Isaiah 66:21
 Isaiah 66:21 
New International Version (©2011)
And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the LORD.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"And I will appoint some of them to be my priests and Levites. I, the LORD, have spoken!

English Standard Version (©2001)
And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the LORD.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I will also take some of them as priests and Levites," says the LORD."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then I will also select some of them for myself as priests and as Levites," says the LORD.

NET Bible (©2006)
And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites," says the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"I will make some of them priests and Levites," declares the LORD.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.

American King James Version
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, said the LORD.

American Standard Version
And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will take of them to be priests, and Levites, saith the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah.

English Revised Version
And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Of them also will I take for priests [and] for Levites," says Yahweh.

Young's Literal Translation
And also of them I take for priests, For Levites, said Jehovah.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

66:19,20, set forth the abundance of means for conversion of sinners. These expressions are figurative, and express the plentiful and gracious helps for bringing God's elect home to Christ. All shall be welcome; and nothing shall be wanting for their assistance and encouragement. A gospel ministry shall be set up in the church; they would have solemn worship before the Lord. In the last verse the nature of the punishment of sinners in the world to come is represented. Then shall the righteous and wicked be separated. Our Saviour applies this to the everlasting misery and torment of impenitent sinners in the future state. To the honour of that free grace which thus distinguishes them, let the redeemed of the Lord, with humility, and not without holy trembling, sing triumphant songs. With this affecting representation of the opposite states of the righteous and wicked, characters which include the whole human race, Isaiah concludes his prophecies. May God grant, for Christ's sake, that our portion may be with those who fear and love his name, who cleave to his truths, and persevere in every good work, looking to receive from the Lord Jesus Christ the gracious invitation, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 21. - And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites; literally, and I will also take of them unto the priests and unto the Levites; i.e. I will add to the existing body of priests and Levites, who are pro-sumably Jews, fresh members from the newly converted Gentiles. The existence of a sacerdotal order, with distinctions of ranks, in the Church of the redeemed, is implied, and the gracious declaration is made that the privilege of furnishing members to both ranks of the order shall be conferred upon the Gentile proselytes.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And I will also take of them for priests,.... That is, of the Gentiles, the brethren brought as an offering to the Lord; and therefore must respect Gospel times, when the Aaronic priesthood would be changed and cease, which admitted not of Gentiles, nor any of any other tribe in Israel, but the tribe of Levi; nor is this to be understood of the spiritual priesthood common to all believers, 1 Peter 2:5 since of those converted Gentiles brought, not all, but only some of them, would be taken for priests; and therefore can only be interpreted of the ministers of the word, who, in Old Testament language, are called priests, though never in the New Testament; but elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, and teachers. The first preachers of the Gospel were Jews, as the twelve apostles, the seventy disciples, Paul and Barnabas, and others; but when the Gospel was preached, and churches planted in the Gentile world, then priests, or pastors, or elders, were taken out from among them, and ordained over the churches everywhere; and which have continued, more or less, ever since; and will be more abundant in the latter day; whose work and office is not to offer up slain beasts, as the priests of old; but to point to the sacrifice of Christ, to the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of men; and to teach the knowledge of crucified Christ, and the several doctrines and duties of the Christian religion, as the priests formerly taught the knowledge of the law, Malachi 2:7,

and for Levites, saith the Lord; this still more clearly shows that the prophecy belongs to the Gospel dispensation, and is to be understood figuratively and spiritually; for none but those of the tribe of Levi could be taken for Levites in a literal sense; but here Gentiles are said to be taken for such, and design men in Gospel churches. The Levites, as their name signifies, were such as were "joined" to others; they ministered to the priests, and assisted them, and had the charge of the temple, and the vessels of it, to whom deacons now answer; who are helps and assistants to the ministers of the word: their business is to serve tables, and to take care of the secular affairs of the church; so that this is a prophecy of the churches in the latter day being truly organized, and filled with proper officers, as well as with numerous members.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. of them—the Gentiles.

priests … Levites—for spiritual worship: enjoying the direct access to God which was formerly enjoyed by the ministers of the temple alone (1Pe 2:9; Re 1:6).


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God's Final Judgments against the Wicked
20And they shall bring all your brothers for an offering to the LORD out of all nations on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, said the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, said the LORD. 22For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. …

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.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Exodus 19:6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Isaiah 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Jeremiah 33:22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.'"