Isaiah 56:3

Geneva Bible (1560)

And let not the sonne of the stranger, which is ioyned to the Lord, speake and say, The Lord hath surely separate me from his people: neither let the Eunuch say, Beholde, I am a drye tree.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְאַל־יֹאמַ֣ר בֶּן־הַנֵּכָ֗ר הַנִּלְוָ֤ה אֶל־יְהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַבְדֵּ֧ל יַבְדִּילַ֛נִי יְהוָ֖ה מֵעַ֣ל עַמּ֑וֹ וְאַל־יֹאמַר֙ הַסָּרִ֔יס הֵ֥ן אֲנִ֖י עֵ֥ץ יָבֵֽשׁ׃ ס

Transliteration

And not-yōʾmar ben-hannēkār hannilwāh unto-YHWH lēʾmōr, 'habdēl yabdîlēnî YHWH from-upon ʿammô'; and not-yōʾmar hassārîs, 'Behold, I [am] ʿēṣ yābēš.'

Grammar Details

• *wə*: conjunction - and
• *ʾal*: negative particle - not/do not
• *yōʾmar*: qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, jussive - let him say/speak
• *ben*: masculine singular construct noun - son of
• *hannēkār*: definite article with masculine singular noun - the foreigner/stranger
• *hannilwāh*: definite article with niphal participle, masculine singular - the one joining/attaching
• *ʾel*: preposition - to/unto
• *YHWH*: proper noun - Yahweh/LORD
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition with qal infinitive construct - saying
• *habdēl*: hiphil infinitive absolute - separating/dividing
• *yabdîlēnî*: hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular with 1st person singular suffix - he will separate me
• *mēʿal*: compound preposition - from upon
• *ʿammô*: masculine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his people
• *hassārîs*: definite article with masculine singular noun - the eunuch
• *hēn*: interjection - behold/lo
• *ʾănî*: 1st person singular personal pronoun - I
• *ʿēṣ*: masculine singular noun - tree/wood
• *yābēš*: adjective, masculine singular - dry/withered

Word Meanings

• *ben-hannēkār*: foreigner/son of the foreigner/stranger
• *hannilwāh*: the one who joins/attaches/accompanies
• *habdēl yabdîlēnî*: surely separate me/completely divide me (emphatic construction)
• *hassārîs*: the eunuch/court official
• *ʿēṣ yābēš*: dry tree/withered wood (metaphor for being unfruitful/unable to have children)

Referenced Verses

• Num 18:4 : 4 And they shalbe ioyned with thee, & keepe the charge of the Tabernacle of the Congregation for all the seruice of the Tabernacle: and no stranger shal come neere vnto you:
• Num 18:7 : 7 But thou, and thy sonnes with thee shall keepe your Priestes office for all things of the altar, and within the vaile: therefore shal ye serue: for I haue made your Priestes office an office of seruice: therefore the stranger that cometh neere, shalbe slayne.
• Deut 23:1-3 : 1 None that is hurt by bursting, or that hath his priuie member cut off, shall enter into the Congregation of the Lord. 2 A bastard shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lorde: euen to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the Congregation of the Lord. 3 The Ammonites and the Moabites shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord: euen to their tenth generation shal they not enter into the Congregation of the Lord for euer,
• Isa 14:1 : 1 For the Lord wil haue compassion of Iaakob, and wil yet chuse Israel, and cause them to rest in their owne lande: and the stranger shall ioyne him selfe vnto them, and they shall cleaue to the house of Iaakob.
• Isa 39:7 : 7 And of thy sonnes, that shall proceede out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be eunuches in the palace of the King of Babel.
• Isa 56:5 : 5 Euen vnto them wil I giue in mine House and within my walles, a place and a name better then of the sonnes and of the daughters: I will giue them an euerlasting name, that shall not be put out.
• Jer 38:7-9 : 7 Now when Ebed-melech ye blacke More one of ye Eunuches, which was in the kings house, heard that they had put Ieremiah in the dungeon (then the King sate in the gate of Beniamin) 8 And Ebed-melech went out of the Kings house, and spake to the King, saying, 9 My lorde the King, these men haue done euill in all that they haue done to Ieremiah the Prophet, whom they haue cast into the dungeon, and he dyeth for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the citie. 10 Then the King commaunded Ebed-melech the blacke More, saying, Take from hence thirtie men with thee, and take Ieremiah the Prophet out of the dungeon before he dye. 11 So Ebed-melech tooke the men with him and went to the house of the King vnder the treasurie, and tooke there olde rotten ragges, and olde worne cloutes, and let them downe by coards into the dungeon to Ieremiah. 12 And Ebed-melech the blacke More sayde vnto Ieremiah, Put now these olde rotten ragges and worne, vnder thine arme holes, betweene the coards; Ieremiah did so. 13 So they drewe vp Ieremiah with coards and tooke him vp out of the dungeon, and Ieremiah remained in the court of the prison.
• Jer 39:16-17 : 16 Go and speake to Ebed-melech the blacke More, saying, Thus saith the Lorde of hostes the God of Israel, Beholde, I wil bring my wordes vpon this citie for euill, and not for good, and they shalbe accomplished in that day before thee. 17 But I wil deliuer thee in that day, saith the Lorde, and thou shalt not be giuen into the hand of the men whome thou fearest.
• Jer 50:5 : 5 They shal aske the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let vs cleaue to the Lorde in a perpetuall couenant that shall not be forgotten.
• Dan 1:3-9 : 3 And the King spake vnto Ashpenaz the master of his Eunuches, that he shoulde bring certeine of the children of Israel, of the Kings seede, and of the princes: 4 Children in whome was no blemish, but well fauoured, and instruct in all wisedome, and well seene in knowledge, and able to vtter knowledge, & such as were able to stande in the kings palace, and whome they might teach the learning, and the tongue of the Caldeans. 5 And the King appointed them prouision euery day of a portion of the Kings meate, and and of the wine, which he dranke, so nourishing them three yeere, that at the ende thereof, they might stande before the King. 6 Nowe among these were certeine of the children of Iudah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 Vnto whome the chiefe of the Eunuches gaue other names: for hee called Daniel, Belteshazzar, and Hananiah, Shadrach, & Mishael, Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel had determined in his heart, that hee woulde not defile him selfe with the portion of the Kings meate, nor with the wine which he dranke: therefore he required the chiefe of the Eunuches that he might not defile himselfe. 9 (Nowe God had brought Daniel into fauour, and tender loue with the chiefe of the Eunuches) 10 And the chiefe of the Eunuches sayd vnto Daniel, I feare my lord the King, who hath appointed your meate and your drinke: therefore if he see your faces worse liking then the other children, which are of your sort, then shall you make me lose mine head vnto the King. 11 Then sayd Daniel to Melzar, whome the chiefe of the Eunuches had set ouer Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Proue thy seruants, I beseeche thee, ten dayes, and let them giue vs pulse to eate, and water to drinke. 13 Then let our countenances bee looked vpon before thee, and the countenances of the children that eate of the portion of the Kings meate: and as thou seest, deale with thy seruantes. 14 So hee consented to them in this matter, an proued them ten dayes. 15 And at the end of ten dayes, their countenances appeared fayrer, and in better liking then all the childrens, which did eate the portion of the Kings meate. 16 Thus Melzar tooke away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drinke, and gaue them pulse. 17 As for these foure children, God gaue them knowledge, & vnderstanding in al learning and wisedome: also he gaue Daniel vnderstanding of all visions and dreames. 18 Nowe when the time was expired, that the King had appoynted to bring them in, the chiefe of the Eunuches brought them before Nebuchad-nezzar. 19 And the King communed with them: and among them al was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stoode they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisedome, and vnderstanding that the King enquired of them, hee founde them tenne times better then all the inchanters and astrologians, that were in all his realme. 21 And Daniel was vnto the first yeere of king Cyrus.
• Zeph 2:11 : 11 The Lord will be terrible vnto them: for he wil consume all the gods of the earth, and euery man shall worship him from his place, euen all the yles of the heathen.
• Zech 8:20-23 : 20 Thus saith the Lord of hostes, That there shall yet come people, and the inhabitants of great cities. 21 And they that dwell in one citie, shal go to another, saying, Vp, let vs go & pray before the Lord, and seeke the Lord of hostes: I wil go also. 22 Yea, great people and mightie nations shal come to seeke the Lorde of hostes in Ierusalem, and to pray before the Lord. 23 Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, In those dayes shall ten men take holde out of all languages of the nations, euen take holde of the skirt of him that is a Iewe, and say, We will go with you: for we haue heard that God is with you.
• Matt 8:10-11 : 10 When Iesus heard that, he marueiled, and said to them that folowed him, Verely, I say vnto you, I haue not found so great faith, euen in Israel. 11 But I say vnto you, that many shall come from the East and West, and shall sit downe with Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob, in the kingdome of heauen.
• Matt 15:26-27 : 26 And he answered, and said, It is not good to take the childrens bread, and to cast it to whelps. 27 But she said, Trueth, Lord: yet in deede the whelpes eate of the crommes, which fall from their masters table.
• Matt 19:12-30 : 12 For there are some eunuches, which were so borne of their mothers belly: & there be some eunuches, which be gelded by men: and there be some eunuches, which haue gelded them selues for the kingdome of heauen. He that is able to receiue this, let him receiue it. 13 Then were brought to him litle children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Iesus sayd, Suffer the litle children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdome of heauen. 15 And when he had put his hands on them, he departed thence. 16 And beholde, one came and sayd vnto him, Good Master, what good thing shal I doe, that I may haue eternall life? 17 And he said vnto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, eue God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keepe ye commandemets. 18 He sayd to him, Which? And Iesus sayde, These, Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adulterie: Thou shalt not steale: Thou shalt not beare false witnesse. 19 Honour thy father and mother: and thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe. 20 The yong man sayd vnto him, I haue obserued all these things from my youth: what lacke I yet? 21 Iesus sayd vnto him, If thou wilt be perfite, go, sell that thou hast, & giue it to the poore, and thou shalt haue treasure in heauen, & come, and followe me. 22 And when the yong man heard that saying, he went away sorowfull: for he had great possessions. 23 Then Iesus sayd vnto his disciples, Verely I say vnto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdome of heauen. 24 And againe I say vnto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to enter into ye kingdome of God. 25 And whe his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amased, saying, Who then can be saued? 26 And Iesus behelde them, and sayde vnto them, With men this is vnpossible, but with God all things are possible. 27 Then answered Peter, and said to him, Beholde, we haue forsaken all, and followed thee: what therefore shall we haue? 28 And Iesus said vnto them, Verely I say to you, that when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his maiestie, ye which folowed me in the regeneration, shal sit also vpon twelue thrones and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel. 29 And whosoeuer shal forsake houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my Names sake, he shall receiue an hundreth folde more, and shall inherite euerlasting life. 30 But many that are first, shalbe last, and the last shalbe first.
• Luke 7:6-8 : 6 Then Iesus went with them: but when he was now not farre from the house, the Centurion sent friendes to him, saying vnto him, Lorde, trouble not thy selfe: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe: 7 Wherefore I thought not my selfe worthy to come vnto thee: but say the word, and my seruant shalbe whole: 8 For I likewise am a man set vnder authoritie, and haue vnder mee souldiers, and I say vnto one, Goe, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and hee commeth: and to my seruant, Doe this, and he doeth it.
• Acts 8:26-40 : 26 Then the Angel of the Lorde spake vnto Philip, saying, Arise, and goe towarde the South vnto the way that goeth downe from Hierusalem vnto Gaza, which is waste. 27 And hee arose and went on: and beholde, a certaine Eunuche of Ethiopia, Candaces the Queene of the Ethiopians chiefe Gouernour, who had the rule of all her treasure, and came to Hierusalem to worship: 28 And as he returned sitting in his charet, he read Esaias the Prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said vnto Philip, Goe neere and ioyne thy selfe to yonder charet. 30 And Philip ranne thither, and heard him reade the Prophet Esaias, and said, But vnderstandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he saide, Howe can I, except I had a guide? And he desired Philip, that he would come vp and sit with him. 32 Nowe the place of the Scripture which he read, was this, Hee was lead as a sheepe to the slaughter: and like a lambe domme before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. 33 In his humilitie his iudgement hath bene exalted: but who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 Then the Eunuche answered Philippe, and saide, I pray thee of whome speaketh the Prophet this? of himselfe, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, & preached vnto him Iesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came vnto a certaine water, and the Eunuche said, See, here is water: what doeth let me to be baptized? 37 And Philippe said vnto him, If thou beleeuest with all thine heart, thou mayest. Then he answered, and saide, I beleeue that that Iesus Christ is that Sonne of God. 38 Then he commaunded the charet to stand stil: & they went downe both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuche, and he baptized him. 39 And assoone as they were come vp out of the water, the Spirit of the Lorde caught away Philip, that the Eunuche sawe him no more: so he went on his way reioycing. 40 But Philippe was found at Azotus, and he walked to and fro preaching in all the cities, till he came to Cesarea.
• Acts 10:1-2 : 1 Fvrthermore there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine of the band called the Italian band, 2 A deuoute man, and one that feared God with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually.
• Acts 10:34 : 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that God is no accepter of persons.
• Acts 13:47-48 : 47 For so hath the Lord commanded vs, saying, I haue made thee a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be the saluation vnto the end of the world. 48 And when the Gentiles heard it, they were glad, and glorified the woorde of the Lorde: and as many as were ordeined vnto eternall life, beleeued.
• Acts 17:4 : 4 And some of them beleeued, and ioyned in companie with Paul and Silas: also of the Grecians that feared God a great multitude, and of the chiefe women not a fewe.
• Acts 18:7 : 7 So he departed thence, & entred into a certaine mans house, named Iustus, a worshipper of God, whose house ioyned hard to the Synagogue.
• Rom 2:10-11 : 10 But to euery man that doeth good, shalbe glory, and honour, and peace: to the Iew first, and also to the Grecian. 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
• Rom 15:9-9 : 9 And let the Gentiles prayse God, for his mercie, as it is written, For this cause I wil confesse thee among the Gentiles, and sing vnto thy Name. 10 And againe he saith, Reioyce, ye Gentiles with his people. 11 And againe, Prayse the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laude ye him, all people together. 12 And againe Esaias sayth, There shall be a roote of Iesse, and hee that shall rise to reigne ouer the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust.
• Rom 15:16 : 16 That I should be the minister of Iesus Christ toward the Gentiles, ministring the Gospel of God, that the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the holy Ghost.
• 1 Cor 6:17 : 17 But hee that is ioyned vnto the Lorde, is one spirite.
• Eph 2:12 : 12 That ye were, I say, at that time without Christ, and were alients from the common wealth of Israel, and were strangers from the couenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world.
• Eph 2:22 : 22 In whom ye also are built together to be the habitation of God by the Spirit.
• 1 Pet 1:1 : 1 Peter an Apostle of Iesvs Christ, to the strangers that dwell here and there throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,