Isaiah 66:21
New International Version
And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

New Living Translation
“And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken!

English Standard Version
And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

King James Bible
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

NASB 1995
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD.

NASB 1977
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will also take some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.”

American Standard Version
And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
I promise that some of them will be priests and others will be helpers in my temple. I, the LORD, have spoken.

English Revised Version
And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I will make some of them priests and Levites," declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
I will make some of them priests and Levites.

International Standard Version
Then I will also select some of them for myself as priests and as Levites," says the LORD.

Majority Standard Bible
“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

NET Bible
And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites," says the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
And I will also take some of them for myself as priests and Levites," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I also take of them for priests, "" For Levites,” said YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
And also of them I take for priests, For Levites, said Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I also will take from them for priests, for Levites, said Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will take of them to be priests, and Levites, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will take from them to be priests and Levites, says the Lord.

New American Bible
Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
And I will also take some of them as priests and as Levites, says the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also I shall take some of them for Priests and for Levites, says LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And of them also will I take for the priests and for the Levites, saith the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will take of them priests and Levites, saith the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Final Judgments Against the Wicked
20And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” 21“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD. 22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure.…

Cross References
Exodus 19:6
And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Romans 15:16
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

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.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Hebrews 7:12
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

Numbers 3:10
So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

Jeremiah 33:18
nor will the priests who are Levites ever fail to have a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.”

1 Samuel 2:35
Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.

Ezekiel 44:15-16
But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD. / They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.

Zechariah 14:16-19
Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. / And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them. / And if the people of Egypt will not go up and enter in, then the rain will not fall on them; this will be the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. ...

Acts 6:7
So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, said the LORD.

Isaiah 61:6
But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Exodus 19:6
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Jeremiah 13:18-22
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory…

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Levites Priests Select
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 will select
The phrase "And I will select" indicates a divine choice and election by God. The Hebrew root for "select" is "בָּחַר" (bachar), which means to choose or elect. This choice is not arbitrary but is based on God's sovereign will and purpose. In the context of Isaiah, this selection signifies God's initiative in establishing a new order, where He calls individuals into service for His divine plan. It reflects the grace and mercy of God, who chooses people not based on their merit but on His purpose and love.

some of them
The phrase "some of them" refers to a specific group chosen from a larger population. Historically, this can be seen as a reference to the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community, a radical concept for the original audience. Theologically, it underscores the inclusivity of God's kingdom, where He calls people from all nations and backgrounds. This selection is a fulfillment of the promise that God's salvation would extend beyond Israel to all the nations, as seen in the broader context of Isaiah.

as priests and Levites
The roles of "priests and Levites" were traditionally reserved for the descendants of Aaron and the tribe of Levi, respectively. The Hebrew words for "priests" (כֹּהֲנִים, kohanim) and "Levites" (לְוִיִּם, levi'im) denote specific functions within the religious life of Israel. Priests were responsible for offering sacrifices and maintaining the sanctity of the temple, while Levites assisted in various temple duties. The selection of "some of them" as priests and Levites signifies a transformative shift in the understanding of worship and service to God. It points to a future where the barriers between Jew and Gentile are broken down, and all believers are called to serve as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This reflects the New Testament teaching that through Christ, all believers have direct access to God and are called to serve Him in holiness and truth.

says the LORD
The phrase "says the LORD" is a declaration of divine authority and assurance. The Hebrew term for "says" (אָמַר, amar) is often used in prophetic literature to introduce a message from God. It emphasizes that the promise and action described are not human initiatives but are decreed by God Himself. This assurance from the LORD provides comfort and confidence to the believers, affirming that God's plans are certain and will come to pass. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the reliability of His word, encouraging believers to trust in His promises and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.

(21) I will also take of them for priests . . .--We are left to determine whether the promise is that even Gentile converts should be enrolled among the priests and Levites of the new Jerusalem, or that Israelites of the non-priestly tribes should be so enrolled. Was the prophet breaking down in thought the middle wall of partition, or clinging to its maintenance? Isaiah 61:6 seems in favour of the latter view, and we are probably right in looking on this thought, that of all Israel being eligible for the priesthood, as that which was in the prophet's mind. Like other such thoughts, however, it was capable of expansion, so as to include the whole Israel of God, who were by faith the children of Abraham. (Comp. 1Peter 2:5; 1Peter 2:9, with Exodus 19:6.)

Verse 21. - And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites; literally, and I will also take of them unto the priests and unto the Levites; i.e. I will add to the existing body of priests and Levites, who are pro-sumably Jews, fresh members from the newly converted Gentiles. The existence of a sacerdotal order, with distinctions of ranks, in the Church of the redeemed, is implied, and the gracious declaration is made that the privilege of furnishing members to both ranks of the order shall be conferred upon the Gentile proselytes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And I will
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

select
אֶקַּ֛ח (’eq·qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

some of them
מֵהֶ֥ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

as priests
לַכֹּהֲנִ֥ים (lak·kō·hă·nîm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and Levites,”
לַלְוִיִּ֖ם (lal·wî·yim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

says
אָמַ֥ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 66:21 Of them also will I take (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 66:20
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