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Isaiah 66:23 meaning

All people everywhere will one day worship God consistently and joyfully.

“And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the LORD. (v.23)

Isaiah, who served as a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah between roughly 740 and 681 BC, closes his book by envisioning a time of universal worship and reverence toward the LORD. When he proclaims, “And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath,” (v.23), he depicts the continual and unending nature of this devotion. The cycles of the lunar month and the weekly sabbath symbolize the daily, monthly, and yearly rhythms of life under God’s care. The prophet’s words paint an image of people regularly setting aside time to acknowledge God as sovereign, reflecting the future reality of uninterrupted fellowship between God and humanity.

Isaiah’s statement that “All mankind will come to bow down before Me” (v.23) signals a sweeping inclusion of Gentiles alongside Israel in worship of the one true God. This foreshadows the Messiah’s invitation to all nations to worship the LORD, fulfilled when Jesus commissions His disciples to make followers of every nation (Matthew 28:19). The themes of renewed hearts and constant dedication illustrate that God’s promise extends beyond Israel to the entire world. Even though Isaiah’s historical context was centered in Jerusalem and Judah, his prophetic vision transcends time and geography, pointing toward a future in which people of every language and land gather to honor the LORD.

In this dramatic conclusion of Isaiah’s prophecy, the LORD Himself speaks, assuring that all creation will ultimately recognize His authority. The verse provides a stunning declaration of hope: one day, universal harmony will be restored, and devout worship will unite humanity in the presence of the Most High. By tying together sacred times (“new moon” and “sabbath”) with the participation of “all mankind,” Isaiah shows how God invites every person into a relationship of worship, obedience, and blessing.

Isaiah 66:23