The Meaning of Isaiah 66:8 Explained

Isaiah 66:8

KJV: Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

YLT: Who hath heard anything like this? Who hath seen anything like these? Is earth caused to bring forth in one day? Born is a nation at once? For she hath been pained, Zion also hath borne her sons.

Darby: Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Can a land be made to bring forth in one day? shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons.

ASV: Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who hath heard  such a thing? who hath seen  such things? Shall the earth  be made to bring forth  in one  day?  [or] shall a nation  be born  at once?  for as soon as  Zion  travailed,  she brought forth  her children. 

What does Isaiah 66:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Such a reverse order of things seems incredible. Nevertheless, Israel would come (back) into existence quickly and painlessly. This would be a supernatural work of God. It will happen at Messiah"s second advent. He will recreate Israel as a nation after Antichrist and the combined Gentile nations of the world have sought to destroy her (cf. Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 12). However, the whole rebirth of Israel from the Exile to the Millennium may have been in the prophet"s vision. Similarly, he saw the entire Revelation -creation of the earth as a completely new planet ( Isaiah 65:17-25).

Context Summary

Isaiah 66:1-14 - God's People Made A Blessing
The prophet forecasts the advent of a new day, when places and rites would be comparatively unimportant compared with the condition of the heart, Isaiah 66:1-4. The opening words were quoted by Stephen, when announcing the substitution of spiritual worship for the effete system which it superseded. See Acts 7:48-49. What is the outward rite to God, when the spirit has fled? It was all one to Him, whether a man killed a lamb in the Temple, or broke a dog's neck on his farm. His chosen home is not in ornate temples but in contrite hearts!
The blessedness of God's people is depicted in glowing words, Isaiah 66:5-14. God will appear, to the joy of His people and the recompense of their foes. Those times will be characterized by great revivals, and souls will be easily born into the heavenly kingdom. The Jew and Gentile will meet like confluent streams in one blessed channel. But, above all, we shall become aware of the mother-side in God's nature. As one whom his mother comforteth, Isaiah 66:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 66

1  The glorious God will be served in humble sincerity
5  He comforts the humble by showing the confusion of their enemies
7  With the marvelous growth
10  And the gracious benefits of the church
15  God's severe judgments against the wicked
18  The Gentiles shall have an holy church
24  And see the damnation of the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 66:8 mean?

Who has heard such as this who has seen these [things] shall be made to give birth the earth in day one [Or] shall be born a nation time one for was in labor as soon as she gave birth Zion - to her children
מִֽי־ שָׁמַ֣ע ؟ כָּזֹ֗את מִ֤י רָאָה֙ ؟ כָּאֵ֔לֶּה הֲי֤וּחַל אֶ֙רֶץ֙ ؟ בְּי֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד אִם־ יִוָּ֥לֵֽד גּ֖וֹי פַּ֣עַם ؟ אֶחָ֑ת כִּֽי־ חָ֛לָה גַּם־ יָלְדָ֥ה צִיּ֖וֹן אֶת־ בָּנֶֽיהָ

שָׁמַ֣ע  has  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
؟ כָּזֹ֗את  such  as  this 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
רָאָה֙  has  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
؟ כָּאֵ֔לֶּה  these  [things] 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
הֲי֤וּחַל  shall  be  made  to  give  birth 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
אֶ֙רֶץ֙  the  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
؟ בְּי֣וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֶחָ֔ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
אִם־  [Or]  shall 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
יִוָּ֥לֵֽד  be  born 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
גּ֖וֹי  a  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
פַּ֣עַם  time 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּעַם  
Sense: stroke, beat, foot, step, anvil, occurrence.
؟ אֶחָ֑ת  one 
Parse: Number, feminine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
חָ֛לָה  was  in  labor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: חוּל 
Sense: to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, fear, tremble, travail, be in anguish, be pained.
גַּם־  as  soon  as 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
יָלְדָ֥ה  she  gave  birth 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
צִיּ֖וֹן  Zion 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בָּנֶֽיהָ  to  her  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.