory Honour Imaginations Languages Nations Thoughts Time Together Tongues Works
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Actions Gather Glory Honour Imaginations Languages Nations Thoughts Time Together Tongues Works
Isaiah 66
1. The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5. He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7. With the marvelous growth
10. And the gracious benefits of the church
15. God's severe judgments against the wicked
18. The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24. And see the damnation of the wicked














And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts
This phrase emphasizes God's omniscience, highlighting His ability to discern not only actions but also the intentions and thoughts behind them. This is consistent with other scriptures such as Psalm 139:2, which speaks of God's intimate knowledge of human thoughts. The context here is a reminder of God's judgment and justice, as He is aware of both the righteous and unrighteous deeds of humanity. This knowledge is not limited to Israel but extends to all people, reflecting the universal scope of God's sovereignty.

am coming to gather all nations and tongues
This prophecy points to a future event where God will bring together people from every nation and language. It echoes the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, where all families of the earth would be blessed through him. This gathering is also seen in the New Testament, particularly in Revelation 7:9, where a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language stands before the throne of God. The phrase suggests a reversal of the division seen at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), where languages were confused and nations scattered.

and they will come and see My glory
The promise of seeing God's glory is a central theme in biblical prophecy, often associated with the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom. In the Old Testament, God's glory was revealed in the tabernacle and the temple (Exodus 40:34, 1 Kings 8:11). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's glory (John 1:14). This phrase anticipates a time when God's presence will be fully revealed to all humanity, fulfilling the hope of the prophets and the longing of the faithful. The vision of God's glory is both a promise of hope and a call to worship, as seen in Philippians 2:10-11, where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The omniscient and omnipotent being who knows the works and thoughts of all people. He is the central figure in this verse, orchestrating the gathering of nations.

2. Nations and Tongues
Refers to the diverse peoples and languages of the world. This highlights the inclusivity of God's plan for all humanity to witness His glory.

3. The Gathering
An eschatological event where God will bring together all nations to reveal His glory. This gathering signifies a future time of divine revelation and judgment.

4. Glory of God
The manifestation of God's presence and majesty, which will be revealed to all nations. This is a central theme in the prophetic vision of Isaiah.

5. Isaiah
The prophet through whom God delivers this message. Isaiah's role is to communicate God's plans and purposes to the people of Israel and beyond.
Teaching Points
God's Omniscience and Sovereignty
God knows the works and thoughts of every individual, emphasizing His complete understanding and control over creation. This should lead us to live with integrity, knowing nothing is hidden from Him.

Inclusivity of God's Plan
The gathering of all nations and tongues shows that God's salvation and revelation are for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or language. This encourages us to embrace diversity within the body of Christ.

Eschatological Hope
The promise of seeing God's glory provides hope for the future. Believers are encouraged to live with an eternal perspective, anticipating the fulfillment of God's promises.

Call to Evangelism
As God desires all nations to witness His glory, we are called to participate in His mission by sharing the gospel with all people, fulfilling the Great Commission.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 66:18?

2. How does Isaiah 66:18 emphasize God's awareness of all nations and tongues?

3. What actions can we take to align with God's gathering of nations?

4. How does Isaiah 66:18 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19?

5. In what ways can we participate in God's plan for global salvation?

6. How can Isaiah 66:18 inspire us to share the Gospel more effectively?

7. What does Isaiah 66:18 reveal about God's omniscience and His knowledge of all nations?

8. How does Isaiah 66:18 emphasize the inclusivity of God's plan for humanity?

9. In what ways does Isaiah 66:18 challenge the exclusivity of salvation?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 66?

11. What is the meaning of the Lord's Prayer?

12. What miracles are described in the Bible?

13. What does the Bible mention about America?

14. Isaiah 66:15–16: How can a loving deity be reconciled with the depiction of fiery vengeance and widespread destruction?
What Does Isaiah 66:18 Mean
And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts

• The Lord begins by reminding us that nothing escapes His notice. “I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:10).

• He sees outward actions and inward motives alike—exactly what Jesus affirms in Matthew 12:25 when He “knew their thoughts.”

• Because His knowledge is perfect, His coming judgment and blessing are perfectly just. There are no hidden agendas, no secret sins, and no unnoticed acts of faithfulness.


am coming

• This is an announcement of divine intervention, echoing earlier promises such as “Your God will come” (Isaiah 35:4).

• It looks ahead to the twofold arrival of the Lord:

– First, Christ’s first advent, when “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14).

– Ultimately, His second coming, when “every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7).

• God’s coming is always purposeful—never random or detached from His covenant plans.


to gather all nations and tongues

• The scope is global, fulfilling the promise to Abraham: “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).

• Jesus’ Great Commission—“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19)—mirrors this prophetic vision.

• The phrase “nations and tongues” anticipates the multicultural worship scene of Revelation 7:9, where a countless multitude from “every nation, tribe, people, and language” stands before the throne.

• Israel’s Messiah is also the Savior of the world; the covenant expands to embrace Gentiles without erasing Israel’s unique role (Romans 11:25–27).


and they will come

• God’s gathering work elicits a response: people stream toward Him, just as Isaiah earlier foretold, “All nations will stream to it” (Isaiah 2:2).

• The magnet is His grace. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44).

• History confirms this draw—from Pentecost, where every language group heard the gospel (Acts 2:5–11), to today’s global church.


and see My glory

• The ultimate purpose is revelation, not mere relocation. Like Moses, who prayed, “Show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18), the nations will witness God’s splendor.

• Christ embodies that glory: “We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only” (John 1:14).

• When He returns, His unveiled glory will fill the earth (Habakkuk 2:14) and bring final restoration (Revelation 21:23).

• Seeing His glory transforms observers into worshipers (2 Corinthians 3:18), completing the redemptive arc.


summary

Isaiah 66:18 proclaims a God who knows every heart, personally intervenes in history, gathers a worldwide family, draws them to Himself, and reveals His glory. The verse anchors our hope: the all-seeing Lord is actively moving creation toward a climactic, multinational worship where His glory is fully known and joyfully adored.

(18) For I know their works . . .--The Hebrew has no verb, either--as in the Quos ego . . . of Virgil, 'n., 1:139--for the sake of emphasis, or through an accidental omission in transcription. I know is supplied by many versions and commentators; I will punish or I have seen by others. The thought, in any case, is that the eye of Jehovah sees the evil things that are done in the secret places, caves or groves, in which the heathen rites were celebrated.

All nations and tongues . . .--The phrase, though not incompatible with Isaiah's authorship, is specially characteristic of the prophets of the Exile (Daniel 3:4; Daniel 3:7; Daniel 3:29; Daniel 4:1; Zechariah 8:23). . . .

Verse 18. - For I know their works. There is no verb in the Hebrew text, from which something has evidently fallen out. Mr. Cheyne supplies, "I will punish;" Gratz, "I have seen." "I know" is supported by the Targums, the Syriac Version, several manuscripts of the Septuagint, and the authorities of Saadiya, Vitringa, and Gesenius. And their thoughts; i.e. I know, not only their works, but even the thoughts from which the works proceeded. It shall some; i.e. "the time shall come." (For the full phrase, see Jeremiah 51:33; Ezekiel 7:7, 12.) All nations and tongues. This expression has been corn-pared with Daniel's "kindreds and nations and languages" (Daniel 3:4, 7, 29; Daniel 4:1; Daniel 5:19, etc.), and has been regarded as a sign of late authorship. But "nations' and "tongues" are coupled together in Scripture as early as Genesis (Genesis 10:5, 20). They shall come, and see my glory; i.e. "see the glory that I shall get me upon my enemies" (vers. 15-17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“For I [know]
וְאָנֹכִ֗י (wə·’ā·nō·ḵî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

their works
מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ (ma·‘ă·śê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property

and thoughts;
וּמַחְשְׁבֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם (ū·maḥ·šə·ḇō·ṯê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan

the time is coming
בָּאָ֕ה (bā·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to gather
לְקַבֵּ֥ץ (lə·qab·bêṣ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

nations
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

and tongues,
וְהַלְּשֹׁנ֑וֹת (wə·hal·lə·šō·nō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - common plural
Strong's 3956: The tongue

and they will come
וּבָ֖אוּ (ū·ḇā·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and see
וְרָא֥וּ (wə·rā·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

My glory.
כְּבוֹדִֽי׃ (kə·ḇō·w·ḏî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 66:18 For I know their works and their (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 66:17
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