What does "leave your name for a curse" signify in Isaiah 65:15? “You will leave your name for a curse among My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you. But He will call His servants by another name.” Context of Isaiah 65 • Chapters 63–66 form Isaiah’s closing vision, contrasting rebellious Israelites with a faithful remnant. • 65:1-16 pronounces judgment on the obstinate yet promises blessing for servants who seek the LORD. • Verse 15 sits at the pivot: the defiant “you” are cut off; the obedient “servants” are honored. Ancient Near-Eastern Cursing by Name • In Hebrew culture a “name” carried reputation, destiny, and memory (1 Samuel 25:25; Proverbs 22:1). • To “leave a name for a curse” meant becoming a by-word; people would invoke that name when wishing disaster on someone else. • Parallels: – Numbers 5:21: “May the LORD make you a curse and an oath…” – Jeremiah 29:22: exiles would say, “May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab…” – Zechariah 8:13: “You, Judah and Israel, were a curse among the nations.” – Deuteronomy 28:37: the disobedient become “a horror, a proverb, and a byword.” "Leave Your Name for a Curse"—What the Phrase Signifies • Perpetual reproach—future generations will cite their name as shorthand for divine judgment (cf. Psalm 109:13). • Final severance—“the Lord GOD will slay you,” ending their earthly line; only the memory of their rebellion remains. • Vindication of the remnant—the curse stands “among My chosen ones,” underscoring God’s justice toward the unfaithful and mercy toward the faithful. The Contrast: A New Name for the Servants • God “will call His servants by another name.” • Isaiah earlier promised, “You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will designate” (Isaiah 62:2). • Fulfillment hints: – “Christian” first applied at Antioch (Acts 11:26). – Christ promises “a new name… which no one knows except the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17). • The shift from curse-name to new-name shows God’s power to redefine identity—judgment for rebels, fresh identity for servants. Key Takeaways • God deals with rebellion decisively; even a name can testify to wrath. • Obedience secures honor and a new identity from the LORD. • Names matter: they preserve either a legacy of faithfulness or a warning of folly (Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 10:7). |
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