Isaiah 61:6

Israel and the nations

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

⁵ Strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.

But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches.

⁷ Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their riches.
KJV: 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.
WEB: But you will be called the LORD’s priests. Men will call you the servants of our God. You will eat the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their glory.
ASV: But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
DARBY: But as for you, ye shall be called priests of Jehovah; it shall be said of you: Ministers of our God. Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and into their glory shall ye enter.
BLB: And you⁺ will be called the priests of YHWH, to you⁺ they will speak as servants of our God: You⁺ will eat the riches of the nations, and in their glory you⁺ will boast.

ÅB: Men dere, dere skal kalles Herrens prester, vår Guds tjenere skal de kalle dere; folkenes gods skal dere spise, og deres herlighet skal gå over til dere.
OTB: Men dere skal kalles Herrens prester; dere skal bli kalt vår Guds tjenere. Dere skal nyte nasjonenes rikdom, og rose dere av deres herlighet.
B1930: Men I, I skal kalles Herrens prester, vår Guds tjenere skal de kalle eder; folkenes gods skal I ete, og deres herlighet skal gå over til eder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

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.”
Read in context
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.
Read in context
1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Read in context
Isaiah 60:5–7
Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will tremble and swell with joy, because the riches of the sea will be brought to you, and the wealth of the nations will come to you.
Read in context
Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
Read in context
Isaiah 66:21
“And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
Read in context
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Read in context