What does “keep ye judgment, and do justice” mean in this passage?

“Keep ye judgment, and do justice” is God’s call for His people to live in a way that matches His coming salvation. It means acting fairly in all dealings, not taking advantage of others, and keeping God’s commands in everyday life. God is saying that, since His salvation and righteousness are near, His people should reflect that by doing what is right. This is not about earning salvation, but about showing real faith through honest, just behavior toward others and a life that cares about what God calls right.

Why does God bless the one who keeps the Sabbath and avoids evil here?

The blessing on the one who keeps the Sabbath and keeps his hand from doing evil shows how true worship and daily life belong together. To keep the Sabbath from being polluted means to treat God’s day and God’s worship as holy, not casual. At the same time, God cares how people act the rest of the week, so He calls them to keep their hands from any evil. The blessed person is someone who holds tightly to this way of life, honoring God in worship and in conduct, while waiting for His salvation.

Who are the “sons of the stranger” and “eunuchs,” and why are they mentioned?

The “sons of the stranger” are foreigners, people not born into Israel, and the “eunuchs” are men who could not have children and were often kept out of full fellowship. Both groups would easily feel cut off from God’s people. God speaks directly to them so they will not say He has utterly separated them. If they join themselves to the Lord, love His name, keep His Sabbaths, and take hold of His covenant, He promises them a place in His house and an everlasting name, showing they are fully welcomed when they cling to Him.

What does it mean that God gives eunuchs a name better than sons and daughters?

Eunuchs could not have children, so in human terms they had no family line or name to carry on. God promises that those eunuchs who keep His Sabbaths, choose what pleases Him, and take hold of His covenant will receive in His house a place and a name better than having sons and daughters. This means God Himself will honor them and give them lasting belonging among His people. Their identity and future will not depend on physical children, but on being known and remembered by God with an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

What does “my house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” mean?

When God says, “my house shall be called an house of prayer for all people,” He is talking about His dwelling among His people as a place where anyone who comes to Him in the way He has given is welcome. It shows that His worship is not limited to one nation. Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, serve Him, and love His name will be brought to His holy mountain and made joyful in His house of prayer. Their offerings will be accepted, showing that true worshipers from every background may come to Him.

What does this passage teach about God’s welcome to those who feel excluded?

This passage speaks tenderly to people who feel shut out, like foreigners and eunuchs. God tells the son of the stranger not to say He has utterly separated him from His people, and the eunuch not to say, “I am a dry tree.” To both, He promises real inclusion if they cling to Him: keeping His Sabbaths, loving His name, and taking hold of His covenant. God promises them joy in His house, a secure place, and an everlasting name. It shows that anyone who seeks Him in faith is not overlooked or second-class.

Who are the “blind watchmen” and “greedy dogs” in the second part of the passage?

The “blind watchmen” and “greedy dogs” describe unfaithful leaders among God’s people. Watchmen were supposed to see danger and warn others, but these are called blind and ignorant. They are like dogs that cannot bark, sleeping and loving to slumber instead of guarding the flock. They are greedy, never satisfied, and act like shepherds who do not understand. Rather than caring for the people, they chase their own gain and comfort. God uses this strong language to show how their negligence and selfishness bring harm to the people.

Why is God gathering the outcasts of Israel and others besides them?

God says He gathers the outcasts of Israel and will gather others besides those already gathered. This shows His heart to bring back those who were scattered or pushed aside and also to bring in people who were never part of Israel by birth. He welcomes all who join themselves to Him in faith and obedience. In the passage, this includes foreigners and eunuchs, but the language reaches wider. God is not content with a small, closed group; He is building a people drawn from the rejected and from the nations who seek Him.

How can this passage about Sabbath and justice apply to believers today?

This passage joins together justice, worship, and inclusion. For believers today, it calls for a life that honors God in both gathered worship and daily choices. Keeping the Sabbath holy points to setting apart time and heart for God, not treating His worship lightly. Doing justice and keeping our hands from evil points to honest, fair, and clean living in our relationships and work. The welcome to foreigners and eunuchs reminds us not to shut out those who feel unworthy, but to receive all who cling to the Lord and seek to walk in His ways.

Isa.56.1

Isaiah 56:1

KJV GOD

Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Salvation for Foreigners

Rewards for Obedience to God

1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

¶ Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

Israel’s Sinful Leaders

¶ All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.