Isaiah 65:15

My Notes

What Does Isaiah 65:15 Mean?

Isaiah 65:15 is a severe oracle against the rebellious within Israel who practiced syncretism and idolatry while claiming God's covenant identity. "Ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen" — the name they carried, their identity as God's people, will become a byword, an example of what happens when you presume on grace. Future generations will use their name the way you'd reference a cautionary tale.

"For the Lord GOD shall slay thee" — Adonai YHWH, the sovereign LORD, will end them. The language is final. "And call his servants by another name" — God will rename His true people. The old identity, corrupted by those who wore it falsely, will be replaced. In the ancient world, renaming signified a complete change of status and identity. God isn't reforming the old name — He's starting fresh.

This verse anticipates the New Testament theme of a new identity for God's people. The "other name" ultimately finds expression in "Christian" (Acts 11:26) — a new identity for a people drawn from every nation, no longer defined by ethnic heritage but by belonging to Christ. The old name became a curse because it was worn without integrity. The new name is given to those who are genuinely His — servants who match the identity they claim.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does it mean to carry God's name — and what responsibility comes with it?
• 2.Have you ever seen the name 'Christian' used as a curse or a cautionary tale because of how someone lived? How did that affect you?
• 3.What's the difference between claiming an identity and living one?
• 4.If God were to give you a 'new name' based on your actual relationship with Him, what would it reflect?

Devotional

Your name can become a curse. That's the warning buried in this verse. Not your literal name — your identity. The identity of "God's people" that you carry. If you wear it without living it, that name doesn't just become meaningless. It becomes a cautionary tale.

Isaiah is speaking to people who were technically part of the covenant community. They showed up. They participated. They claimed the identity. But they were simultaneously running after other gods, hedging their spiritual bets, living in a way that contradicted every word that came with the name. And God says: I'm taking the name back. I'm giving it to people who will actually live like it means something.

"And call his servants by another name" — there's something both terrifying and hopeful in that. Terrifying because it means the label you carry isn't permanent if your life doesn't match it. You can call yourself a believer, a follower, one of God's people — and God can revoke the name. But hopeful because it means God is always willing to start fresh. A new name for new servants. An identity that's earned not by performance but by genuine allegiance. The question isn't whether you carry God's name. It's whether His name is safe in your hands.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture