Isaiah 56 in the early church
[Vulgate: Isaias]
66 passages quote, allude to, or echo Isaiah 56, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 10 · 11
Isaiah 56:1
This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:1–2 | On Saint Athanasius 1.42 · Lucifer of Cagliari | quotation, high confidence | ca. 356–361 |
| Isa 56:1 | On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 2.5 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, medium confidence | 411–412 |
| Isa 56:1 | Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.28 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 420–421 |
Isaiah 56:2
Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:2 | On Dice-Players 9 · Anonymous | quotation, medium confidence | 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Isa 56:2 | Demonstration 13.13 · Aphrahat | allusion, medium confidence | 337-345 |
Isaiah 56:3
Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:3 | Miscellanies 3.13.91 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Isa 56:3 | Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Isa 56:3 | PG 12:1483 (Ps 61–62 LXX) · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Isa 56:3 | Commentary on Matthew 15.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Isa 56:3–5 | Question 17, section 1 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Isa 56:3 | Letter 22.21 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Isa 56:3–5 | Against Jovinianus 1.12 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | 393 |
Isaiah 56:4
For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:4 | Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Isa 56:4–5 | Demonstration 13.13 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Isa 56:4 | Oration I Against the Arians 55 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| Isa 56:4–5 | Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 3 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394 |
| Isa 56:4 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.13 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Isa 56:4 | On Holy Virginity 24 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 401 |
| Isa 56:4 | The Conferences 22.6 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Isaiah 56:5
I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:5 | Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Isa 56:5 | Commentary on Matthew 15.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Isa 56:5 | Oration I Against the Arians 55 · Athanasius of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 339–346 |
| Isa 56:5 | Letter 22.21 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Isa 56:5 | Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 25 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 394 |
| Isa 56:5 | Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.13 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 398–400 |
| Isa 56:5 | On Holy Virginity 24 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 401 |
| Isa 56:5 | On Holy Virginity 25 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 401 |
| Isa 56:5 | On Holy Virginity 30 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 401 |
| Isa 56:5 | City of God 20.22 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Isa 56:5 | The Conferences 22.6 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Isaiah 56:7
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”
Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Isaiah 56:11
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:11 | Eleven Tractates 1.11 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |