God invites all people from everywhere to share in His holy calling.
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) In Isaiah’s prophetic vision for the future, God declares a remarkable plan: He will choose from among those whom He has gathered to Himself—both from near and far—and grant them priestly and Levitical roles. Isaiah, who prophesied in the late eighth century to early seventh century BC (around 739-681 BC), lived during a period when the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to Assyria, and the people of Judah faced political and spiritual turmoil. In this verse, Isaiah presents a radical notion: The Lord is not limiting His selection to the lineage of Levi alone; rather, He is opening His sacred service to people from the nations who have turned to Him. This harkens back to God’s promise to make Israel a light to the nations—so that all who join themselves to the Lord can receive the blessings once reserved for the tribes of Israel.
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) underscores the theme of God’s expansive mercy and the inclusion of the faithful from outside the traditional Israelite heritage (compare with Romans 9:24-26). The Levites were historically dedicated to priestly service and the care of the tabernacle, dating back to the time of Moses in the mid-fifteenth century BC (Numbers 3:5-10). By indicating that He will take “some of them” to be priests and Levites, God hints at a future where the formerly distant become intimately connected in His worship. This points toward God’s ultimate plan of redemption, fulfilled in Jesus, where the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down so that believers in Christ might become “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) gives hope that God’s grace transcends national and ethnic barriers. The Lord will gather the faithful, transforming them into servants who minister in holiness. As Isaiah speaks these words, Jerusalem (the central city of worship located in the Judean hill country) stands as a symbolic beacon of God’s presence. Although no specific place is referenced in this verse by name, the context of Isaiah’s message ties closely to Zion as the focal point of worship. The underlying principle of this passage foreshadows a time when people from every nation will join themselves to the Lord and serve Him with equal standing (Revelation 7:9-10).
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Isaiah 66:21 meaning
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) In Isaiah’s prophetic vision for the future, God declares a remarkable plan: He will choose from among those whom He has gathered to Himself—both from near and far—and grant them priestly and Levitical roles. Isaiah, who prophesied in the late eighth century to early seventh century BC (around 739-681 BC), lived during a period when the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to Assyria, and the people of Judah faced political and spiritual turmoil. In this verse, Isaiah presents a radical notion: The Lord is not limiting His selection to the lineage of Levi alone; rather, He is opening His sacred service to people from the nations who have turned to Him. This harkens back to God’s promise to make Israel a light to the nations—so that all who join themselves to the Lord can receive the blessings once reserved for the tribes of Israel.
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) underscores the theme of God’s expansive mercy and the inclusion of the faithful from outside the traditional Israelite heritage (compare with Romans 9:24-26). The Levites were historically dedicated to priestly service and the care of the tabernacle, dating back to the time of Moses in the mid-fifteenth century BC (Numbers 3:5-10). By indicating that He will take “some of them” to be priests and Levites, God hints at a future where the formerly distant become intimately connected in His worship. This points toward God’s ultimate plan of redemption, fulfilled in Jesus, where the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile is broken down so that believers in Christ might become “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9).
“I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. (v.21) gives hope that God’s grace transcends national and ethnic barriers. The Lord will gather the faithful, transforming them into servants who minister in holiness. As Isaiah speaks these words, Jerusalem (the central city of worship located in the Judean hill country) stands as a symbolic beacon of God’s presence. Although no specific place is referenced in this verse by name, the context of Isaiah’s message ties closely to Zion as the focal point of worship. The underlying principle of this passage foreshadows a time when people from every nation will join themselves to the Lord and serve Him with equal standing (Revelation 7:9-10).