The Meaning of Isaiah 65:8 Explained

Isaiah 65:8

KJV: Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

YLT: Thus said Jehovah: As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one hath said, 'Destroy it not for a blessing is in it,' So I do for My servants' sake, not to destroy the whole.

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah: As the new wine is found in the cluster, and it is said, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it; so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants'sake, that I may not destroy them all.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD,  As the new wine  is found  in the cluster,  and [one] saith,  Destroy  it not; for a blessing  [is] in it: so will I do  for my servants'  sakes, that I may not destroy  them all. 

What does Isaiah 65:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh promised not to destroy the whole nation (cluster of grapes), but just the sinners among them (the bad grapes). The whole nation constituted His servants, but most of them were unprofitable servants.
"Reading chs40-55 alone might give one the impression that all that is necessary to be part of the remnant is to believe God"s promises to deliver. Chs56-66 make plain that those who are truly the servants of God are those who believe his promises enough to obey his covenant." [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:1-12 - A Seed Rescued From Destruction
The prophet now enumerates the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People, and call in the Gentiles to occupy the place and perform the mission which they had despised and forfeited. Paul makes memorable reference to this passage. See Romans 10:20-21. Their gardens were scenes of debauchery; their altars were covered by polluting engravings; they practiced necromancy in the graveyards, and ate swine's flesh, Isaiah 65:3-4. Fortune and destiny were their chosen deities, Isaiah 65:11, r.v. While professing greater holiness than others, the land was filled with abominations.
But the Lord ever discriminates between the righteous and the wicked. Did He not spare Noah and Lot and Caleb? There has always been a faithful remnant, and these become the seed germs of a new nation. Ponder Isaiah 65:8-10. Then ask that your life may be like the new young grapes of the vineyard, on which the blessing of God rests! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:8 mean?

thus says Yahweh as is found the new wine in the cluster and [one] says not do destroy it for a blessing [is] in it do will I do for sake My servants' not that I may destroy them all
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֤א הַתִּירוֹשׁ֙ בָּֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל וְאָמַר֙ אַל־ תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֔הוּ כִּ֥י בְרָכָ֖ה בּ֑וֹ כֵּ֤ן אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙ לְמַ֣עַן עֲבָדַ֔י לְבִלְתִּ֖י הַֽשְׁחִ֥ית הַכֹּֽל

כֹּ֣ה ׀  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֣ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִמָּצֵ֤א  is  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
הַתִּירוֹשׁ֙  the  new  wine 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָרַשׁ 
Sense: wine, fresh or new wine, must, freshly pressed wine.
בָּֽאֶשְׁכּ֔וֹל  in  the  cluster 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶשְׁכֹּול  
Sense: cluster.
וְאָמַר֙  and  [one]  says 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֔הוּ  do  destroy  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
בְרָכָ֖ה  a  blessing  [is] 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרָכָה  
Sense: blessing.
בּ֑וֹ  in  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֙  will  I  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לְמַ֣עַן  for  sake 
Parse: Preposition
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
עֲבָדַ֔י  My  servants' 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
הַֽשְׁחִ֥ית  that  I  may  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁחַת  
Sense: to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay.
הַכֹּֽל  them  all 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.