17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. Isaiah 65:17–19 (NKJV) 

17 “For there will be a new heaven and a new earth, and they will not remember the former things, and it will not arise in their heart; 18 but they will find cheer and rejoicing in it, for look, I am making Jerusalem a cause for rejoicing and my people a cause for cheer. 19 And I will rejoice over Jerusalem and will be cheerful over my people, and a sound of weeping and a sound of shouting will no longer be heard in her. Isaiah 65:17–19 (LES2) 

The MT says “I will create,” but the LXX simply says, “there will be.” The MT makes heavens plural, but the LXX uses the singular. The MT makes “the former” the subject, but the LXX makes “they” the subject. The MT commands us to be glad and rejoice, but the LXX simply states that “they” will do that. The second half of verse 18 and all of verse 19 agree. 

The New Testament speaks of the new heaven and earth which will be created after the old sin corrupted version is destroyed.

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1–4 (NKJV) 

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10–13 (NKJV) 

The NT passages above place the recreated heaven(s) and earth after the cataclysmic destruction of the old at the day of the Lord, when Jesus returns. The heavenly Jerusalem, which is Christ’s bride, the resurrected and glorified elect, descends from heaven to the new earth. God will dwell with men after the elimination of all pain and death. The former sin corrupted creation will be gone forever.

20 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. Isaiah 65:20 (NKJV) 

20 Neither will there be any longer in that place an untimely death or an old man who does not fulfill his time, for the child will be a hundred years old, and the sinner who dies a hundred years old will be accursed. Isaiah 65:20 (LES2) 

This is where Isaiah seems to depart from what the New Testament says about the new heavens and earth. In verse 20, death is still present as are sinners. Some believe this refers to a “millennial” reign of Christ on the earth, in which saved and unsaved people will live together and enjoy the blessings of Christ’s rule. This is also a post-millennial concept, but will be prior to Christ’s Second Coming and the final judgment, during which time God’s blessings will be enjoyed in a tremendous way as God’s kingdom gains sway over a greater number of people. I personally hold to an amillennial or realized millennium position, which holds that the church age in which we live is the millennium. However, since all of this is in the future, we are trying to predict what will happen. God surprised the world, and especially the religious people, at his first coming. I have no doubt he will do the same at Christ’s Second Coming. I have jokingly told people that I am a pan-millennialist, meaning everything will “pan out” at the end when it actually comes to pass, probably at the expense of most of our theologies of the end times. That being said, as you have no doubt concluded, I do not know exactly what to make of verse 20.

21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. 24 “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the LORD. Isaiah 65:21–25 (NKJV) 

21 And they will build houses, and they themselves will inhabit them; and they will plant vineyards, and they themselves will eat their produce. 22 They will surely not build and others inhabit; they will surely not plant and others eat; for the days of my people will be like the days of the tree of life, for the deeds of their labor will grow old. 23 My chosen ones will not toil in vain or bear children for a curse, for they are seed blessed by God and their offspring with them. 24 And this will happen: Before they cry out, I will hear them; while they are still speaking, I will say, ‘What is it?’ 25 At that time wolves and lambs will feed together, and a lion will eat straw like an ox, and a serpent will eat dirt like bread; and they will not cause injury or harm on my holy mountain,” says the Lord. Isaiah 65:21–25 (LES2) 

In verse 21, the MT and LXX essentially agree. In verse 22, there is an interesting difference. The MT says that the days of God’s people will be like that of a tree, but the LXX says it will be like the days of the tree of life, which is never ending. (Genesis 3:22) Jesus said that anyone who eats the bread of life, which means to believe in him, will never die. (John 6:47-51) Since the Old Testament points to Christ (John 5:39), we can only properly understand it by viewing it through the lens of the New Covenant. Using this principle of interpretation, we are right back at the new heavens and earth prophesied in 2 Peter 3 and Revelation 21. 

In verse 23, the MT and LXX both use the singular form of seed that is blessed by the Lord, even though it is translated as plural descendants in the MT. This is a common way that the MT translates the word seed that obscures the reference to the holy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)  The offspring of the holy seed are those who are born again, using the hermeneutic of John 5:39, as above. 

In verse 24, the MT uses different wording from the LXX here as elsewhere when translating the same sequence of words. The MT says “before they call, I will answer.” The LXX says, “before they cry out, I will hear them.” The New Testament teaches us that if God hears us, he will answer our prayers. (1 John 5:14-15) Next the MT says, “while they are still speaking, I will hear.” The LXX says, “while they are still speaking, I will say, ‘What is it?'” The personal response is far more powerful than simply saying that God hears us. 

In verse 25, the MT and LXX essentially agree. 

8 Thus says the LORD: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, That I may not destroy them all. Isaiah 65:8 (NKJV) 

8 This is what the Lord says: “The way the grape will be found in the cluster and they will say, ‘Do not harm it because the blessing is in it,’ so I will do for the sake of the one who serves me; I will not destroy them all on account of this one. Isaiah 65:8 (LES2) 

I believe this verse in the LXX points to Christ, which is the reason the MT obscures the meaning. The LXX makes it clear that God will spare some on account of the one, which is Christ. Otherwise, God would be just in destroying the entire nation. This agrees with what Paul wrote in Romans.

27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.” 29 And as Isaiah said before: “Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah.” Romans 9:27–29 (NKJV) 

The seed Paul mentions is Christ. Except for Christ, the descendants of Abraham would have been utterly destroyed, but as it is, a remnant will be saved, those who believe in the Messiah, our Lord Jesus.

9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, And from Judah an heir of My mountains; My elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there. Isaiah 65:9 (NKJV) 

9 I will bring forth the seed from Jacob and from Judah, and they will inherit my holy mountain, and my chosen ones and my servants will inherit it, and they will dwell there. Isaiah 65:9 (LES2) 

10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, For My people who have sought Me. Isaiah 65:10 (NKJV) 

10 And folds of flocks will be in the forest, and the valley of Achor will be like a resting place for herds, for my people who have sought me. Isaiah 65:10 (LES2) 

11 “But you are those who forsake the LORD, Who forget My holy mountain, Who prepare a table for Gad, And who furnish a drink offering for Meni. 12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, And you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; When I spoke, you did not hear, But did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.” Isaiah 65:11–12 (NKJV) 

11 But you who have forsaken me and who forget my holy mountain, and who prepare a table for a demon and fill up a mixture to Fortune, 12 I will give you over to the sword; you will all fall in slaughter. Because I called you and you did not listen; I spoke and you ignored me, and you did evil before me, and you chose the things that I did not wish for.” Isaiah 65:11–12 (LES2) 

13 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry; Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty; Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed; 14 Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, And wail for grief of spirit. Isaiah 65:13–14 (NKJV) 

13 Because of this, this is what the Lord says: “Look! Those who serve me will eat, but you will be hungry. Look! Those who serve me will drink, but you will be thirsty. Look! Those who serve me will be cheerful, but you will be ashamed. 14 Look! Those who serve me will rejoice with cheer, but you will cry out because of the pain in your heart, and you will howl because of the crushing of your spirit. Isaiah 65:13–14 (LES2)

The MT and LXX agree in this passage, which is reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:21–26 (NKJV) 

15 You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen; For the Lord GOD will slay you, And call His servants by another name; 16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth Shall bless himself in the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My eyes. Isaiah 65:15–16 (NKJV) 

15 For you will leave your name behind as satisfaction for my chosen people, but the Lord will destroy you. And a new name will be proclaimed over those who serve me, 16 which will be praised upon the earth, for they will bless the true God; and those who swear an oath upon the earth will swear by the true God, for they will forget their former affliction, and it will not arise in their heart. Isaiah 65:15–16 (LES2) 

This passage points to those who put their faith in Christ, those called by a “new name,” which might be “Christians.” It is interesting that the name of the Jews will be left as a curse by God’s chosen people, according to the MT. The LXX says that the name of the Jews will be left behind as a “satisfaction” for them. The Greek word can mean being filled or abundance. The closest idea in the New Testament, as I see it, is when Paul says that the falling away of the Jews has led to a fullness of Gentiles coming into God’s kingdom.

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:25 (NKJV) 

God pledges to destroy the Jews, but we know that he has and will draw to himself a remnant from that group for the sake of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They will not utterly be destroyed. This is true for Gentiles as well. All who reject Christ will be destroyed at the final judgment.

Those chosen by God who are called by a new name, Christians, will be praised on the earth and will bless the true God. This promise of praise to a great extent will be fulfilled when Christ returns. Historically the name of those who serve Christ has been denigrated and persecuted over the years. The true God is the Father of our Lord Jesus, who has become our Father through the new birth. Those who deny Christ do not have the true God. (1 John 2:23) Therefore, the Jews who deny Christ do not serve the God we serve. In those parts of the world heavily influenced by Christianity, oaths in court are taken in the name of the true God.

According to the LXX, seen through the lens of the New Testament, when Christ returns, we will forget our former sufferings. (Revelation 21:4) The last part of verse 16 in the MT makes no sense to me, unless it means that our former troubles will be hidden from God’s eyes, but what does that mean exactly?

1 “I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ To a nation that was not called by My name. Isaiah 65:1 (NKJV)

1 “I became evident [emphanes] to those who did not consult [eperotao] me; I was found [heurisko] by those who did not seek [zeteo] me. I said, ‘Look! Here I am,’ to a people [nation – ethnos] who have not called upon my name. Isaiah 65:1 (LES2) 

The subtle differences between the MT and LXX often hide God’s grace in the New Covenant. The MT says God was “sought” by people who did not ask for him, which is a contradictory statement. The LXX says that God made himself manifest to those who did not inquire, consult, or ask for him. God revealed and reveals himself to those who were or are not actively seeking him or perhaps did or do not know who he is. This seems to fit with one of Jesus’ parables, when he said that after the ones first invited to the feast (the Jews) refused to come, he instructed his servant…

23 … ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23 (NKJV)

We cannot know God until he reveals himself to us. (Matthew 16:17) Jesus made it clear that unless the Spirit of God draws us, we cannot come to him. (John 6:44) The Son of God himself can stand in front of a person whose heart is hard and closed to God, and he will not understand who he is or heed his words. But when God reveals himself, as he did to Peter and to countless thousands of others, our hearts will see and we will respond by properly revering and worshiping the Lord.

This people or nation who had not previously called upon God’s name can be no other than the Gentiles. Paul confirms this in Romans Chapter 10, a passage in which he explains that God has included the Gentiles in God’s kingdom. (Romans 10:12) Then he goes on to quote Isaiah 65:1.

20 But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found [heurisko] by those who did not seek [zeteo] Me; I was made manifest [emphanes] to those who did not ask [eperotao] for Me.” Romans 10:20 (NKJV) 

No doubt, he recited this from memory. His quote agrees with the Greek in the LXX, except he switched the order of the phrases. 

Paul personally experienced God’s mercy in this way when Jesus dramatically revealed himself to him as he was on the way to persecute believers in Damascus. God still reveals himself to people who are not seeking him. This is currently happening on a large scale in Muslim countries through dreams and visions.

2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts; 3 A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick; 4 Who sit among the graves, And spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, Do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. 6 “Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay— Even repay into their bosom— 7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” Says the LORD, “Who have burned incense on the mountains And blasphemed Me on the hills; Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.” Isaiah 65:2–7 (NKJV) 

2 I stretched out my hands all day to a people who resisted [apeitheo] and opposed [antilego] , to those who walked in a way that was not good but followed after their sins. 3 This people who provokes me is before me always; they sacrifice in their gardens and burn incense on their bricks to demons that do not exist; 4 among their graves and in caves they who eat swine meat and the broth of sacrifices sleep for the sake of dreams; all their vessels are defiled, 5 they who say, ‘Depart far from me, do not approach me for I am clean.’ This is the smoke of my wrath; fire burns in it all the day. 6 Look! It is written before me, ‘I will not keep silent, until I pay back into their bosom 7 their sins and the sins of their fathers,’ ” says the Lord. “They burn incense upon the mountains, and they taunt me upon the hills. I will pay back their deeds to their bosom.” Isaiah 65:2–7 (LES2) 

This section applies to the nation of Israel, those who are not part of God’s elect. The MT calls them a “rebellious people,” but the LXX is more specific, calling them “a people who resisted and opposed” God. Stephen used the same sort of language in his final sermon before the Jews stoned him to death.

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Acts 7:51 (NKJV) 

Paul quoted this verse in Romans chapter 10.

21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient [apeitheo] and contrary [antilego] people.” Romans 10:21 (NKJV) 

The Greeks words match those in Isaiah, showing that he used the LXX as his source and understood this passage to apply to unrepentant Israel.

The MT says Israel followed after her “thoughts.” The LXX say, “sins.” The LXX says that the sacrifices they made upon bricks were to demons (who did not exist). We know from other places that demons are real; so, this passage must be a reference to demons portraying themselves as gods, which are not really gods at all. This seems to be Paul’s line of thinking in other places were he addresses the subject. (Galatians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 10:21) People who bow down to idols are surrendering to evil spirits who are not by nature gods at all, but who do oppress people in all sorts of ways. This is another example of how the devil deceives people into serving him.

The rest of this passage lays out the reasons for God’s judgement of the Jews who rejected him and his Son, Jesus the Messiah. All who reject the magnificently gracious offer in the gospel, both Jew and Gentile, judge themselves unworthy of eternal life and worthy of God’s judgment. (Acts 13:46)

1 Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence— 2 As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil— To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! 3 When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, The mountains shook at Your presence. Isaiah 64:1–3 (NKJV) 

1 If you open the heavens, trembling will take hold of the mountains at you, and they will melt 2 like wax melts before a fire. And fire will consume the enemies, and your name will be evident among the enemies. The nations will be troubled before your face. 3 When you do glorious things, trembling will take hold of the mountains before you. Isaiah 64:1–3 (LES2) 

The MT makes verse 1 a prayer, but the LXX simply describes what would happen should God roll back the firmament, exposing his glorious presence to the world below. The apostle Peter used this passage as a basis for describing what the glorious appearing of the Lord will be like.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10–13 (NKJV) 

In verse 3, the MT says these things already happened, but the LXX places them in the future, as does Peter.

4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. 5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned— In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. Isaiah 64:4–5 (NKJV) 

4 We have not heard for eternity and our eyes have not seen any god except you and your works, which you will do for those who wait for mercy. 5 He will meet with those who do righteousness, and they will remember your ways. Look! You have become angry, and we have sinned; because of this we have been led astray. Isaiah 64:4–5 (LES2) 

6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 7 And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities. Isaiah 64:6–7 (NKJV) 

6 We all have become like unclean people; all our righteousness is like the rag of a woman who sits apart, and we have disappeared like leaves because of our lawless acts; in this way the wind will carry us away. 7 There is no one who calls upon your name and who remembers to take hold of you, because you turned your face away from us and handed us over because of our sins. Isaiah 64:6–7 (LES2) 

The MT chooses the word “thing” to clarify “unclean.” The LXX  uses the word “people.” Both were the choices of the translator, since the text is ambiguous and means simply “unclean.” The MT uses the plural of righteousness, suggesting it is our righteous acts that are unclean, but the LXX uses the singular form, indicating it is something deeper than an action. It affects the core of our being. The LXX makes it clear that we are to compare our uncleanness to a menstrual rag. Blood made a person unclean (Leviticus 15:25), but the blood of Christ has the opposite effect of cleansing us from sin! (1 John 1:7)

The Greek word translated as “disappeared” in verse 6 can also mean “fallen off.” Verse 7 in the MT says that God has “consumed us because of our iniquities.” The LXX says that he “handed us over because of our sins,” which refers to the captivity in Babylon and also our bondage to sin and Satan in general when applied to all humanity. In other words, we reap what we sow.

8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. 9 Do not be furious, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look—we all are Your people! Isaiah 64:8–9 (NKJV) 

8 And now, O Lord, you are our father, and we are clay; all of us are the work of your hands. 9 Do not be very angry with us, and do not remember our sins for a time. And now, look upon us because we all are your people. Isaiah 64:8–9 (LES2) 

10 Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and beautiful temple, Where our fathers praised You, Is burned up with fire; And all our pleasant things are laid waste. 12 Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O LORD? Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely? Isaiah 64:10–12 (NKJV) 

10 The city of your holiness has become deserted; Zion has become deserted, Jerusalem a curse. 11 The house, our sanctuary, and the glory, which our fathers blessed, has been burned with fire, and all of our glorious things have fallen. 12 And at all these things you have shown toleration, O Lord, and you have kept silent and have made us very low. Isaiah 64:10–12 (LES2) 

1 Who is this who comes from Edom, With dyed garments from Bozrah, This One who is glorious in His apparel, Traveling in the greatness of His strength?— “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Isaiah 63:1 (NKJV) 

1 Who is this who arrives from Edom, with red garments from Bezer, so beautiful in clothing, forceful with strength? I discuss righteousness and a judgment of salvation. Isaiah 63:1 (LES2) 

2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress? 3 “I have trodden the winepress alone, And from the peoples no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, And trampled them in My fury; Their blood is sprinkled upon My garments, And I have stained all My robes. 4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, And the year of My redeemed has come. 5 I looked, but there was no one to help, And I wondered That there was no one to uphold; Therefore My own arm brought salvation for Me; And My own fury, it sustained Me. 6 I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, Made them drunk in My fury, And brought down their strength to the earth.” Isaiah 63:2–6 (NKJV) 

2 Why are your clothes red, and your garments as if they came from a trodden winepress? 3 I was full of that which has been trampled, and there is no man of the nations with me; and I trampled them in my wrath, and I crushed them like dirt, and I brought down their blood. 4 For the day of repayment has come to them, and the year of ransoming is present. 5 I looked, and there was no helper, and I observed, and no one helped; and my arm rescued them, and my wrath was set. 6 And I trampled them in my anger, and I brought their blood down into the dirt. Isaiah 63:2–6 (LES2) 

This perfectly describes the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. (Matthew 21:38-44) Jesus called the Jewish leaders sons of the devil (John 8:44). They were the most vicious enemies of God in that they rejected and killed his only begotten Son, the one who created them.

In verse 5, the MT indicates that God’s own arm saved him, but the LXX says that God’s arm (Jesus – Isaiah 53:1) saved THEM, meaning the elect.

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD And the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. Isaiah 63:7 (NKJV) 

7 I recalled the mercy of the Lord, the magnificent acts of the Lord in all the things by which he repays us. The Lord is a good judge to the house of Israel; he deals with us according to his mercy and according to the greatness of his righteousness. Isaiah 63:7 (LES2) 

8 For He said, “Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie.” So He became their Savior. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old. 10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them. Isaiah 63:8–10 (NKJV) 

8 And he said, “Are they not my people? Children, they will never rebel.” And he became their salvation 9 from all their affliction. Not an elder or a messenger but he himself has saved them, because he loved them and spared them. He himself ransomed them and took them up and exalted them all the days of eternity. 10 But they resisted and provoked his Holy Spirit, and he was turned to enmity against them; he himself made war with them. Isaiah 63:8–10 (LES2) 

Verses 8 and 9 seem to continue to speak of spiritual Israel, the elect in Christ. It is noteworthy that the MT says the Angel of his Presence saved them, but the LXX says that was not the case, but God himself (in Christ) redeemed them, the elect.

Verse 10 seems to return to describing natural Israel, who resisted (Acts 7:51) God and irritated or provoked his Spirit. God made war with them, which came to head in 70 AD and later in Rome’s retaliation to the Bar Kohkba revolt..

11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, 12 Who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them To make for Himself an everlasting name, 13 Who led them through the deep, As a horse in the wilderness, That they might not stumble?” 14 As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the LORD causes him to rest, So You lead Your people, To make Yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:11–14 (NKJV) 

11 And he remembered the eternal days: “Where is the one who brings the shepherd of the sheep up from the sea? Where is the one who put the Holy Spirit among them, 12 who led Moses by the right hand? Where is the arm of his glory?” He overpowered the water from his face to make an eternal name for himself. 13 He led them through the deep like a horse through the desert, and they did not grow weary. 14 Like livestock through a plain, the spirit from the Lord came down and guided them; thus you led your people in order to make a glorious name for yourself. Isaiah 63:11–14 (LES2) 

15 Look down from heaven, And see from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained? Isaiah 63:15 (NKJV) 

15 Turn from heaven and look from your holy house and from your glory. Where are your zeal and your strength? Where is the abundance of your mercy and your compassions, that you have upheld us? Isaiah 63:15 (LES2) 

16 Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us, And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name. Isaiah 63:16 (NKJV) 

16 For you are our father, because Abraham did not know us, and Israel did not recognize us, but you, O Lord, our father, rescue us; your name is upon us from the beginning. Isaiah 63:16 (LES2) 

Wow! If this doesn’t describe new covenant Israel, I am sadly mistaken. Christians were not known to Abraham, because the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4-6), which Paul said was the inclusion of the Gentiles in the new covenant, was hidden from everyone until after Christ’s resurrection and Pentecost. The Jews still do not recognize Christians as God’s children to this day, but God is our Father, just as Jesus said, and his name is upon us.

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” John 20:17 (NKJV) 

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. John 15:16 (NKJV) 

Those who reject Jesus do not know the Father. (1 John 2:23)

17 O LORD, why have You made us stray from Your ways, And hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants’ sake, The tribes of Your inheritance. 18 Your holy people have possessed it but a little while; Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary. 19 We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, Those who were never called by Your name. Isaiah 63:17–19 (NKJV) 

17 Why have you led us astray, O Lord, from your way? Why have you hardened our hearts to not fear you? Turn, because of your servants, because of the tribes of your inheritance, 18 so that we might inherit a little of your holy mountain. 19 We have become as from the beginning, when you did not rule over us and your name was not called over us. Isaiah 63:17–19 (LES2) 

This could well have been the apostle Paul’s prayer. He wished to see his countrymen saved by Christ. (Romans 9:3) Thankfully, a remnant will believe ( and be included in the Israel of God, the church, elect before the foundation of the world to belong to God.

1 For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. 3 You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God. 4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:1–5 (NKJV) 

1 Because of Zion I will not be silent, and because of Jerusalem I will not lift up my voice, until her righteousness goes forth like a light; and my salvation will burn like a torch. 2 And nations will see your righteousness, and kings your glory, and he will call you by a new name, which the Lord will name it. 3 And you will be a beautiful crown in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 And you will no longer be called “Abandoned,” and your land will no longer be called “Desolate,” for you will be called “My Delight,” and your land will be called “Inhabited.” For the Lord has found pleasure in you, and your land will be given in marriage. 5 And as a youth lives with a virgin, so your sons will live, and it will be that the way a bridegroom is cheerful over a young wife, so the Lord will be cheerful over you. Isaiah 62:1–5 (LES2) 

The MT says the speaker will not rest until God restores Jerusalem’s righteousness. The LXX uses words that are a bit of a challenge to translate, but I think the best would be to more or less agree with the MT. I would translate it, “I will not rest or relax until…” That is how Brenton translates it.

In verse 2, the MT says, “You will be called by a new name.” The LXX says, “He, meaning God, will call you by a new name.” It was at Antioch that believers in Jesus were first called Christians. That name has remained in place for centuries.

6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:6–7 (NKJV) 

6 And upon your walls, Jerusalem, I have appointed guards all day and all night who will never keep silent, remembering the Lord. 7 For there is none like you, if he sets things right and makes Jerusalem a thing of pride upon the earth. Isaiah 62:6–7 (LES2) 

I am always extremely interested in how the LXX verses compare to the MT in those passages that have been “banners” for the Christian Zionist movement. Thousands of Christian intercessors quote the MT version of this verse to justify ceaseless prayer for the current city of Jerusalem, believing that they are to give God no rest until he makes modern Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

There is a huge difference between “give him no rest until he…makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” and “there is none like you (plural) if he sets things right (literally – makes a correction) and makes Jerusalem a thing of pride in the earth.”

The New Testament contrasts the heavenly Jerusalem to the one on the earth at present. 

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatians 4:21–26 (NKJV) 

There is an earthly Jerusalem, which is still in bondage, and a heavenly one, which is the glorious city of God composed of blood-bought saints who trust in Jesus.

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22–24 (NKJV) 

I find it disheartening that we Christians are so easily fooled into substituting natural Israel for the Israel of God and natural Jerusalem for the heavenly one. Our focus has been displaced from Jesus onto natural Israel, a nation which has usurped that which belongs to Christ alone, thanks to the support of millions of Christians who have swallowed error of Dispensationalism and Christian Zionism. The Bride of Christ has been tricked into believing that the bridegroom prefers his mother (Israel) to the church, his bride. She has been duped into relinquishing her privilege and position to a brazen prostitute who claims she has always been God’s first love! Like Athaliah of old, she was willing to kill the legal heir (Jesus) in order to usurp the kingdom for herself. The church has been duped into thinking she is a “rebound” relationship of a rejected suitor who still pines for his first love, his own mother. Now that the church is waking up to the deception, Zionists cry “antisemitism,” just as Athaliah cried “treason,” when the rightful heir was installed. I hope the supreme irony and ludicrousness of this is apparent. 

8 The LORD has sworn by His right hand And by the arm of His strength: “Surely I will no longer give your grain As food for your enemies; And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine, For which you have labored. 9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it, And praise the LORD; Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts.” Isaiah 62:8–9 (NKJV) 

8 The Lord has sworn by his glory and by the strength of his arm, “I will certainly no longer give your grain and meat to your enemies, and foreign sons will certainly no longer drink your wine over which you toiled; 9 but those who have gathered them will eat them and will glorify the Lord, and those who have gathered them will drink them in my holy dwellings. Isaiah 62:8–9 (LES2) 

10 Go through, Go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; Build up, Build up the highway! Take out the stones, Lift up a banner for the peoples! Isaiah 62:10 (NKJV) 

10 Walk through my gates and prepare a way for my people and cast the stones out of the way; raise a signal for the nations!  Isaiah 62:10 (LES2) 

11 Indeed the LORD has proclaimed To the end of the world: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.’ ” 12 And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. Isaiah 62:11–12 (NKJV) 

11 For look, the Lord has made it heard to the end of the earth. Say to the daughter of Zion: “Look! The Savior has come near to you; he has his reward, and his work is before his face.” 12 And he will call it “Holy People, Ransomed by the Lord,” and you will be called “Sought-After City” and “Not Forsaken.” Isaiah 62:11–12 (LES2)

1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:1–2 (NKJV) 

1 This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is a footstool (hupopodion) for my feet (pous); what sort (poios) of house (oikeo) will you build (oikodomeo) for me? And what sort (poios) of place (topos) will you build as my place of repose (katapousis)? 2 For my hand has made all these things, and all these things are mine,” says the Lord, “and upon whom will I look except upon the one who is low and quiet and who trembles at my words? Isaiah 66:1–2 (LES2) 

The first thing we notice when comparing the MT to the LXX is that the LXX adds “for my feet” after footstool. Where the MT says, “Where is the house,” the LXX asks, “What sort of house?” This difference is repeated regarding the place of rest or repose. The MT says what God made “exists,” but the LXX says it belongs to God by creation rights. Lastly, the MT uses different adjectives from the LXX to describe the one upon whom God looks.

Stephen quoted this passage in his final sermon before being stoned to death by the Jews. I underlined the part quoted from Isaiah.

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool (hupopodion). What (poios) house (oikeo) will you build (oikodomeo) for Me? says the LORD, Or what (tis) is the place (topos) of My rest (katapousis)? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’ Acts 7:48–50 (NKJV) 

Most of the Greek matches quite well, but Stephen omits “for my feet” as a modifier of footstool, which agrees with the MT. He also uses tis instead of poios regarding the place of God’s repose. The translators of the LXX added the text “will you build as my place” to try to make it flow better, but it was not in the Greek. 

It seems the Holy Spirit had Stephen make a couple of changes without  deviating from the basic text of the LXX.

3 “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, 4 So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight.” Isaiah 66:3–4 (NKJV) 

3 But the lawless person who sacrifices a calf for me is like one who slays a dog, and the one who offers fine flour is like one who offers swine’s blood. The one who gives frankincense as a remembrance is like a blasphemer. And they have chosen their ways, and their soul wanted their abominations; 4 and I will receive their mockeries, and I will repay them their sins, because I called them, and they did not listen to me; I spoke, and they did not hear, and they did evil before me, and they chose things that I did not wish for.” Isaiah 66:3–4 (LES2) 

5 Hear the word of the LORD, You who tremble at His word: “Your brethren who hated you, Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, That we may see your joy.’ But they shall be ashamed.” Isaiah 66:5 (NKJV) 

5 Hear the words of the Lord, you who tremble at his word; speak, our brothers, to those who hate and abhor you, so that the name of the Lord may be magnified and be seen in their cheer, and those people will be ashamed. Isaiah 66:5 (LES2) 

6 The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, Who fully repays His enemies! Isaiah 66:6 (NKJV) 

6 A voice of crying from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord returning repayment to his adversaries! Isaiah 66:6 (LES2) 

7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child. 8 Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children. 9 Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God. Isaiah 66:7–9 (NKJV) 

7 Before the one in labor gave birth, before the distress of birth pangs arrived, she escaped and bore a male child. 8 Who has heard such a thing, and who has seen something like this? Has the earth been in labor in a single day, or was a nation (ethnos) brought forth all at once? For Zion was in labor and brought forth her children. 9 “But I gave you this expectation, and you did not remember me,” said the Lord. “Look! Did I not make both the fertile and the barren?” said your God. Isaiah 66:7–9 (LES2) 

This is an interesting passage that has at least two applications, as do many prophecies. Probably it applies to Israel’s birth as a nation when they successfully crossed the Red Sea and escaped from Egypt. Christian Zionists and Dispensationalists point to this verse to justify recognizing as a fulfillment of prophecy Israel’s becoming a nation after WWII thanks to the Balfour Declaration, and other political maneuverings. As I have previously written, I do not believe Dispensational theology is biblical. I prefer to apply this passage to Pentecost when a new  nation was birthed, the church, which is the nation prophesied by Jesus and confirmed by Peter.

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation (ethnos) bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:43–44 (NKJV)

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (ethnos), His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV) 

Peter was talking about a new people who had not been God’s people before, meaning the Gentiles, who were joined to believing Jews to form the one new man in Christ, the church, the Israel of God. (Ephesians 2:15)

I will not comment on other minor differences between the MT and LXX, except to say that the Jews expected a Messiah but did not recognize him when he arrived.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; 11 That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply and be delighted With the abundance of her glory.” 12 For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, And be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:10–13 (NKJV) 

10 Be cheerful, O Jerusalem, and celebrate in her, all you who love her; rejoice with her with delight, all you who mourn over her, 11 so that you might suckle and be satisfied from the breast of her comfort, so that you who suck the breast might delight yourselves because of the entrance of her glory. 12 For this is what the Lord says: “Look! I am inclining the glory of the nations toward them like a river of peace and like an overflowing torrent; their children will be carried on shoulders and comforted upon the knees. 13 As a mother comforts one, so also I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:10–13 (LES2) 

The LXX speaks of the “entrance of her glory,” meaning the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. This happened when he rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. The city rejoiced, but only for a very short time. (Matthew 21:1-11) I believe the “glory of the nations” is Jesus. He came for the Jews first, privileging them to be the first to accept him as Lord before extending the gospel invitation to the nations. Only a small remnant responded.

14 When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, And your bones shall flourish like grass; The hand of the LORD shall be known to His servants, And His indignation to His enemies. 15 For behold, the LORD will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword The LORD will judge all flesh; And the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:14–17 (NKJV) 

14 You will see and your heart will rejoice, and your bones will grow like vegetation, and the hand of the Lord will be known by those who fear him, and he will threaten those who resist. 15 For look, the Lord will come like a fire, and his chariots will come like a storm, to render his vengeance in wrath and his utter rejection in a flame of fire. 16 For the whole earth will be judged by the fire of the Lord, and all flesh will be judged by his sword; there will be many casualties by the Lord. 17 “Those who cleanse and purify themselves for the gardens and who eat swine’s flesh and abominable things and the mouse in the doorways will be destroyed all at once,” said the Lord. Isaiah 66:14–17 (LES2) 

Those who received Christ were overjoyed, but God visited his fury on those who resisted (Acts 7:51), just as Jesus said he would.

38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Matthew 21:38–41 (NKJV) 

This took place in 70 AD and later in the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt. There were well over a million Jewish casualties. 

18 “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. 19 I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20 Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:18–21 (NKJV) 

18 “And I know their works and their reasoning. I am coming to gather all the nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory. 19 And I will leave a sign upon them, and I will send those of them who have been saved away to the nations, to Tarshish and Put and Lud and Meshech and into Tubal and to Greece and the distant islands, who have not heard my name or seen my glory; and they will declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they will bring your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, with horses and chariots, in covered chariots drawn by mules with sunshades, to the holy city Jerusalem,” said the Lord, “as though the sons of Israel would bring their sacrifices to me with psalms into the house of the Lord. 21 And I will take priests and Levites from among them,” said the Lord. Isaiah 66:18–21 (LES2) 

I believe this is a prophecy about the ingathering of the nations through the preaching of the gospel. The elect from the nations will see the glory of the resurrected Lord by faith and later in person at his second coming. On Pentecost people from many nations and tongues gathered in Jerusalem to hear the gospel for the first time. Three thousand were saved!

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” Acts 2:5–11 (NKJV) 

Afterward the apostles and other believers went out to the nations, as it says in verse 19. These evangelists and apostles brought to the Lord an amazing harvest of souls from the nations. Even some priests and Levites become followers of Jesus. (Acts 4:36 and 6:7) 

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, “So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. 24 “And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” Isaiah 66:22–24 (NKJV) 

22 “For the way the new heaven and the new earth, which I am making, remain before me,” said the Lord, “so your seed and your name will be established. 23 And this will happen: All flesh will come to bow down before me month after month and Sabbath after Sabbath in Jerusalem,” said the Lord. 24 “And they will go out and see the corpses of the humans who transgressed against me, for their worm does not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and they will become a spectacle for all flesh.” Isaiah 66:22–24 (LES2) 

This must be a prophecy about the New Jerusalem which will descend from heaven after the old heaven and earth are destroyed and recreated. (Revelations 21:1-2) Every knee will bow to our Lord Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-11) Those who refuse to recognize and pledge allegiance to Christ will be destroyed, and, as Jesus said, their fire will not be quenched nor their worm die. (Mark 9:44, 46, and 48)

25 “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. Amos 5:25–27 (NKJV) 

25 Did you bring me offerings and sacrifices in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 And you took along the tent of Molech and the star of your god Kaiwan, the images of them that you made for yourselves. 27 So I will resettle you beyond Damascus,” says the Lord; the Almighty God is his name. Amos 5:25–27 (LES2) 

This passage from Amos is quoted by Stephen in his last sermon before being stoned to death by the Jews. It calls to mind Israel’s inveterate idolatry which goes all the way back to Abraham’s day and was on display during the wilderness wandering and throughout their history. Stephen used this particular passage from Amos to indict his listeners for their spiritual adultery and habitual resistance of the Holy Spirit, which continues to this day.

Before introducing the NT quote, I will do a comparison between the MT and LXX. Then we will see how Stephen’s quote compares and contrasts.

Verse 25 contains little or no differences. In verse 26, however, MT says Israel “carried Sikkuth your King,” but the LXX says, they “took along the tent of Molech.” Sikkuth referred to an obscure Babylonian god named Sakkut. The LXX, which was translated from the paleo-Hebrew centuries before the MT came into being, says the false god was Molech, for which the Israelites even had a tent. 

The next idol mentioned in the MT is Chiun, with which the star is associated. Chiun was another name for the astral deity called Saturn, whose star was a hexagon. Today this star is on the Israeli flag and has been euphemistically renamed the star of David. The LXX calls this god Kaiwan, which is an alternate spelling, and it makes the direct link to the star.

In the MT, verse 27 says that Israel, the northern kingdom, will be sent into captivity beyond Damascus, which referred to Assyria. The LXX says they will be resettled there.

25 “Did you offer Me sacrifices and offerings In the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves. 27 Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,” Says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. Amos 5:25–27 (NKJV) 

25 Did you bring me (prosphero) offerings (sphagion) and sacrifices (thusia) in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 26 And you took along (analambano) the tent (skene) of Molech and the star (astron) of your god Kaiwan, the images (tupos) of them that you made (poieo) for yourselves. 27 So I will resettle (metoikizo) you beyond (epekeina) Damascus,” says the Lord; the Almighty God is his name. Amos 5:25–27 (LES2) 

Below is Stephen’s quote from Acts. I underlined the part that is from Amos and inserted the Greek words in parenthesis in both the LXX and NT quote.

42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer (prosphero) Me slaughtered animals (sphagion) and sacrifices (thusia) during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took up (analambano) the tabernacle (skene) of Moloch, And the star (astron) of your god Remphan, Images (tupos) which you made (poieo)  to worship (proskuneo); And I will carry you away (metoikizo) beyond (epekeina) Babylon.’ Acts 7:42–43 (NKJV)

It is clear that the Greek of the LXX tracks with that of the NT quote. As in the LXX, Stephen identifies the first idol as Molech. The second idol he calls Remphan, which is an alternate name for Kaiwan or Saturn. In addition, Stephen, (Or should I say the Holy Spirit?) jumped forward to the second exile to Babylon because, unlike Amos, Stephen was talking to people from the southern kingdom of Judah who were indeed sent into exile there.

One again we see evidence that the early church relied upon the Greek translation of the Old Testament Scriptures because the Masoretic translation would not be completed for another 1000 years. The fact that the LXX is quoted in the New Testament confirms that it is the Word of God.

1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,  Psalm 2:1–2 (NKJV) 

1 Why were the nations (ethnos) unruly (phruasso), and the people (laos) meditated (meletao) on vain things (kenos)? 2 The kings of the earth are present (parhistemi), and the rulers are gathered together (sunago) against the Lord and against his anointed one (Christos). Psalm 2:1–2 (LES2) 

The MT asks why are the nations in an uproar. The LXX calls them unruly. 

This passage is quoted in Acts.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations (ethnos) rage (phruasso), And the people (laos) plot (meletao) vain things (kenos)? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand (parhistemi), And the rulers were gathered together (sunago) Against the LORD and against His Christ (Christos).’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Acts 4:24–28 (NKJV) 

It is evident that the quote from Acts came directly from the LXX. It is also clear that the early church understood this psalm to apply to Jesus the Lord.

3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:3–6 (NKJV) 

3 They say, “Let us break their bonds,” and “Let us throw their yoke off us.” 4 The one dwelling in the heavens will laugh at them, and the Lord will mock them. 5 At that time he will speak against them in his wrath, and in his anger he will bring trouble to them. 6 “But I was appointed by him in Mount Zion, his holy place, Psalm 2:3–6 (LES2) 

7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Psalm 2:7–9 (NKJV) 

7 announcing the ordinance of the Lord. The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have fathered you. 8 Ask from me, and I will give to you the nations as your inheritance, and as your possession the ends of the earth. 9 You will rule (poimano – shepherd or tend) them with a steel rod. Like a vessel of a potter you will break them.’ ” Psalm 2:7–9 (LES2) 

10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2:10–12 (NKJV) 

10 And now, O kings, understand; be educated, all who judge the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice exceedingly because of him with trembling. 12 Take hold of instruction, in case the Lord become angry, and you perish from the righteous way when his anger burns out quickly. Blessed are all who trust in him. Psalm 2:10–12 (LES2) 

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Joel 2:28–29 (NKJV) 

28 “And it will be, after these things, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons (huios) and your daughters (thugater) will prophesy, and your elders will dream dreams, and your youths will see visions, 29 and upon my male slaves and upon the female slaves, in those days I will pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28–29 (LES2) 

Essentially these two passages are the same in the MT and LXX. Peter quotes from here in Acts. 

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass (eimi – be) in the last (eschatos) days (hemeras), says God, That I will pour (ekcheo) out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons (huios) and your daughters (thugater) shall prophesy, Your young men (neaniskos) shall see visions (horasis), Your old men (presbuteros) shall dream dreams (enupnion). 18 And on My menservants (doulos) and on My maidservants (doule) I will pour (ekcheo) out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:16–18 (NKJV) 

Comparing Peter’s quote to the LXX, we can see that he changed “after these things” to “in the last days.” If we believe in the inspiration of Scripture, we understand that the Holy Spirit was teaching that we are in the last days, which began after Pentecost. Other than that, the Greek tracks along with the LXX. 

30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. Joel (2:30–32 (NKJV) 

30 “And I will give (didomi) signs (teras) in the heavens and upon the earth, blood and fire and vapor (atmis) of smoke. 31 The sun will change (metastrepho) into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and distinguished (epiphanes) day of the Lord comes. 32 And it will be that everyone, whoever invokes (epikaleo) the name of the Lord, will be saved (sozo), because in the mountain of Zion and in Jerusalem there will be one who is being rescued, as the Lord has said, and those proclaiming good news, whom the Lord has summoned.” Joel 2:30–32 (LES2) 

The MT says columns or pillars of smoke, but the LXX says vapor of smoke. Peter’s quote in Acts follows the LXX.

19 I will show (didomi) wonders (teras) in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor (atmis) of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into (metastrepho) darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome (epiphanes) day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls (epikaleo) on the name of the LORD Shall be saved (sozo).’ Acts 2:19–21 (NKJV)

This is more evidence that the apostles used the LXX.