What is the meaning of Isaiah 56:9? Come “Come” (Isaiah 56:9) is God’s summons. In context, He is the One inviting, not pleading. The word signals that what follows is His deliberate decree. • Earlier, God welcomed foreigners and eunuchs who “hold fast My covenant” (Isaiah 56:3–8), showing His heart for inclusion when people embrace faithfulness. • Now, with a single word, He switches to judgment, as in Jeremiah 12:9 where the Lord similarly calls the beasts to devour His unfaithful inheritance. • The invitation underscores divine authority: when He speaks, creation responds (Psalm 148:5; Amos 3:8). all you beasts of the field The “beasts” symbolize the pagan nations and any destructive force God chooses to employ. • Isaiah often pictures nations as animals—Assyria as a rod (Isaiah 10:5–7), Babylon as predators (Isaiah 13:4–5). • Jeremiah 7:33 warns that when covenant guardians fail, “the corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth,” confirming that the beasts represent invaders. • The field suggests open territory: nothing stands between the prey (unfaithful Israel) and the predators. eat greedily “Eat greedily” indicates unrestricted devastation. • Deuteronomy 28:26 foretells disobedient Israel’s bodies becoming “food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and no one will frighten them away,” showing this is covenant-curse language. • Ezekiel 39:17–20 pictures God summoning birds and beasts to a sacrificial feast on fallen warriors, portraying the completeness of judgment. • The phrase reminds us that God’s patience has limits; unchecked sin invites severe consequences (Romans 2:5). all you beasts of the forest Repetition widens the scope from open “field” to dense “forest,” stressing that every possible predator is welcome. • Isaiah 13:21–22 describes wild animals occupying ruined Babylon; the same fate now threatens Israel’s leadership. • Ezekiel 34:5–8 condemns shepherds who neglect the flock, leaving them “food for all the wild beasts.” Isaiah 56:10–12 will echo this, calling Israel’s watchmen “blind” and “mute.” • The forest image evokes hidden dangers: enemies can strike from expected and unexpected quarters alike. summary Isaiah 56:9 is God’s sober announcement that because Israel’s leaders have failed, He is unleashing judgment. He summons every predatory force—open-field raiders and lurking forest beasts alike—to consume without restraint. The verse stands as a stark reminder that covenant unfaithfulness invites divine discipline, while earlier promises in the same chapter assure that those who cling to God’s covenant, regardless of background, remain safe under His care. |
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